A convicted drug dealer whose federal prison sentence was cut short by President Biden in 2024 now faces new charges after authorities allegedly seized 29 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of fentanyl, and seven kilograms of heroin in a multi-state investigation.

Major Drug Seizure Follows Traffic Stop

Federal prosecutors charged Walter Lee Muhammad, 46, with drug trafficking after DEA agents observed him loading suspicious bags into a BMW in Atlanta on August 5. Agents followed the vehicle to Greensboro, North Carolina, where local deputies conducted a traffic stop. A K-9 unit alerted to drugs, leading to the discovery of 29 kilograms of suspected cocaine. Muhammad was arrested immediately at the scene.

The next day, DEA agents executed search warrants at two Atlanta properties. At Muhammad’s Midtown apartment, investigators recovered approximately two kilograms of suspected fentanyl and seven kilograms of suspected heroin. A second search in southwest Atlanta turned up three firearms, including one reported stolen.

Lengthy Criminal History Before Clemency

Muhammad carries drug trafficking convictions spanning more than 20 years. Court records show a 1999 conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, a 2010 conviction for conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and a 2020 conviction for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The 2020 case resulted in a 10-year federal prison sentence. On December 12, 2024, then-President Biden commuted Muhammad’s sentence as part of a sweeping clemency action affecting nearly 1,500 federal inmates.

Federal Response to Repeat Offense

U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg addressed the arrest directly. Muhammad is a serial drug trafficker who continued dealing lethal fentanyl despite receiving presidential clemency, Hertzberg stated. DEA Atlanta Special Agent Jae Chung emphasized the agency’s commitment to removing fentanyl from communities. Despite receiving a second chance, this defendant returned to trafficking fentanyl and putting lives at risk, Chung said.

Muhammad appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Greensboro and remains in custody with the U.S. Marshals Service. He faces charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and will later appear in federal court in Atlanta for further proceedings.