Southern District of Georgia

AUGUSTA, GA:  An Atlanta-area man is the third defendant sentenced in U.S. District Court after admitting to a scheme to use a drone to smuggle contraband into a Georgia state prison.

Cheik Hassane Toure, 24, of Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Serving or Attempting to Serve as an Airman Without an Airman’s Certificate, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Toure had been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since June 9 after a hearing in which it was determined he had violated the conditions of his bond. At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Toure to pay a $1,000 fine and to serve one year of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Toure’s co-defendants, brothers George Lo, 27, of Powder Springs, Ga., and Nicholas Lo, 25, of Dallas, Ga., are serving sentences of 12 months in federal prison after also pleading guilty in the scheme. The prosecutions in the case are believed to be among the first in the nation under federal law regulating non-passenger aircraft.

“The growing field of unmanned aircraft has bloomed enormous possibilities for legal commerce and recreation, but like all technological advances it also has provided a new tool for those who would attempt to smuggle contraband inside prison walls,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to the vigilance of our law enforcement partners, this particular scheme was grounded before delivering its payload.”

As described in court documents and testimony, George Lo was serving a state sentence for armed robbery at Telfair State Prison in Telfair County when he began conspiring with Nicholas Lo and Toure, and others, to own and operate a Storm Drone 4 kit-built unmanned aircraft without registration or licensing. The Lo brothers discussed using the drone to deliver contraband to Telfair State Prison, and Nicholas Lo and Toure practiced flying the aircraft. George Lo planned to pay the two to fly the aircraft to deliver the contraband, which he intended to sell to other inmates.  

At 1:30 a.m., on Aug. 26, 2019, Telfair County Sheriff’s deputies observed an approaching vehicle turn off its lights about 100 yards from Telfair State Prison. During a search, Deputies encountered Nicholas Lo and Toure in a wooded area between the road and prison. The pair possessed a large duffle bag containing the drone, a controller, a video monitor and a headset. In addition, the bag contained 14 cell phones, at least 74 grams of tobacco, a digital scale and earbud headphones. Both men were taken into custody.

Federal law requires registration of unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds or more, and the Storm Drone 4’s weight was in excess of that requirement. Also, federal law requires the pilot of any unmanned aircraft to hold an airman’s certificate when operating the unmanned aircraft for compensation or hire.

“Federal laws and regulations related to owning and operating drones serve to ensure the safety of the public and our nation’s airspace. Violating those laws while attempting to smuggle contraband into a state prison is a recipe for disaster,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region. “This sentencing sends a strong message that, together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we are committed to keeping our skies safe and illicit activities at bay.” 

“We are pleased to see that justice has been served on these individuals for their role in attempting to introduce dangerous contraband into our facilities,” said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. “This outcome should serve as a clear message that perpetrating criminal activity, even while behind prison walls, will not be tolerated.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III and E. Greg Gilluly Jr.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A Camden County man and woman face substantial penalties after their arrests on federal child exploitation charges.

Michael Williams Kersey, 43, of St. Mary’s, Ga., and Lesley M. Henry, 45, of Kingsland, Ga., are each charged in a federal complaint with Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Distribution of Child Pornography carries a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release following any prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our law enforcement partners continue their outstanding work in identifying and intercepting suspected child exploitation activities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will continue to relentlessly protect our most vulnerable citizens.”

Both defendants are in custody after initial appearance hearings before U.S. District Court Magistrate Benjamin W. Cheesbro. The cases remain under investigation.

Criminal complaints contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

The cases are being investigated by the FBI, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service/Kings Bay, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Marys Police Department, and the Kingsland Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover.

AUGUSTA, GA:  Two Waynesboro, Ga., men and a Greenwood, S.C., man have been sentenced for participating in an illegal gambling operation.

Grady Brandon Mobley, 44, of Waynesboro, was sentenced to five years of probation and forfeited $340,084 after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with Prohibition of an Illegal Gambling Business and Fraud and False Statements, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Mobley also must pay $207,716 in restitution to the IRS and Georgia Department of Revenue and pay a fine of $2,000.

Two co-defendants also were sentenced after pleading guilty to Prohibition of an Illegal Gambling Business. Daniel Cates, 40, of Waynesboro, was sentenced to three years of probation and agreed to forfeit $100,000, and fined $4,000, while Joel Rees Jones, 59, of Greenwood, S.C, was sentenced to four years of probation and a fine of $10,000.

“With his long-running illegal gambling operations, Grady Mobley showed utter disregard for the law and compounded the activity by drawing others into his orbit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “These sentences will hold them all accountable for their actions.” 

As described in court documents and testimony, Mobley operated as a “bookie” for an illegal sports betting operation for at least the past 10 years in Burke County, at first collecting bets and paying out winnings himself, and later through a sports betting website operated from Costa Rica.

In 2015, Mobley merged his operation and began splitting his profits with a smaller gambling ring operated by Jones. From 2015 to 2017, Mobley cashed bettor’s checks totaling approximately $220,000 at his parent’s check cashing business which operated out of the Mobley Package Shop in Girard, Ga. To help conceal the growing amount of cash involved in the transactions, Mobley enlisted the assistance of Cates, who admitted that he funneled approximately $250,000 in gambling proceeds through his Waynesboro tire store, Cates Firestone, in return for money and favors from Mobley.

During this period, Mobley admitted filing false information on his income tax returns to conceal the amount of proceeds from the illegal gambling operation.

“Mobley’s greed continued to grow over the years as he operated his illegal gambling operation, eventually recruiting other individuals to take part,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. “Their greed eventually caught up with them and now they will suffer the consequences. No matter where an investigation takes us, the FBI and our federal partners will pursue criminal activity that violates our Constitution.” 

“Operating an illegal gambling operation and filing false tax returns to the IRS are dangerous moves,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman. “Not only can the unreported income from the gambling operation result with tax due, interest, and penalties, but it also can result in prison time. The sentencing today brings accountability and justice for the conspiring parties.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons and Asset Recovery Unit Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.

SAVANNAH, GA:  An inmate at a Georgia prison has been sentenced to nearly 30 years in federal prison after admitting he distributed child pornography while incarcerated for failing to register as a sex offender.

Melton Andrew Padgett Jr., 47, a Savannah resident who was incarcerated at Baldwin State Prison in Milledgeville, Ga., when charged in January, was sentenced to 312 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Padgett to pay $250,000 in restitution, to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term, and to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Melton Padgett served time in prison after being convicted of child molestation, then was sent back to prison after failing to register as a sex offender – and while serving time in a minimum-security setting continued to victimize children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “A substantial term in federal prison will protect our most vulnerable citizens from this serial predator.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Padgett was identified as responsible for sharing images of child sexual exploitation after Georgia’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in March 2020 received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. After an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, Padgett pled guilty to sharing videos of child sexual exploitation through a social media messaging service while he was being housed in the Coastal Transitional Center in Savannah.  Padgett previously has been convicted of child cruelty, child molestation and aggravated sexual battery, and failing to register as a sex offender.

“Padgett has not gotten the message that his pattern of predatory behavior must stop or he will continue to face serious consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Protecting our most vulnerable population from exploitation is one of HSI’s most important missions.”

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A former U.S. Army soldier training at Fort Gordon has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to possession of child pornography.

Bryan S. Stills, 26, of Fort Gordon, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Stills to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims, to serve 15 years of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence, and to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “This sentence will hold Bryan Stills accountable for his victimization of children.”

As described in court documents and testimony, in October 2019 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) alerted investigators from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) after detecting child pornography being downloaded to an email account. Investigators identified the source as Stills, who at the time was serving as a Private Second Class in training at Fort Gordon with the 369th Signal Battalion. Investigator searched Stills’ living quarters and seized electronic devices with more than 1,000 images and videos of child pornography.

