Swainsboro District 5 council member suspended, pleads guilty to drug charges

Swainsboro District 5 council member suspended, pleads guilty to drug charges

SWAINSBORO, Georgia (WJBF) – According to Swainsboro City Attorney Jon Levis, Swainsboro City Councilman District 5 Quantavius ​​Foster, Sr. was suspended from office after the City of Swainsboro was informed of a guilty plea Foster made in federal district court in late April.

In August 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, filed charges against Foster and 16 other defendants, alleging that the two had committed a criminal drug conspiracy as early as January 9, 2018.

Foster and 13 other defendants were originally charged with criminal conspiracy in connection with 50 grams or more of methamphetamine – additionally, the grand jury alleged that Foster and two other defendants knowingly possessed 50 grams or more of meth with the intent to resell, an indictment dating back to August 30, 2018.

In later court documents signed by Foster, he admitted to criminal possession of the methamphetamine, which weighed approximately 57.7 grams.

Many of Foster’s co-defendants also faced drug charges, including heroin and other drugs.

On April 30, 2024, Foster pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to possession of 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine with the intent to resell.

Under the agreement he made with the federal government, Foster faces a prison sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years.

Foster was elected to the City Council in December 2023 after a runoff election against incumbent 5th District Councilman John Parker. Parker has served as a councilman in the district for nearly two decades.

Foster was not sworn into office until early January 2024.

According to court documents, Foster is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Atlanta on August 28, 2024.

The City of Swainsboro was recently notified of Councilmember Quantavious Foster’s guilty plea in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. In accordance with OCGA § 45-5-6.1, Councilmember Foster was suspended from office immediately and without further action. The City of Swainsboro is currently working to appoint a replacement officer in accordance with OCGA § 45-5-6.1(b) until the matters surrounding Councilmember Foster’s suspension are resolved.

There is no further comment from the City of Swainsboro at this time.

Swainsboro City Attorney Jon Levis