A McDonough man who was caught trying to flush a large amount of marijuana down a hotel toilet received a 25-year sentence with the first 15 years to serve in prison after his conviction on multiple drug charges.

Twenty-eight-year-old Josef Lee Elgers was found guilty March 14 of one count each of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and tampering with evidence, as well as two counts of violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act.

Elgers was arrested October 29, 2020 at America’s Best Value Inn on Hwy. 155 in McDonough when two members of the Henry County Sheriff’s Gang Suppression and Vice Unit were patrolling the hotel and smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from a room.

After getting a search warrant, the officers approached the door of the hotel room and heard the sound of someone flushing the toilet. Once inside the room, they found more than a pound of marijuana, including marijuana in the toilet and a backpack in the bathroom.

Elgers was the only person in the hotel room and his driver’s license was in the backpack. Law enforcement also found drug packaging materials and a large amount of cash in the room.

At trial, evidence showed Elgers’ social media accounts identified him as a member of the Bloods gang and also showed him selling marijuana.

In addition to sentencing Elgers to prison, Henry County Superior Court Judge Danielle Roberts ordered him to have no contact with any gang members.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brittany Forester and Caitlin McGillicuddy, as well as the District Attorney’s Homicide and Gang Unit.