Stills subsequently was discharged from the Army.

“Child exploitation presents a serious danger to children,” said Edward LaBarge, director of the Major Cybercrime Unit, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID). “This sentencing demonstrates our commitment to seeking justice for the children that are victimized by this horrendous conduct, and pursuing those accused of child pornography offenses.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

STATESBORO, GA:  Seven defendants are accused of participating in a major drug trafficking conspiracy in an indictment newly unsealed in U.S. District Court.

The investigation in Operation Ace in the Hole II, under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), targeted the distribution of heroin and fentanyl-tainted heroin in the Vidalia, Ga., and greater Toombs County area, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Each of the defendants is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Eutylone (bath salts), Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine, a charge that carries a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

“The availability of deadly fentanyl and its chemical analogues has led to an alarming rise in overdoses and overdose deaths in the Southern District and throughout the nation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to seek the sources of these illegal drugs and bring their dealers to justice.”

After the federal indictment of 26 defendants in January 2020 in Operation Ace in the Hole, investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, and others, continued seeking sources and suppliers of heroin and other illegal drugs throughout the Vidalia area. Operation Ace in the Hole II, as outlined in USA v. Page, et al., charges seven defendants as participants in the drug trafficking conspiracy. The indictment, returned in May 2021 by a U.S. District Court Grand Jury, was unsealed Monday, Aug. 16.

Those named in the indictment, and their charges, include:

• Creg Antonio Page, 45, an inmate at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; two counts of Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine; and three counts of Use of Communications Facility, a charge that describes using telephones to facilitate the drug-trafficking conspiracy;
• Phillip Adams, 36, of Lyons, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; Distribution of Heroin; Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Methamphetamine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Servontae Quarshawn Powell, 37, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; three counts of Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; and Distribution of Fentanyl;
• Debra Carol Strickland, 20, of Lyons, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl; Distribution of Heroin; Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, Cocaine and Methamphetamine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Cameron Earl Williamson, 33, of Lyons, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; and three counts of Use of Communications Facility;
• Erika Susan Highsmith, a/k/a Erika Susan Barrow, 28, of Lyons, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; and Use of Communications Facility; and,
• Tiffany Hunt, 40, of Vidalia, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Heroin, Eutylone, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine; and Use of Communication Facility.

In addition to drugs seized during the investigation, the indictment also includes the seizure of six firearms.

Initial court appearances for all defendants have been held. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Of the 26 defendants in Operation Ace in the Hole, 23 have entered guilty pleas; 17 of them have been sentenced, with terms of up to 188 months in prison. Three defendants are awaiting trial.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Operation Ace in the Hole II is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, the Vidalia Police Department, and the Lyons Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McCool and Noah J. Abrams.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A former U.S. Navy petty officer stationed at Submarine Base Kings Bay awaits sentencing after admitting to distribution of child pornography.

Anthony Gabriel Ortiz, 23, of Kings Bay, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to 40 years, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution, followed by up to life on supervised release and registration as a sex offender.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“The distribution of child pornography endlessly perpetuates the victimization of innocent children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “By admitting to this charge, Anthony Ortiz will be held accountable for his despicable contributions to this exploitive trade.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Ortiz was in the U.S. Navy assigned to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, S.C., when investigators with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in early 2019 found online images of child pornography shared via a messaging application. RCMP alerted the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center, and HSI contacted the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

Ortiz, a petty officer third class, transferred in April 2019 to Submarine Base Kings Bay in Kingsland, Ga., where he later was interviewed by HSI and NCIS investigators. He was taken into custody after admitting to possessing and distributing child pornography over the internet, and multiple images and videos of child sexual exploitation were found on electronic devices in his possession.

“Mr. Ortiz deserves to be held fully accountable for these truly reprehensible crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS exists to protect Department of the Navy personnel and their families from harm. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to root out and fully investigate sexual predators who prey on and exploit vulnerable children.”

“Every time one of these disturbing images is shared or viewed the subject is revictimized, causing a cycle of never-ending trauma. That’s why finding and arresting the people involved in this exploitive behavior is so important for the safety of the children in our communities.,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “In order to stop these predators law enforcement, community partners, parents, family and friends must work together.”

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, and was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

STATESBORO, GA:  A Bulloch County man faces substantial time in federal prison after admitting he persuaded children to send him sexual images and photos.

Jasiri Hutchison, 20, of Statesboro, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. The plea consolidates charges brought in both the Southern District of Georgia and the Middle District of Georgia. The plea agreement subjects Hutchison to minimum 15-year prison term, up to 30 years, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution, followed by up to a life term of supervised release and registration as a sex offender.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Jasiri Hutchison’s predatory behavior represents a nightmarish victimization of innocent children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. “Through the persistence of our law enforcement partners in Homeland Security Investigations, he now will be held accountable for his crimes.”

As described in court documents and testimony, as early as April 2019 through December 2020, Hutchison typically portrayed himself as a young girl in online interactions with children via various messaging applications, at first persuading them to send innocuous photos of themselves and later threatening to share those photos with their friends unless the victim sent increasingly sexualized images or videos of themselves and/or siblings. In his plea, Hutchison admitted possessing more than 600 sexually explicit images of children.   

“The Internet provides a wealth of information and endless entertainment, but it also offers predators the anonymity they need to victimize innocent children with their perverse schemes. We all must be constantly aware of what our children do online as well as who they interact with because you never truly know who is lurking in the shadows,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue, arrest and prosecute those looking to exploit our children.” 

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A former Aiken County, S.C., teacher has admitted to a child sexual exploitation charge related to illegal activities with a Columbia County, Ga., minor.

Jonathan Eugene Grantham, 45, of Graniteville, S.C., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Grantham to a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution to the victim. Following completion of any prison term, he must serve a minimum of five years of supervised release and register as a sex offender.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“It’s sickening to contemplate the fact that while Jonathan Grantham was serving as a high-school teacher, he was surreptitiously participating in the depraved sex trafficking of a child,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “This plea will hold him accountable for his crimes, while our diligent law enforcement partners continue their outstanding work to protect our most vulnerable citizens from such predation.”

At the time of his arrest in February, Grantham was employed as a teacher at Ridge Spring-Monetta High School in Ridge Spring, S.C. He later was terminated. 

As described in court documents and testimony, Grantham came to the attention of the FBI while agents were conducting a sex trafficking investigation involving other defendants.

That investigation discovered that Grantham, in July 2019, traveled from South Carolina to Columbia County to engage in sexual activity with a victim who was under age 18. In his plea agreement, Grantham acknowledges contacting the victim through the Internet to coerce the victim “to engage in sexual activity for which the defendant could be charged with a criminal offense, that is, child molestation.”

Grantham remains in federal custody while awaiting sentencing.

“Grantham targeted and manipulated a child for his own perverse enjoyment,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI has zero tolerance for child predators, and we will continue to use any resources necessary to apprehend anyone who carries out these appalling crimes.”

The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania G. Groover and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

SAVANNAH, GA: A former commercial loan officer at a Chatham County bank is facing significant penalties after admitting to obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent loans.

Jason McMillan, 45, of Swainsboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with Bank Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. McMillan’s guilty plea subjects him to a statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison, up to $1 million in fines, significant restitution and asset forfeiture, and up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Customers of financial institutions rightly depend on the integrity of those institutions, and of the staff they employ,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “As part of his plea, Jason McMillan will never again work as a banker – and that will help protect those institutions and their customers.”

As described in court documents and testimony, McMillan was employed as a commercial loan officer at a Chatham County branch of a bank when, in July 2009, he used the identity of C.J. without the victim’s knowledge or authorization to obtain a commercial loan for $187,000, “purportedly for obtaining industrial farm equipment.”

