A convicted drug trafficker who received presidential clemency from Joe Biden in 2024 now faces federal charges again after authorities allegedly discovered 29 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl, and seven kilograms of heroin in his possession.
Traffic Stop Uncovers Major Drug Operation
Federal prosecutors charged Walter Lee Muhammad, 46, with drug trafficking offenses following his August 5 arrest. Drug Enforcement Administration agents observed Muhammad loading suspicious bags into a BMW in Atlanta before following the vehicle to Greensboro, North Carolina. Guilford County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop, and a drug-detection canine alerted officers to contraband. Deputies reportedly found 29 kilograms of suspected cocaine inside the vehicle, leading to Muhammad’s immediate arrest.
The following day, DEA agents executed search warrants at two Atlanta properties connected to Muhammad. At his Midtown apartment, investigators claim they recovered approximately two kilograms of suspected fentanyl and seven kilograms of suspected heroin. A second search at a southwest Atlanta location yielded three firearms, including one stolen pistol.
Lengthy Criminal History Preceded Clemency
Muhammad’s criminal record spans more than two decades. Court documents show convictions for conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1999, conspiracy to distribute marijuana in 2010, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in 2020. The 2020 conviction resulted in a 10-year federal prison sentence. On December 12, 2024, President Biden commuted Muhammad’s sentence as part of a clemency initiative that reduced sentences for nearly 1,500 federal inmates.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg addressed the arrest directly. Muhammad is a serial drug trafficker who continued to deal lethal fentanyl and other dangerous drugs despite receiving the extraordinary gift of presidential clemency, Hertzberg stated. The prosecutor emphasized that law enforcement partnerships made the community safer by removing this repeat offender from the streets.
Federal Response to Ongoing Fentanyl Crisis
DEA Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung highlighted the significance of removing substantial fentanyl quantities from circulation. Despite receiving a second chance, this defendant returned to trafficking fentanyl and putting lives at risk, Chung said. The agent stressed that the seizure demonstrates continued accountability efforts against those profiting from deadly narcotics. Muhammad appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Greensboro on Thursday and remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Authorities confirmed he will face additional proceedings in federal court in Atlanta. The August 7 criminal complaint charges him with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.