One of the top tier defendants in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case was granted a $250,000 bond in Jones County Superior Court last week.

Following a July 9 bond hearing, Christopher L. Smith, 31, of Warner Robins, was granted bond by Superior Court Chief Judge William Prior.

Smith was among over 40 defendants arrested during the first week of March who were 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, and at least 15 of the suspects were from Jones County.

Assistant District Attorney Gregory Bushway categorized Smith as one of the top tier suspects and the initial target of the investigation. Smith was represented by public defender Ben Mitchem.

Bushway told the court that the defendant was one of the biggest distributors of methamphetamine in the states of Florida and Georgia.

“This man was making house calls, delivering meth in Macon and Jones County like the ice cream man. He was truly an entrepreneur,” the prosecutor said.

Bushway asked Prior to give Smith a bond of no less than $250,000, which is the amount set for the other top tier defendants in the case.

Mitchem said his client has been held for 90 days and is entitled to a bond. He said Smith has family in Middle Georgia, and his mother wants to help him.

“My client has a heart condition and would not be able to vigorously oppose law enforcement. He qualified for a public defender because he is indigent. Any cash bond over $50,000 is tantamount to no bond at all,” the defense attorney stated.

Prior ruled that Smith’s bond would be $250,000 cash, property or the equivalent.