During the next four years, McMillan made interest payments on the loan and completed renewal applications to obtain additional loan amounts of $160,000, $157,000, and $250,000. The plea agreement attributes a total of approximately $200,271 in fraudulently obtained funds that McMillan converted to his personal use. The bank discovered the fraud during an internal investigation.

In addition to the statutory guidelines for sentencing, as part of the plea agreement, McMillan agrees to forfeit $112,430.32, to pay restitution as ordered by the court, and to consent to an order prohibiting him from future employment as a banker.

“Purposely stealing from others for one’s own personal benefit is a greedy, criminal act that burdens all involved,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “Thankfully, our daily investigative collaboration with our prosecutorial partners helps identify and bring to justice those who choose a felonious path.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Lee and Asset Forfeiture Unit Section Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Two Bryan County men face up to life in prison after another man’s fatal fentanyl overdose.

Javarus McKinney, a/k/a “Jody,” 32, of Richmond Hill, Ga., is charged with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl Near a School, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A co-defendant, Darien Cothern, 32, of Richmond Hill, also is charged with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death. The primary charge carries a possible statutory penalty of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

“Since the start of the pandemic, overdoses and deaths have been rising throughout the country, with an alarming increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the Southern District,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our office will continue its diligence in working with our law enforcement partners to find the source of illegal drugs implicated in fatalities.”

Richmond Hill Police officers initiated an investigation Aug. 12, 2020, after a male victim was found dead in a residential pool. An autopsy indicated the man died from a fatal dose of fentanyl, and the indictment charges McKinney and Cothern with providing the illegal drugs.

In addition to the criminal charges, McKinney also faces forfeiture of $12,970 seized during the investigation, along with a 2017 Chevrolet Impala.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, and the Richmond Hill Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington and Noah J. Abrams.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A multi-agency drug trafficking investigation has culminated in the criminal conspiracy indictment of 21 defendants in the Southern District of Georgia.

Operation Wynner Storm, initiated by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and coordinated through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), targeted gang-related drug trafficking in the Wilkes, Lincoln and McDuffie County areas north of Augusta, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The primary charge in the indictment, Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana, carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of 10 years to life in federal prison and fines of up to $10 million, followed by not less than five years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“A collaborative effort with our law enforcement partners is the key to combatting large drug trafficking organizations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our rural communities, particularly, benefit from the coordination of local, state and federal agencies in the fight against criminal street gangs.” 

As described in the newly unsealed 51-count indictment in USA v. Wynn et al., Operation Wynner Storm describes a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or 500 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, along with cocaine and marijuana, dating back at least to April 2019. Many of the defendants also are charged with illegal firearms possession, and the indictment includes the forfeiture of eight guns seized during the investigation.

An additional 18 defendants are being prosecuted on state charges related to the investigation.

“On behalf of local law enforcement and the good citizens of Wilkes County, we appreciate the hard work by the Safe Streets Task Force in making all of Wilkes County a safer place to live,” said Mark Moore, Sheriff of Wilkes County.

“Citizens in the communities affected by organizations who are alleged to peddle drugs and weapons are immediately safer following the collaborative effort of the FBI and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are all committed to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”

“ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources in conjunction with crucial federal and local law enforcement partners to the pursuit of eradicating and forestalling criminal activity in communities we serve,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“These indictments are the result of successful collaborative efforts between state, local, and federal agencies,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We will continue to work with our partners to investigate drug trafficking and keep Georgia safe.”

Those charged in Operation Wynner Storm and their charges include:

• Exjaben Demontaz Hardman, a/k/a “Zay,” 42, of Washington, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Using or Maintaining a Drug Premises; and 24 counts of Use of Communication Facility, a charge related to the use of telephones to facilitate the conspiracy;
• Sherman Redzuees Blackmon, a/k/a “Shorty P,” 42, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and four counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Paul Mickel McKittrick, a/k/a “Mike,” 40, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and 12 counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Calvin Terrill Wynn, a/k/a “Swang Lo,” a/k/a “Lo,” 33, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and three counts of Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Timothy Derrick Pettus, a/k/a “TP,” 53, of Duluth, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and three counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• William Daniel Mason, 52, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and two counts of Use of Communications Facility;
• Amanda Kirkland Smith, 40, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana;
• Derrick Demond Barnett, a/k/a “DB,” 44, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Jermaine Wingfield, a/k/a “J-Chunk,” 32, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Roger Levar Powell, a/k/a “P,” 44, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Stevie Lamar Shank, 49, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Elijah Abdullah Davis, 35, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and one count of Use of Communication Facility; 
• Willie Fitzgerald Young, 51, of Rayle, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and three counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• William Paul Murray, 66, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Using or Maintaining a Drug Premises; and one count of Use of Communication Facility;
• Lindsey Harris Andrews, 37, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Lila Marie Quarles, a/k/a “Lila Dawkins,” 41, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Cynthia Leigh McCarty, 54, Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Demetrius Antonio Perkins, a/k/a “Dee,” 39, an inmate at Riverbend Correctional Facility in Milledgeville, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana;
• Stephanie Marie Adams, 24, of Washington, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Taylor Ann Marie Farmer, 29, of Crawfordville, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; and three counts of Use of Communication Facility; and,
• Tracy Reid Moore, a/k/a “T-Mo,” 33, of Athens, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana; and two counts of Use of Communication Facility.

Initial appearance hearings in U.S. District Court have been underway for the defendants.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Agencies investigating the case include the FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Probation Office; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Georgia State Patrol; the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office; the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office; the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia G. Rhodes.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Three men face felony firearms charges in separate indictments by a U.S. District Court grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while nine others have admitted to gun charges. 

The cases are being investigated in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“These prosecutions continue to send a strong message,” said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “With our law enforcement partners, we are working to make our communities safer by removing guns from the hands of those who illegally possess them.” 

In the past three years, nearly 700 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction on a previous felony. That charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

Defendants named in federal indictments from the August 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:

• Shawn Green, 27, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Calvin Jerrod Hendrix, 24, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
• Jamel Albert, 30, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.    

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on federal charges that include illegal firearms possession, including:

• Darius Edwards, 33, of Pembroke, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. ATF agents found Edwards in possession of a firearm during an investigation of a suspicious gun purchase. Edwards was on state probation for a felony conviction at the time.
• Devonta Armon Stallings, 28, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies spotted Stallings March 28, 2020, when he ran from a group loitering in a known drug area and tossed a pistol before being captured. Stallings was on state probation at the time of his arrest.
• William Thomas Nealous III, 30, of Martinez, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies found Nealous with an AR-15 style rifle in his vehicle July 2, 2020, while investigating reports of a man driving slowly through a neighborhood. Nealous was on probation for a previous felony conviction at the time of the arrest.

• James Stallings III, 29, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Stallings encountered Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies July 27, 2020, when they were called to investigate shots fired outside an Augusta hotel. 

• Bryant Young, 25, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was arrested July 16, 2019, after a pistol fell from his waistband when he ran from Savannah Police officers who were investigating a report of a man with a gun.  
• Timothy Lee Lanigan, 38, of Reidsville, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Lanigan was on felony probation in June 2018 when Garden City Police officers found him in possession of a pistol during an investigation. 
• King Coney, 29, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found Coney in possession of a pistol Aug.19, 2020, when questioning him in relation to a domestic disturbance.  

These cases also are being investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for adjudication of alleged crimes.

Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF; the Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; the Port Wentworth Police Department; and the Garden City Police Department.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Henry W. Syms Jr., Steven S. Lee, Joshua S. Bearden, Joseph McCool, Marcela C. Mateo, and Noah J. Abrams, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

SAVANNAH, GA:  The former manager of a Savannah bed and breakfast is accused of embezzling more than $500,000 in a 14-count federal indictment.

