ALBANY — Charles E. Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces the following plea, which took place before Senior U.S. District Court Judge W. Louis Sands on Monday, April 30, in Albany.

Edward Lowell, age 78, of Americus, pleaded guilty to distribution of Xanax. This plea will subject Lowell to a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000 or both. At the time of his arrest, Lowell’s address was listed as 566 U.S. Highway 280 West, Americus.

In his plea, Lowell admitted that on Oct. 4, 2017, deputies were conducting surveillance of Lowell’s residence in Sumter County and observed a confidential informant (CI) at the residence. The CI had revealed to agents that she routinely received prescription pills from “Eddie” at this residence. A subsequent traffic stop and search of the CI revealed 10 Xanax pills which she confirmed she had just acquired from “Eddie.” In a subsequent interview, the CI estimated that she received 8,000 pills from “Eddie” over the years.

Another confidential informant (CI-2) turned over 61 pills — 8 Xanax and 53 amphetamine/dextroamphetamine which she had recently purchased from Lowell at the same residence for $150. CI-2 stated that she had been obtaining pills from him for approximately 10 years and estimated she had gotten at least 10,000 pills over time.

This case was investigated by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah E. McEwen is prosecuting the case for the United States.