Daryl Hubbard and Carl Todd, convicted felons, have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearm offenses following a high-speed chase that resulted in a fatality, paralysis, and injury to a police officer.
Hubbard, 46, of Conyers, Georgia, received 12 years and 4 months in prison, plus five years of supervised release and a $5,000 fine, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Todd, 49, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the same charges.
From 2022 until their arrests in 2024, Hubbard and Todd operated properties in DeKalb County, Georgia, distributing large quantities of cocaine and marijuana. On March 20, 2023, a high-speed chase in Lamar County ensued after law enforcement attempted to stop an SUV carrying narcotics provided by Hubbard. The chase, reaching speeds over 100 mph, caused a state patrol cruiser to flip, injuring a trooper, and ended when the drug dealers crashed into a tree, killing the passenger and paralyzing the driver.
Following this incident, Hubbard relocated operations. On July 23, 2024, search warrants at a Stonecrest stash house and Hubbard’s Conyers home uncovered cocaine, marijuana, and five firearms, including a stolen handgun. Two weapons, a high-powered rifle with a 30-round magazine and a pistol with body armor-piercing ammunition, were found within arm’s reach of Todd. Their criminal association spanned over a decade, including a prior felony drug distribution conviction in DeKalb County.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized the severe consequences, saying, "This case is a prime example of the consequences that could result from trafficking illegal drugs – one man dead, another paralyzed, and a police officer injured." Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, added, "These sentences reflect the tragic consequences of illegal drug distribution. The defendant’s actions resulted in devastating loss of life and serious injury, an outcome that serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking destroys lives and families." Ryan Todd, ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge, said, "This sentencing sends a clear message that those who illegally traffic drugs and unlawfully possess or use firearms will be held accountable."
This case was investigated by multiple federal, state, and local agencies, including the DEA, ATF, FBI, and Georgia State Patrol, as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative.