ATLANTA — A convicted felon has been found guilty of directing a substantial drug trafficking and money laundering scheme from within the confines of prison, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

While serving his life sentence in Calhoun State Prison located in Morgan, Georgia, 46-year-old Jarvis Matthews managed his criminal empire using smuggled cellphones to control the distribution of narcotics around the Atlanta area, detailed U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg during court proceedings.

“Remarkably, Matthews leveraged contraband cellphones to orchestrate a drug ring from his prison cell,” Hertzberg remarked.

The investigation was set in motion in July after FBI agents traced a social media account linked to Matthews that facilitated multiple drug transactions. Authorities revealed that Matthews enlisted the help of his fiancée, girlfriends, nephew, and two adult sons to disseminate drugs and handle financial transactions for laundering.

“Jarvis Matthews manipulated prison walls to run a lucrative drug and money laundering operation, utilizing both family members and the prison system to expand his criminal activities,” stated Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case highlights the FBI’s dedication to dismantling international crime networks and ensuring that no one remains above the law’s reach.”

Agents say they purchased two kilograms of methamphetamine from Matthews in April 2022 through his son, Charvis Harris, who previously pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. 

The FBI obtained a court-authorized wiretap on Matthews’ phone and installed a camera at one of his drug trap houses. With those tools, agents apprehended Matthews’ drug customers after they received drugs from Matthews’ sons. 

Trial testimony showed that Matthews masterminded the distribution of multiple kilograms of internationally sourced drugs in the metro-Atlanta area and laundered hundreds of thousands of drug proceeds. 

After five days on trial, a jury found Matthews guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, five counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Matthews is facing a mandatory minimum of 25 years to run consecutively to the state prison sentence he is already serving. 

The sentencing hearing has not been scheduled, and to determine the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing for most offenders.