Georgia inmate convicted of running large-scale drug ring from prison

Written by: A. Smith

Published November 10, 2025 @ 9:30 AM ET

CALHOUN COUNTY, Ga. – A Georgia inmate already serving a life sentence for murder has been convicted in federal court for running a drug trafficking and money laundering operation from inside Calhoun State Prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prosecutors said 46-year-old Jarvis Matthews, of Morgan, Georgia, used contraband cellphones and social media to coordinate methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl sales across metro Atlanta. Investigators said he relied on his fiancée, girlfriends, nephew, and two adult sons to distribute drugs, collect cash, and launder proceeds.

Federal agents first discovered Matthews’ operation in early 2022 when they traced a social media account he allegedly used to arrange drug deals. Investigators later conducted a controlled purchase of two kilograms of methamphetamine through one of his sons, Charvis Harris, who has since pleaded guilty in federal court.

Agents then obtained a wiretap on Matthews’ phone and installed surveillance cameras at one of his stash houses. The evidence captured, prosecutors said, helped them identify and arrest several customers picking up drugs from his associates.

Prosecutors told jurors that Matthews oversaw a network that distributed multiple kilograms of internationally sourced narcotics and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits while behind bars.

Matthews was convicted on multiple counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering. He faces a minimum of 25 years in federal prison, which will be added to his current life-without-parole sentence.