Chiquita Blake, 46, of Pooler, Ga., is charged with 14 counts of Wire Fraud in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Historic properties are an essential element of Savannah’s hospitality industry,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will protect these small businesses from the potential financial harm of illegal activities.”

As described in the indictment, Blake was employed as a manager of a bed and breakfast in Savannah’s Historic District. From around May 2015 through December 2020, Blake “knowingly executed and attempted to execute a scheme and artifice” to defraud the inn, “to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.”

The indictment alleges that Blake fraudulently transferred funds from the inn’s accounts and into bank accounts Blake controlled, and then used those funds for expenditures “such as the defendant’s bills and personal use.”

The indictment specifically charges a portion of those transfers, alleging that from June 24, 2017, to Dec. 20, 2020, Blake made 14 electronic transfers to her personal accounts.

“Fraud committed by those in positions of trust are particularly hurtful,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “Their actions are an affront to the societal norms we are all called to live by.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A Georgia man has been sentenced in federal court in connection with a dog-fighting ring broken up in 2018 in Dodge County.

Benjaman Shinhoster III, a/k/a “Benji,” 41, of Louisville, Ga., was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Sponsoring and Exhibiting a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture, said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. also ordered Shinhoster to pay a fine of $2,500 and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“It is appalling that anyone could find ‘entertainment’ from forcing animals into bloody and often fatal fights,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We’re grateful to our alert law enforcement partners for shutting down this dogfighting operation, and Benji Shinhoster and his co-defendants are being held accountable.”

Shinhoster had been on pre-sentencing supervised release after pleading guilty in the case, but his bond was revoked after he was discovered to have been attempting to sell several dogs.

“The gall of this defendant to continue as a proprietor of death while on bond is unnerving,” said Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General.  “This prosecution should serve as notice that our agency in conjunction with our federal partners will be unrelenting in our pursuit for justice for these mild defenseless creatures bred and trained for this malicious pastime.”  

The lead defendant in the investigation, James Lampkin, a/k/a “Pookie,” 46, of Eastman, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, while co-defendants Deveon Hood, 34, of Tennille, Ga.; Andre Archer, 23, of Sandersville, Ga.; Xavier Simmons, 34, of Sandersville, Ga.; and Joe Ford, 33, of Elgin, S.C., await sentencing in federal court after pleading guilty to related felony charges. Dwight McDuffie, 44, of Eastman, Ga., is serving two years of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge in the case.

In March 2018, Georgia State Patrol troopers and Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens conducted traffic stops in Eastman after the Oconee (Georgia) Drug Task Force received reports of a dogfighting operation at Lampkin’s property. During those traffic stops, officers discovered a dog in one of the vehicles that appeared to have been injured while fighting. Investigators later seized 63 dogs at Lampkin’s residence while serving a search warrant after finding the animals chained in the back yard. Investigators also discovered a disassembled pit where fights were held, and equipment used to train dogs for fighting.

While the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated a civil forfeiture action, an animal rescue operation took custody of the dogs.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Rock and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro V. Pascual IV.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Georgia company and its owner have admitted guilt in a scheme to evade United States national security laws.

Dali Bagrou pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy, while his company, World Mining and Oil Supply (WMO) of Dacula, Ga., pled guilty to Violation of the Export Control Reform Act, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Bagrou to a statutory sentence of up to five years in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by up to three years of supervised release, while WMO is subject to a sentence of up to five years’ probation, along with significant fines and financial restitution. As part of his plea, Bagrou also agreed to forfeit a home purchased with illicit proceeds; the Atlanta-area residence is valued at approximately $800,000.

“The conspirators in this case were attempting to enrich themselves by evading trade sanctions put in place to protect the national security of the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to outstanding effort by our law enforcement partners, these defendants are now being held accountable for their violations of the law.”

As described in court documents and testimony in USA v. World Mining and Oil Supply et. al., the conspiracy began when an unnamed Russian government-controlled business began working with with Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin, general director of KS Engineering (KSE), a St. Petersburg, Russia-based energy company, in 2016 to purchase a power turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer for approximately $17.3 million. The Russian company intended to use the turbine on a Russian Arctic deepwater drilling platform, expressly prohibited by the U.S. Department of Commerce unless a license is first obtained.

Nikitin admitted that he and another KSE employee, Anton Cheremukhin, conspired with Gabrielle Villone, Villone’s company GVA, and Villone’s business partner Bruno Caparini, to obtain the turbine on their behalf. Villone, Caprini and GVA then employed the services of Bagrou and WMO to procure the turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer and to have the turbine shipped overseas. The parties conspired to conceal the true end user of the turbine from both the U.S. manufacturer and the U.S. government by submitting false documentation that stated the turbine would be used by a U.S. company in and around Atlanta.

Nikitin, Villone, and Bagrou all were arrested in Savannah, Ga., in 2019 while attempting to complete the illegal transaction. Villone currently is serving a 28-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to Conspiracy, while the other named defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty.  

“Special Agents of the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) will aggressively enforce Russia sectoral sanctions violations and any attempt to procure U.S origin goods in violation of U.S. export laws,” said Ariel Joshua Leinwand, Special Agent in Charge of OEE’s Atlanta Office. “The substantial penalties from this guilty plea should serve as a deterrent to those seeking to engage in illegal export activities.”

“The FBI and our partners will always make threats to our national security a top priority, and this conspiracy was a direct threat,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This was a methodical plan to undercut United States sanctions to put our goods in the hands of actors who are a direct threat to our national security.”

“The illegal export of technology to other countries poses a significant threat to America’s warfighters,” said Special Agent in Charge, Cynthia A. Bruce, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, (DCIS) Southeast Field Office. “DCIS and our investigative partners will aggressively pursue those who violate the trade sanctions that threaten the national security of the United States.” 

The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, as well as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit.

 

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SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah tire store owner faces decades in federal prison after a U.S. District Court jury found him guilty of distributing methamphetamine.

Reginald Anderson, a/k/a “Red,” 49, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after being found guilty on three counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Anderson faces a possible statutory sentence of up to thirty years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Meth is deadly and highly addictive, and its corrosive effects are devastating to our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “’Red’ Anderson sold tires out of the front of his store and drugs from the back. That doesn’t make him a legitimate businessman; that makes him a drug dealer.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Anderson was the owner of Anderson’s Tire Shop, and was indicted in November 2019 after he sold methamphetamine on multiple occasions to informants for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in June 2018. Testimony was delivered in which Anderson had propositioned at least one person for sexual favors in exchange for narcotics, and that the methamphetamine that he was selling at the time was nearly 100 percent pure. A jury convicted him on all counts after a two-day trial in federal court.

“The success of this investigation was possible because of unified law enforcement cooperation,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “As a result of a trial verdict, this methamphetamine trafficker was found guilty on all counts and will now spend well-deserved time in prison.”

“The Postal Inspection Service, along with our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to pursue individuals that abuse the Postal Service for their illegal drug enterprise and this verdict is a testament of the diligent investigative work performed by Postal Inspectors,” said Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A former inmate at the Camden County Detention Facility has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for providing the drugs resulting in another inmate’s death by overdose.

Joshua Swing, 36, of Kingsland, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl, said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Swing to pay $12,919.52 in restitution to the family of the victim, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Overdose deaths in the United States reached an all-time high in the past year, as fentanyl continues to be a growing, deadly threat to users of illicit drugs – particularly highly addictive opioids,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “It’s especially alarming when this dangerous drug penetrates even inside secure jail walls, in this case killing an inmate who thought he was ingesting heroin.”

The investigation of the case, conducted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office as an outside agency at the request of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, began May 17, 2020, when an inmate at the Camden County Detention Facility identified as J.D. was found unresponsive in his cell. He later died, and a subsequent autopsy determined acute fentanyl toxicity as the cause of death. After interviews of other inmates and review of security camera footage, investigators determined Swing sold the fentanyl to J.D.

