Marijuana deal outside Macon hotel leaves Florida man dead. Now suspects get prison

The four men responsible for “a meticulously planned marijuana transaction ... that ended in gunfire” and the death of a Florida man will serve prison time over the incident, the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon.

After defendant Lucky Chiderah Udeh pleaded guilty Tuesday morning before Judge Connie Williford in Bibb County Superior Court, all four suspects have admitted responsibility for the incident. The district attorney’s office said this concludes a case that led to the death of Chauncey Love, who died Nov. 23, 2021.

Besides Udeh, Jamir Kortez Culbreath, Isaac Adesina and Javacea Battle pleaded guilty for Love’s death on Aug. 15, 2025. Culbreath admitted to being the shooter, while Battle and Adesina admitted to facilitating and providing armed backup for the transaction, the district attorney’s office said.

The sentences for each defendant are:

• Culbreath will serve 20 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. He will serve an additional 20 years on probation.
• Udeh will serve 10 years in prison for aggravated assault, with an additional 10 years on probation.
• Adesina will serve three years for selling marijuana and possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. He will serve an additional 12 years on probation.
• Battle will serve two years for selling marijuana and possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony and will serve 13 years oo probation.

“This case represents a stark reminder of how illegal drug transactions can spiral into deadly violence in mere moments,” said District Attorney Anita Howard.

How Macon drug deal turned to fatal shooting

Love traveled from Florida to Macon, alongside two other people, to sell 5 pounds of marijuana to Culbreath and Udeh, prosecutors said. Since the buyers and sellers were unfamiliar with each other, Adesina coordinated the meeting and brought Battle with him for protection.

They met at the Best Western at 2400 Riverside Drive. Culbreath exited his car and entered the backseat of Love’s car. Then, a violent struggle erupted, which led Culbreath to fire his gun twice, fatally wounding Love. Udeh exited his own vehicle and pointed a rifle in the back of Love’s car, which the district attorney’s office said escalated “the dangerous confrontation.”