uring the investigation, law enforcement seized 26 firearms, 26 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $780,000, 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl valued at approximately $60,000, about 500 grams of methamphetamine, more than five ounces of crack cocaine, 2.4 pounds of marijuana, 128 controlled pharmaceutical pills and $63,532 in cash.

Officials praise investigation

What they're saying:

U.S. Attorney Will Keyes said the convictions dismantled a dangerous criminal organization.

 This verdict holds these defendants fully accountable for their roles in a cartel-linked criminal organization that distributed fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in Athens and amassed dozens of firearms,  Keyes said in a statement.

FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs said investigators remain committed to targeting organizations responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into Georgia communities.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force along with numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative.

An additional 14 defendants remain charged in the broader federal case. Those charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.