In his guilty plea, Swing admitted providing the fentanyl to J.D., and agreed to pay restitution to the victim’s family in the amount of J.D.’s funeral expenses. Swing has an extensive criminal record with prior felony drug convictions in state court, and just five days before J.D.’s death Swing had been booked into the Camden County Jail after being arrested on a state charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Josephson and E. Greg Gilluly Jr.

AUGUSTA, GA:  With the sentencing of the lead defendant, the prosecution of a major Richmond County drug trafficking conspiracy has resulted in convictions of all eight defendants – including a man and two sons.

Terrance Quain Freeman, 50, of Augusta, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Freeman to pay a fine of $2,500 and serve four years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Multiple law enforcement partners at all levels worked together to identify, infiltrate and terminate this conspiracy that imported significant amounts of illegal drugs into the Richmond County area,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “This sentence slams the prison door on poison profiteers who no longer will plague the greater Augusta community.”

The 2019 indictments in USA v. Freeman, et. al., a two-year investigation initiated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, identified Freeman as the leader of a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Augusta area.  Mario Hubbard, 45, of Atlanta, was found to be Freeman’s source of supply for cocaine.  The conspiracy involved the sale of kilograms of cocaine, as well as amounts of crack cocaine marijuana. 

During the investigation of Operation Snowfall – so named because of the large quantities of powder cocaine involved – DEA agents and sheriff’s office investigators seized more than $500,000 in cash, more than two kilos of cocaine, 32 grams of crack cocaine and more than 9 pounds of marijuana, along with eight firearms.

Hubbard previously pled guilty to an Information charging him with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The plea subjects Hubbard to a statutory sentence of up to 40 years in prison, and he has agreed to the forfeiture of a residence in Smyrna alleged to have been purchased with drug trafficking proceeds.

Six other defendants previously pled guilty in the investigation, including:

• Timothy Jeremy Myers, 33, of Augusta, sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana;
• Timothy Dale Reid, 53, of Augusta, awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana. Reid is a half-brother of Terrance Freeman. 
• Willie Antonio Bass, 37, of Augusta, sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Tyquain Freeman, 29, of Augusta, sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana. He is a son of Terrance Freeman.
• Christopher Chin, 36, of Augusta, sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine of $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana; and,
• Quieaton Freeman, 22, of Augusta, awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of Firearms by an Illegal Drug User. He is a son of Terrance Freeman.

More than a dozen other defendants faced state charges in the investigation.

“The sentencing of the lead defendant in this case closes the door on an organization that once profited from peddling cocaine in the Richmond County area,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA and its law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to ensure that Richmond County citizens trust their community is a safe place to live. Terrance Freeman will spend well-deserved time in prison.”

“I applaud the federal and local partners who assisted in this investigation,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “Targeting organizations will have the greatest impact on the drug trade, and we remind area citizens that these multijurisdictional efforts will continue.”

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, the Dekalb County HIDTA Task Force, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Hank Syms.

WAYCROSS, GA:  A former prison guard has admitted participating in a drug trafficking operation in south Georgia that included smuggling contraband to inmates.

Jessica Azaelae Burnett, a/k/a “The Madam,” 41, of Douglas, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Burnett’s guilty plea exposes her to a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by a minimum of three years of supervised release after completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. As part of her plea agreement, Burnett also agrees to the forfeiture of five firearms seized during the investigation.

“Compromised corrections officers who breach prison security to provide contraband to inmates represent a significant danger not only to inmates and guards, but also to citizens outside prison walls who are within reach of unmonitored jail communications from smuggled cell phones,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Jessica Burnett is rightfully being held accountable for violating her oath and endangering the community.”

Burnett, who was a sergeant and a senior guard with CoreCivic, the private prison company that operates Coffee County Correctional Facility, admitted working with other conspirators in distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana. Her role in the conspiracy included smuggling cell phones, drugs and other contraband into the state prison.

Burnett is one of 48 defendants indicted in Operation Sandy Bottom, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation centered in the Sand Ridge neighborhood on the east side of Douglas, Ga., in an area known as “the bottoms.” The 57-count indictment, USA v. McMillan et. al,  was unsealed in January 2021 and alleges that the conspiracy, controlled by a subset of the violent Gangster Disciples street gang, used guns, violence and fear to control methamphetamine trafficking operations throughout the community and to enable contraband distribution inside Georgia prisons.

Altogether, the indictment charged the 48 defendants with a total of 129 felonies. With Burnett, 20 of the defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty; that includes another former prison guard: Idalis Qua Dazia Harrell, 24, of Douglas, a former guard at Coffee County Correctional Facility, who pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana. The remaining defendants are awaiting trial, and are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation began in 2018 when the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, responding to complaints about the increasing level of violence and drug activity in the Sand Ridge neighborhood of Douglas, enlisted the assistance of the FBI and the Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy controlled multiple “trap houses” to store and distribute illegal drugs, primarily methamphetamine, and was coordinated by leaders of the Gangster Disciples who distributed drugs throughout Coffee, Bacon, Emanuel, Jeff Davis, Pierce and Wheeler counties, along with other parts of Georgia.

Investigators infiltrated the operation, intercepting multiple kilograms of drugs and nearly two dozen illegally possessed firearms, along with seven vehicles and more than $12,000 in cash identified as drug-trafficking proceeds.

Cell phones were used by some of the conspirators in Operation Sandy Bottom to facilitate drug trafficking throughout south Georgia from inside the state prison system.

“Not only did Burnett jeopardize the safety of staff and inmates at the Coffee County Correctional Facility, her actions fostered criminal activity inside and outside the facility,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “By violating her sworn oath she betrayed every honest, hard-working officer and she will be held accountable.”

“CoreCivic is committed to the safety and security of our employees, those in our care, and the communities we serve. The facility management team at Coffee Correctional Facility fully supported this investigation and appreciate the efforts of all agencies involved in preventing further introduction of contraband into correctional facilities,” said Vance Laughlin, CoreCivic’s Managing Director of Operations. 

Operation Sandy Bottom is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. It is being investigated by the FBI and the FBI Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coffee County Drug Unit; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office; Pierce County Sheriff’s Office; Bacon County Sheriff’s Office; Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office; Lanier County Sheriff’s Office; the Blackshear Police Department; Nicholls Police Department; Douglas Police Department; Alma Police Department; the Glynn County Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; the Swainsboro Police Department; and the Coffee County Department of Family and Children Services.

The cases is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph McCool, Frank Pennington II and E. Greg Gilluly, with asset forfeitures coordinated by Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  Two men implicated in a cocaine-distribution scheme after a traffic stop have admitted guilt on federal charges.

Avon Shuttleworth, a/k/a “Havan,” 46, of Rosedale, N.Y., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Georgia to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, while Courtnay Anthony Drummond, 52, of Brunswick, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The pleas subject the defendants to statutory sentences of five to 40 years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“It’s truly incredible how so many elaborate criminal schemes fall apart because of a simple traffic violation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to an alert Georgia State Patrol trooper and outstanding work from our law enforcement partners, an operation that moved kilos of illegal drugs in the northeastern United States has been brought to a halt.”

Beginning in March 2020, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, led by agents from the Savannah Resident Office, initiated an investigation of cocaine trafficking from Jamaica into the New York City area. As described in court documents and testimony, Drummond met with Shuttleworth and another conspirator on March 14, 2020, at Shuttleworth’s home in New York, when Drummond agreed to deliver two kilograms of cocaine to a buyer in Baltimore, Md. Drummond is a native of Jamaica and legal resident of the United States; Shuttleworth is a citizen of Jamaica.

