Three top tier suspects arrested under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) last month were in Jones County Superior Court last week for bond hearings.

Bond was denied during the April 2 motion day by Superior Court Judge Hulane George for Denis Miguel Pineda, 22, of Atlanta, Thomas Artman, 51, of Macon, and Christopher L. Smith, 31, of Warner Robins.

The three men were among over 40 defendants arrested during the first week of March connected to a drug trafficking ring that had been under investigation by law enforcement agencies for more than four months.

The arrests were announced by Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece at a press conference March 9. At least 15 of the suspects are from Jones County.

Jones County Sheriff’s Department investigator Lt. Jimmy Black testified during the hearings and told George that the investigation of the methamphetamine transportation and distribution organization began in late November.

In Pineda’s hearing, Black said the investigation led to Artman, and officers set up surveillance of his home on Rocky Creek Road. Pineda was arrested after he visited Artman and two firearms and $20,000 in cash was seized from his car.

Assistant District Attorney Gregory Bushway explained that this RICO case is being prosecuted in tiers with the third tier being the people who are addicted to methamphetamine and purchase the drugs. He said Pineda, Artman, and Smith are top tier and considered major players in the drug organization.

Black said that Pineda is currently on bond for a Panama City weapons charge dated May 25, 2008.

Pineda’s attorney, J. Allen Lawson, spoke for his client and pointed out that his client is one of the youngest defendants in the case. He also noted that no drugs were found in the car he was driving.

“I’m asking for a reasonable bond for Mr. Pineda. He is gainfully employed and is certainly not a flight risk,” Lawson said.

The attorney said Pineda is a high school graduate, and his family will be helpful.

Bushway said he is opposed to bond because the defendant fled his Florida bond and was obviously dealing drugs in the metro Atlanta area. He characterized Pineda as a danger to the community.

“This is a drug dealer who is absolutely poisoning Middle Georgia,” the prosecutor stated.

George said she denied bond because she felt he is a significant risk to the community and is a flight risk.

Artman was represented by public defender Sean Dolan. During the explanation of his case, Bushway mentioned that the RICO case is scheduled to go before Jones County’s Grand Jury April 14.

Black testified that a search warrant was executed on Artman’s residence March 3, following the observance of a delivery of methamphetamine. The investigator noted that the home had been under surveillance by law enforcement agencies for several months.

Bushway asked if drugs from Artman’s home were distributed in Jones County, and Black said yes. He also explained that the drugs and currency seized in the investigation came directly from Artman. He said the investigation included following the suspects and electronic surveillance.

The prosecutor asked Artman’s position in the three-tier pyramid, and Black said the defendant was absolutely the top target.

“Mr. Artman was one of the initial focuses, and our investigation showed he was distributing large quantities of meth,” Black said. “He has an extensive criminal history and is on probation in Jones County for DUI.”

Dolan said his client is disabled because of a stroke and has a problem speaking, walking, and suffers from congestive heart failure.

“He is not a flight risk and will be staying with his son,” he said.

Bushway said Artman is a kingpin of the crime organization.

“I’m sorry for his health problems, but that didn’t stop him from distributing meth in large quantities,” he commented.

George denied Artman bail and said it was on the grounds that he may commit another crime if not incarcerated.

Black also testified at Smith’s hearing and stated that the defendant was observed distributing meth in Jones and Bibb counties. He categorized Smith as one of the top tier suspects and the initial target of the investigation.

Smith was represented by public defender Ben Mitcham.

Black said Smith was followed to Atlanta Feb. 12, and his criminal activities were observed by law enforcement officers. The investigator said at that time officers decided not to arrest the suspect but to continue their observation of him.

Bushway said Smith was seen during five different drug buys and that he was selling it locally. The prosecutor asked Black for an estimate of how much Smith was selling.

“By his own admission, he sold an ounce a week for four weeks,” the investigator answered.

“He sold from motel to motel, from friend’s house to friend’s house. Was he one of the main distributors?” Bushway asked Black.

“Yes,” he responded.

Mitcham told the court that his client also has congestive heart failure and has an implanted defibrillator. He said Smith receives disability for his physical problems and is not going to flee.

“He has no criminal record and is not on probation or out on bond,” he said. “He will live with his mother in Houston County and has ties to Middle Georgia.”

The attorney pointed out that his client’s mother is concerned about his medical condition.

Bushway said it is his recollection that Smith does have a criminal history and his medical problems have not stopped him distributing massive amounts of drugs.

“He is one of the many people going to Artman and selling. He poses a danger to the community,” the prosecutor said.

George denied the bond motion and agreed that Smith would be a risk to the community.

RICO defendant James Ryan White received a bond of $40,000 and Thomas Knight a $100,000 bond. Assistant District Attorney Keagan Goodrich said the bonds for White and Knight were agreed upon by the attorneys before court. She said the difference in the amount of bond is because White is considered to be at the bottom of tier two of the criminal organization, and Knight is at the top of tier two.

Tammy Artman, who is considered at the top of the organization with her husband, was denied bond by Superior Court Judge Lee Parrott March 19.

“I described her to Judge Parrott as taking over the family business for her husband when he had a stroke,” Goodrich recalled.