Fannin County Meth Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years

Ricky Dwight Wright received a 30-year prison sentence and $1 million fine for trafficking over 1 kilogram of methamphetamine.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Ricky Dwight Wright, a 39-year-old man from Fannin County, Georgia, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay a $1 million fine for trafficking over 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. The conviction followed a traffic stop by Woodstock police where over 1 kilogram of meth was seized from Wright's vehicle.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing battle against the methamphetamine epidemic in Georgia, with law enforcement working to take large-scale traffickers off the streets. The significant prison sentence and fine imposed on Wright aim to disrupt the supply chain and send a strong message about the consequences of drug trafficking in the region.

The details

In March 2025, Woodstock police officers conducted a traffic stop on an Acura sedan traveling on I-575 and discovered the passenger, Ricky Dwight Wright, had an active warrant. During the stop, police found 175 grams of meth in a bag Wright tried to hide, and a police K-9 alerted to an additional 993 grams of meth hidden in the vehicle, totaling over 1 kilogram seized. A Cherokee County jury convicted Wright after just 15 minutes of deliberation.

  • On March 4, 2025, Woodstock police conducted the traffic stop and seized the meth from Wright's vehicle.
  • In November 2025, Wright's co-defendant Ashley Nicole Hughes was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $200,000 fine.
  • In January 2026, Wright's other co-defendant James Lovejoy was sentenced as a recidivist to 30 years in prison, with 25 to be served, and a $1 million fine.
  • On February 26, 2026, Ricky Dwight Wright was sentenced to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The players

Ricky Dwight Wright

A 39-year-old man from Fannin County, Georgia who was convicted of trafficking over 1 kilogram of methamphetamine.

Ashley Nicole Hughes

One of Wright's co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $200,000 fine for trafficking and tampering with evidence.

James Lovejoy

Another of Wright's co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced as a recidivist to 30 years in prison, with 25 to be served, and a $1 million fine.

Leland J. McElveen Jr.

The Assistant District Attorney who presented testimony from six law enforcement witnesses against Wright.

Susan K. Treadaway

The District Attorney who emphasized that Wright's 30-year sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime and his continued pattern of criminal behavior.

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What they’re saying

“This case began with a Woodstock Police officer whose proactive policing led to the seizure of more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and to three offenders ultimately being held accountable.”

— Leland J. McElveen Jr., Assistant District Attorney (Cherokee County District Attorney's Office)

“This sentence reflects both the seriousness of his crime and his continued pattern of criminal behavior. Thanks to the vigilance of law enforcement and the jury's verdict, a repeat offender who was trafficking a significant amount of methamphetamine will no longer be able to poison our community.”

— Susan K. Treadaway, District Attorney (Cherokee County District Attorney's Office)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Wright to be released on bail while he appeals his conviction.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and prosecutors to combat the methamphetamine epidemic in Georgia by targeting large-scale traffickers and imposing significant prison sentences to disrupt the drug supply chain and protect local communities.