On March 15, 2020, a Georgia State Patrol trooper pulled Drummond over on Interstate 95 in McIntosh County, Ga., for tailgating another vehicle, and during a subsequent search of the car troopers found the two kilogram bricks of cocaine. Drummond told investigators that he had been unable to contact the Maryland buyer and was headed to his then-home in Riviera Beach, Fla. Agents on a federal search warrant later searched Shuttleworth’s New York residence and found a ledger detailing drug transactions and a large press used to make kilo-sized drug bricks.

“This traffic stop led to the seizure of almost five pounds of cocaine, ensuring this dangerous and potentially deadly drug never reached the seller, and more importantly, the consumer,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This case was successful because of the hard work and dedication between DEA and its law enforcement partners.”

“This case demonstrates the success of collaborative efforts between state and federal agencies,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We continue to work with our partners to investigate drug trafficking and keep Georgia safe.”

The case is being investigated by the DEA, including agents from the DEA Atlanta Field Division Savannah Resident Office and New York DEA Task Force Group 43, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A contractor at Hunter Army Airfield has been indicted on three felony charges after Army investigators allege he falsely claimed to have been assaulted on post.

Eric T. Nakamura, 49, of Beaufort, S.C., is charged with three counts of False Statement Made to a Department or Agency of the United States, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Each charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to five years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release following any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Army investigators spent substantial time and taxpayer resources investigating this alleged assault,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We commend their diligence in seeking a resolution to this case.”

Nakamura has appeared before Magistrate Judge Christopher L. Ray for arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

The indictment alleges that on July 20, 2020, Nakamura falsely claimed to a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) special agent that Nakamura was “stabbed with a knife and robbed by an unknown person in an Army uniform with the name tape ‘Brown’ while in the lab in which he worked at Hunter Army Airfield. The indictment alleges that Nakamura repeated the claim in subsequent interviews with CID special agents on Oct. 14, 2020, and again Feb. 1, 2021, despite knowing “he had stabbed himself with a knife, and had not been robbed.” 

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

SAVANNAH, GA:  All defendants linked to a 2020 Bryan County gun store burglary have now admitted to related charges with the guilty plea of a Pembroke, Ga., felon.

Adam Webster, 38, of Pembroke, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Possession of a Stolen Firearm, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Webster to a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, along with substantial fines and three years of supervised release following completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The investigation of the April 2020 burglary of Cleve’s Gun Shop demonstrates how quickly illegal firearms can spread once introduced into the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our law enforcement partners made exemplary progress in tracking down those responsible for this burglary and recovering these stolen weapons before they could be used in further crimes.”

The investigation began when Cleve’s Gun Shop in Ellabell, Ga., was burglarized in the early morning hours of April 22, 2020.  Approximately 18 firearms, a .50 caliber muzzleloader, and various rounds of ammunition were stolen during the burglary. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), along with the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, worked to recover four of the guns during the investigation. On June 18, 2020, law enforcement conducted a search of Webster’s residence and found a revolver stolen during the burglary. Webster at the time was on parole after conviction on a state felony charge.  

Other defendants who have pled guilty to their role in the burglary or possessing firearms related to those stolen during the burglary are:

• Johnny Cason, 40, of Ellabell, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with Conspiracy for helping to plan and provide materials used in the burglary. He faces a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison.
• Michael Ernest Warnell, 39, of Ellabell, Ga., faces a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
• Colby Ray Southerland, 24, of Ellabell, Ga., faces a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful User of Controlled Substances.
• Brandon Beasley, 23, of Ellabell, Ga., faces a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm with an Altered and Obliterated Serial Number.

“Among ATF’s top priorities is ensuring that those who are responsible for committing gun store burglaries are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “This is an excellent example of such an investigation that was worked cooperatively by multiple partner agencies with outstanding results.”

The case was investigated by the ATF; GBI; DCS; and the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office; with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

Those with information concerning the whereabouts of firearms stolen in the burglary should contact the ATF at (912) 650-6550.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A U.S. District Court jury found a previously convicted felon guilty on all charges for a violent 2019 crime spree across south Georgia.

Alfred Wisher, 39, faces a minimum sentence of 14 years in prison after jurors convicted him on all 11 counts in a federal indictment related to a July 2019 series of violent crimes and firearm offenses in the Savannah and Waycross areas, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Wisher remains in custody, and sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker is set for October. 

“Alfred Wisher and his accomplice are dangerous, violent criminals who are being held accountable for terrorizing innocent citizens,” said Acting U.S. Estes. “Thanks to the diligent, patient, and thorough work of our law enforcement partners, our communities are now safer with these men behind bars.”  

As described in the evidence presented to the jury, Wisher was previously convicted of a series of violent armed robberies in New York.  He then came to Savannah, began a relationship with a juvenile, and, during an argument on July 10, 2019, he fired a pistol into the bed she was in.  Days later, Wisher struck his roommate in the head and stole a firearm. Wisher then gave that stolen firearm to Samuel Renardo Chisholm, a/k/a “Chilly Willy,” a/k/a “Pooh,” 29, of Savannah, also a convicted felon.  On July 25, 2019, Wisher and Chisholm carjacked at gunpoint a mother visiting Savannah, stealing her Ford Escape. 

Wisher and Chisholm drove the stolen Escape to Ware County the next day, where Wisher attempted to rob a preschool teacher as she walked into the TJ Maxx store in Waycross, Georgia, to shop. Chisholm drove Wisher away from the attempted robbery. Chisholm then stole another vehicle before crashing it; he then attempted to carjack an elderly couple in Ware County before being apprehended by law enforcement.

U.S. Marshals arrested Wisher in Savannah on July 29, 2019, after finding him standing near the stolen Ford Escape.

Chisholm previously pled guilty to using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during the attempted carjacking in Ware County and conspiring with Wisher to use and carry a firearm during the Savannah carjacking and attempted robbery outside of the TJ Maxx in Waycross. Chisholm faces up to life in prison and awaits sentencing related to the crime spree.

“Without the partnerships with our local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, this crime spree would not have ended when it did, and many more innocent citizens could have been terrorized,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully, that team effort will result in a sentence that will ease the trauma to those who were victimized.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Savannah Police Department, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waycross Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

DUBLIN, GA:  Thirty defendants are charged in a Laurens County methamphetamine-trafficking indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Georgia.

The indictment in USA v. Monroe et. al charges 30 defendants with 56 felony counts, and includes forfeiture allegations listing 77 firearms, including a machine gun, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. All 30 defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and if convicted face a statutory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement partners have done outstanding work to identify, infiltrate and eliminate drug trafficking operations throughout the greater Dublin area,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “This continuing effort will make our communities safer by removing illegal drugs and illegally possessed firearms from our streets.”

“The men and women of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the DEA and The ATF spent countless hours making this investigation such a huge success, and deserve our gratitude for their hard work and sacrifice,” said Larry Dean, Sheriff of Laurens County. “This operation could not have happened without the great partnerships of these agencies, along with the support of our community’s law-abiding citizens.”   

“Strong law enforcement partnerships underscore the power of combined forces and strategic partnerships,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta Field Division. “These partnerships are vital in the war against ‘meth’ and other dangerous drugs. DEA and its law enforcement partners are in the business to save lives and protect communities from the perils of drug abuse.”

“ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources in conjunction with crucial federal and local law enforcement partners to the pursuit of eradicating and forestalling criminal activity in the communities we serve in the Southern District of Georgia,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed Operation Monroe Doctrine, identified a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy operating throughout Laurens and Telfair counties and beyond. As described in the indictment, the drug trafficking ring operated from at least January 2020 through January 2021. Initial appearance hearings have begun for the defendants named in the indictment, and all are in custody pending further court proceedings.

