Two Fulton County men will each spend the next few decades in prison after they received long sentences Tuesday for drug convictions stemming from a spring 2008 bust.
At the end of a seven-day trial last week, a Forsyth County Superior Court jury convicted 51-year-old Clement Goss of Roswell of trafficking in cocaine and sale of cocaine.
The jury also convicted 26-year-old Dennis Wright of Alpharetta of the same charges, as well as possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
On Tuesday, Forsyth County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley sentenced Goss, who has prior drug charge convictions in Fulton County and Florida, to life in prison.
Wright received a 30-year-sentence plus a $1 million fine.
Goss’ attorney, Rex McClinton, argued that his client had a “severe drug problem” and asked for the minimum mandatory punishment of 25 years.
Forsyth County Assistant District Attorney James Dunn called Goss’ claim of having a drug problem “disingenuous.”
“It does not mean you have to be a drug dealer,” Dunn said.
He said the county does not see many cases involving such a high amount of cocaine.
“The reason is because most drug abusers don’t have access to that,” Dunn said. “They don’t have the money and they don’t have the connections to someone who can get them that much dope.
“What we do know is those two individuals do and they did.”
Before his sentencing, Goss publicly apologized to county taxpayers and commended Dunn for “keeping drugs out of kids’ hands so they won’t end up like me.”
Bagley noted the irony of Goss’ statement.
“When you were out there with that kilo of cocaine, that’s exactly what you were doing is putting drugs in kids’ hands,” Bagley said. “When people get hooked on cocaine, their lives are destroyed.
“[Adults] lose their jobs, children have to go to foster homes. The devastation is terrible.”
Bagley said he hoped the sentence would deter others from bringing cocaine into the county.
Wright’s mother, Sandy Wright, testified that her son is a parent. Until his arrest, he had been working and taking care of his own child and two others that were not his biological children.
Wright did not address the court before he was sentenced.
Goss and Wright were arrested last year by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office as the result of an undercover investigation.
Dunn explained that the men first made a deal in Fulton County, selling 2 ounces of cocaine for $1,400. Further investigation followed.
The men were then arrested May 22 after exchanging a kilo of cocaine for $23,000 in the parking lot of the Ingles at Hwy. 9 and Bethelview Road.
Along with the drugs and money, authorities recovered a loaded handgun from Wright’s truck.
The men each have 30 days to appeal their sentences.
E-mail Julie Arrington at juliearrington@forsythnews.com.
At the end of a seven-day trial last week, a Forsyth County Superior Court jury convicted 51-year-old Clement Goss of Roswell of trafficking in cocaine and sale of cocaine.
The jury also convicted 26-year-old Dennis Wright of Alpharetta of the same charges, as well as possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
On Tuesday, Forsyth County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley sentenced Goss, who has prior drug charge convictions in Fulton County and Florida, to life in prison.
Wright received a 30-year-sentence plus a $1 million fine.
Goss’ attorney, Rex McClinton, argued that his client had a “severe drug problem” and asked for the minimum mandatory punishment of 25 years.
Forsyth County Assistant District Attorney James Dunn called Goss’ claim of having a drug problem “disingenuous.”
“It does not mean you have to be a drug dealer,” Dunn said.
He said the county does not see many cases involving such a high amount of cocaine.
“The reason is because most drug abusers don’t have access to that,” Dunn said. “They don’t have the money and they don’t have the connections to someone who can get them that much dope.
“What we do know is those two individuals do and they did.”
Before his sentencing, Goss publicly apologized to county taxpayers and commended Dunn for “keeping drugs out of kids’ hands so they won’t end up like me.”
Bagley noted the irony of Goss’ statement.
“When you were out there with that kilo of cocaine, that’s exactly what you were doing is putting drugs in kids’ hands,” Bagley said. “When people get hooked on cocaine, their lives are destroyed.
“[Adults] lose their jobs, children have to go to foster homes. The devastation is terrible.”
Bagley said he hoped the sentence would deter others from bringing cocaine into the county.
Wright’s mother, Sandy Wright, testified that her son is a parent. Until his arrest, he had been working and taking care of his own child and two others that were not his biological children.
Wright did not address the court before he was sentenced.
Goss and Wright were arrested last year by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office as the result of an undercover investigation.
Dunn explained that the men first made a deal in Fulton County, selling 2 ounces of cocaine for $1,400. Further investigation followed.
The men were then arrested May 22 after exchanging a kilo of cocaine for $23,000 in the parking lot of the Ingles at Hwy. 9 and Bethelview Road.
Along with the drugs and money, authorities recovered a loaded handgun from Wright’s truck.
The men each have 30 days to appeal their sentences.
E-mail Julie Arrington at juliearrington@forsythnews.com.