In January 2017 the Appling County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Appling County.
Multiple purchases of methamphetamine were completed with Robert Walter Wilcox (aka Pumpkin) and Debra Patchen Wiggins. A traffic stop conducted on February 22, 2017 by members of the Sheriff’s Office resulting in Wilcox and Wiggins being charged with trafficking in methamphetamine. A search warrant was executed at their residence located at 844 Phillippi Church Road. Firearms and additional drugs and related paraphernalia were located.
Wilcox and Wiggin were indicted in United States District Court for CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND TO DISTRIBUTE FIFTY GRAMS OR MORE OF METHAMPHETAMINE.
Federal arrest warrants were issued for Wilcox and Wiggins on August 02, 2017. Wilcox and Wiggins plead guilty in United States District Court, Southern District of Georgia to Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
On Tuesday, May 22, 2018 Wilcox was sentenced in United States District Court, Waycross, Georgia by Judge Lisa Wood to serve 80 months in Federal Prison, followed by three (3) years of supervised release. Sentencing for Debra Patchen Wiggins is still pending.