Those named in the indictment include:

• David Alex Monroe, 32, currently in custody at the Laurens County Jail, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm by a User of Illegal Drugs; Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun; and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm;
• Jorge Hernandez-Pena, 45, of Atlanta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and seven counts of Use of Communication Facility, a charge that refers to the use of telephones to facilitate the conspiracy;
• Fredi Ramirez-Garcia, 42, currently in custody in the Dekalb County Jail in Decatur, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Christopher Forbes, 31, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; five counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm by a User of Illegal Drugs; Possession of an Unregistered Firearm; and eight counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Robin Eberling, 34, of Soperton, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine;
• David Kates, 45, currently incarcerated at Rogers State Prison in Reidsville, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Carl Davis, 48, currently in custody in the Laurens County Jail, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and Use of Communication Facility;
• Wanda Phillips, 40, of Adrian, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 or More Grams of Methamphetamine;
• Timothy Bracewell, 53, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Jordan Gooch, 35, currently in custody at the John F. Goode Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Jacksonville, Fla., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Erica Brown, 41, of Jackson, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Rosario Cortez-Locenzo, 37, of Atlanta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and three counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Brooke Skipper, 48, of Alamo, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Chris Horne, 31, of Vidalia, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Cody Argo, 33, of Glenwood, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Frederick Perry Jr., 34, of Vidalia, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Jeremi Kole Pullen, 36, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Joshua Killingsworth, 34, of Dexter, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Tommy King, 59, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Steven Larsen, 55, of Glenwood, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Gary Moore, 41, of Cadwell, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Robert Anthony Justice, 38, of Chester, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Joshua Brown, 41, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Joseph Grubbs, 45, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Use of Communication Facility;
• Howard Johnson, 31, of Jacksonville, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Desaree Midyette, 27, of Jacksonville, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
• Alexis Weinhold, 23, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Justin Hobbs, 27, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
• Maranda Stroud, 28, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility; and,
• Brandie Grizzard, 35, of Rentz, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

The case is being investigated by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III, Frank M. Pennington II, and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.

STATESBORO, GA:  A Screven County man was sentenced to federal prison after admitting that he distributed child pornography.

Daniel Boulineau, 34, of Sylvania, Ga., was sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading pled guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Boulineau to pay restitution to the victims in the case, to register as a sex offender, and to serve 25 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue predators who prey upon vulnerable children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Daniel Boulineau’s incarceration will hold him accountable and protect other vulnerable citizens from this predator.”

As outlined in court documents and testimony, in early August 2020, Boulineau admitted that he electronically distributed images and videos of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. An investigation by the FBI and the Child Exploitation Task Force into online activity led to Boulineau’s arrest on Sept. 1, 2020, after he used an online messaging service to share videos and images of child exploitation with an undercover investigator.

“This sentence demonstrates the determination of the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to find those who prey on children in our communities and bring them to justice,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The trauma suffered by a child who is sexually abused is deplorable and even more so every time images of that abuse are distributed and viewed.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

STATESBORO, GA:  An Emanuel County woman who admitted creating a fake business and using it to receive funding from a federal COVID-19 small business relief program has been sentenced in federal court.

Tracy Kirkland, 41, of Swainsboro, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to an Information charging her with Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hal also ordered Kirkland to pay restitution of $66,400, forfeit a 2019 Dodge Charger and $16,250, and serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Tracy Kirkland has a disturbing history of two decades as a petty thief, and was on state probation when she stepped her crimes up another notch by defrauding the COVID-19 relief program,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “She is once again being held accountable for her criminal activity.”

As described in court documents and testimony, in August 2020 Kirkland received a federally guaranteed loan for $66,400 under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program comprised of funds appropriated by the CARES Act. In applying for the funding, Kirkland falsely claimed to own “Kirklands Hair N Beauty,” a fictitious business with three employees in Swainsboro, that had suffered economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Soon after receiving the SBA loan proceeds into her personal account, Kirkland, a previously convicted felon who was on state probation, used the funds to purchase a 2019 Dodge Charger R/T; made large cash withdrawals from her bank account; and made other non-business-related purchases. 

“Lying to gain access to economic stimulus funds will be met with justice,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “Greed has no place in SBA’s programs that are intended to provide assistance to the nation’s small businesses struggling with the pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”

The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case with assistance from the Swainsboro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Ammunition, with prosecution for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Lee and Asset Recovery Unit Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A second Burke County man has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to operating an illegal pill factory from a residence.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall sentenced Cedrick Gabriel Brown, a/k/a “Pop,” 47, of Midville, Ga., to 60 months in prison after Brown pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Brown also will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Brown’s codefendant, Telly Savalas Carswell, 47, also of Midville, is serving a sentence of 168 months in prison after also pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Methamphetamine.

“This sentence finalizes the investigation and prosecution of two men who profited from spreading poison in a rural community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who would make money from misery.”

The investigation of Carswell and Brown began in January 2020 when U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents tracked the delivery of a commercial pill press to their Midville residence. With assistance from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, DEA agents searched the home on May 7, 2020, and found the pill press, along with methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs; nearly $9,000 in cash; and paraphernalia related to drug manufacturing and trafficking.

Both men have extensive criminal records, including state convictions for drug trafficking offenses.

“’Garage manufacturers’ like this defendant continue to use pill presses which ultimately hurt and kill unsuspecting users,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe by removing drug pushers like this defendant. He will spend well-deserved time in federal prison.” 

The case was investigated by the DEA and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Josephson. 

SAVANNAH, GA:  Six defendants face felony firearms charges, with two also charged with illegal drug possession, after indictment by a U.S. District Court grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia. 

The cases are being investigated in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI.

“The enforcement of existing firearms laws is an essential part of keeping our streets safe,” said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Our law enforcement partners continue to protect our communities by pursuing individuals who illegally possess guns.” 

In the past three years, more than 680 defendants were federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a previous felony. That charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

Defendants named in federal indictments from the July 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:

• John W. Carter, 36, of Rincon, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Antoine Ladson, 32, of Brunswick, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Jamar Lavelle Alexander, 34, of Crawfordville, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Timothy Lee Cheeks, 33, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon;
• David Bryson Murphy, 20, of Thomson, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
• Christopher Lewis Tucker Jr., 21, of Thomson, charged with False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm, and Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment.

  

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on charges that include illegal firearms possession, including:

• Marcus Rashad Allen, 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found him in possession of a pistol in August 2020 after he ran from officers attempting to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
• Dameon Duncan, 21, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers in May 2020 found Duncan in possession of a pistol during a traffic stop.
• Telly Green, 33, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found him in possession of a pistol in August 2020 while investigating reports of shots fired at a vehicle in a Savannah neighborhood.
• Khallid Marquese Wright, 24, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Wright, who was stopped in February by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies for questioning in an unrelated case, was found in possession of a firearm.
• Robert Kenneth Williams, 32, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found Williams in possession of a pistol in April 2020 in a motel parking lot.
• Joseph Jay Gartrell III, 37, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to an Information charging him with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County sheriff’s deputies suspected Gartrell of driving under the influence when they found him asleep in his vehicle after 3 a.m. in November 2019. During a subsequent search, officers discovered drugs, cash and a firearm in his vehicle.
• Blake McDuffie, 26, of Winder, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Officers from the Pooler Police Department charged McDuffie in May 2020 when he was found in possession of a pistol after he sped away from a traffic stop and subsequently crashed his vehicle.
• Devonta Armon Stallings, 27, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Stallings ran from Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies in March 2020 and tossed a pistol before being captured. He was on state probation at the time of his arrest.

These cases also are being investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for adjudication of alleged crimes.

Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF; the FBI; the Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office; the Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office; the Glynn County Police Department; the Pooler Police Department; and the Brunswick Police Department.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Henry W. Syms Jr., Marcela C. Mateo, Jennifer A. Stanley, Noah J. Abrams, Frank M. Pennington II, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A Coffee County man who operated a pill factory was sentenced to more than a decade in prison for distribution of methamphetamine.

Demetrius Brown, a/k/a “Jersey,” 43, of Douglas, Ga., was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Brown to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Meth is poison, and those who would seek to profit from distributing it in our neighborhoods will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our law enforcement partners, particularly the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, have made their community a safer place by taking Demetrius Brown off the streets.”  

The investigation of Brown began in 2019 when the Coffee County Drug Unit determined Brown was selling pills purportedly containing ecstasy. Law enforcement conducted two controlled purchases before executing a search warrant at Brown’s home, discovering pills labeled “Ecstasy” that contained methamphetamine, a pill press, other materials used for manufacturing methamphetamine pills, and four firearms.

Brown previously was convicted of multiple felonies, including assault on a law enforcement officer and heroin distribution in a school zone – all occurring in New Jersey prior to his relocation to south Georgia.

“We hope the sentence of Demetrius Brown will serve as a major wake-up call to those attempting to manufacture and distribute illegal drugs in Coffee County,” Sheriff Doyle Wooten stated. “We are actively partnering with state and federal officials and law enforcement agencies to aggressively target the sources of drug distribution in our area, and we will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent the law allows.”

“This case is the product of a collaborative effort on the part of ATF and Coffee County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the perpetrator of violent crime,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This sentence will ensure the incarceration of a dangerous criminal.” 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coffee County Drug Unit, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Harper III.

USA v SIAS indictment USA v SIAS penalty certification AUGUSTA, GA:  An elected official in the Augusta city government is named in a two-count federal indictment charging him with destroying records in a federal investigation, and lying to federal investigators researching the case.

Sammie Lee Sias, 66, of Hephzibah, Ga., who serves as District 4 commissioner on the Augusta Commission, is charged with Destruction, Alteration, of Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations; and False Statement or Representation Made to a Department or Agency of the United States, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release following completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Federal investigations play a significant oversight role in maintaining integrity and transparency from elected officials and in government agencies at all levels,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We commend our law enforcement partners in the FBI and GBI for their diligence in seeking timely and accurate information from those who are chosen to serve the taxpayers of our communities.”

As outlined in Count One of USA v. Sias, the indictment alleges that on or about Aug. 5, 2019, Sias “did knowingly alter, destroy, mutilate, conceal, and coverup records, documents and other objects, to wit, digital files belonging to Sandridge Community Association (SCA), which included invoices, spreadsheets, work orders, payments, agendas, minutes, financial reports and other documentation of Jamestown Community Center (Jamestown), Jamestown Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), SCA Board of Directors, SCA Summer Camp, with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation and proper administration of a federal criminal grand jury investigation.”

Subsequently, Count Two alleges that on or about Aug. 9, 2019, Sias “did willfully and knowingly make a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice, an agency of the United States,” when Sias told an FBI special agent that he had provided all electronic and paper files in his possession related to the investigation.

Arraignment on the charges has not yet been scheduled.

“The alleged cover up was not only a violation of the oath taken by this elected official, but a theft of the public’s trust,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Public corruption is one of the FBI’s top priorities and we will do everything in our power to pursue officials who abuse their positions.”

“Elected officials must uphold the public’s trust,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds. “The GBI is committed to working with federal partners to hold accountable those who would violate that trust.”

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the GBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Criminal Chief Patricia G. Rhodes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons.

AUGUSTA, GA:  All of the defendants charged in connection with a dog-fighting ring broken up in 2018 in Dodge County have admitted guilt to federal charges now that the operator of the dog-fighting facility has pled guilty.

James Lampkin, a/k/a “Pookie,” 46, of Eastman, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Lampkin to a statutory sentence of up to five years in prison, along with substantial fines and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Animal fighting is cruel and barbaric, and has no place in our society – and it is particularly unwelcome in the Southern District of Georgia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our vigilant law enforcement partners shut down Lampkin’s brutal operation and rescued dozens of animals from a life of pain and misery.”

“This investigation and prosecution should send a strong zero-tolerance message to those individuals involved in the inhumane torture of animals for the purpose of entertainment,” said Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General.  “We appreciate the partnership with our law enforcement partners in pursuing these purveyors of death and senseless suffering.”

Five of Lampkin’s co-defendants – Benjamin Shinhoster III, 41, of Augusta; Deveon Hood, 34, of Tennille, Ga.; Andre Archer, 23, of Sandersville, Ga.; Xavier Simmons, 34, of Sandersville, Ga.; and Joe Ford, 33, of Elgin, S.C. – also await sentencing in federal court after pleading guilty to related felony charges.

The remaining co-defendant, Dwight McDuffie, 44, of Eastman, Ga., pled guilty to Attending an Animal Fighting Venture, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to two years of probation, 150 hours of community service, and prohibited from owning animals.

In March 2018, Georgia State Patrol troopers and Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens conducted traffic stops in Eastman after receiving reports of a dogfighting operation at Lampkin’s property. During those traffic stops, officers discovered a dog in one of the vehicles that appeared to have been injured while fighting. Investigators later seized 63 dogs at Lampkin’s residence while serving a search warrant after finding the animals chained in the back yard. Investigators also discovered a disassembled pit where fights were held, and equipment used to train dogs for fighting.

While the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated a civil forfeiture action, an animal rescue operation took custody of the dogs.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Rock and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro V. Pascual IV.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Two Florida residents who crashed their car while fleeing from a traffic stop have been sentenced to federal prison for colluding in a scheme to steal pandemic unemployment funds.

Malik Abdul McCaully, 43, of Tampa, Fla., and Tamesha Lashelle Brown, 41, of Dade City, Fla., were sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to Informations charging each of them with conspiring to commit various offenses, including mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, disaster relief fraud, and access device fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also ordered each defendant to pay $137,195 in restitution to the state of Pennsylvania, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of their prison terms.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“These two criminals used access to technology to scam money out of unemployment benefits programs created specifically to help people who were struggling during the pandemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “But all their high-tech scheming came to a crashing halt when they tried to outrun police officers on I-95.”

As described in court documents and proceedings, McCaully and Brown’s criminal history spanned decades. McCaully has 39 prior convictions, including convictions for cocaine trafficking, robbery, and aggravated assault with a firearm. Brown, meanwhile, has 17 prior convictions that included offenses for grand theft, delivering cocaine, and aggravated child abuse. From about July to October 2020, the two worked together to obtain victims’ personal identifying information, without those individuals’ knowledge or consent, and then used that information to file fraudulent applications for unemployment assistance, including with the State of Pennsylvania. The two posed as the applicants when communicating with banks distributing the payments. After fraudulently obtaining bank cards preloaded with more than $130,000 in unemployment insurance funds, Brown and McCaully traveled to various ATMs in Pennsylvania, withdrawing thousands of dollars.

The two came to the attention of law enforcement in the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 2020, when a vehicle driven by McCaully sped from an attempted traffic stop by Jasper County, S.C., sheriff’s deputies on Interstate 95.  McCaully eventually crashed the vehicle in Pooler, Georgia, and he – and his passenger, Brown – were taken into custody. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement recovered more than $20,000 in cash, dozens of prepaid debit cards issued by states’ unemployment insurance funds in the names of others, as well as several false identifications that the two had used. 

“These sentences take two career criminals off the street for a substantial amount of time, effectively removing a threat against our law-abiding citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Had it not been for the awareness of our local and state law enforcement partners, and our federal partners, these two would have continued to target those in need of assistance and every American taxpayer.”  

“Those who prey on systems created to help our fellow man are among the most dastardly people we have the duty to bring to justice,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “They can’t outrun the long arm of the law.”

“Malik McCaully and Tamesha Brown engaged in a scheme to defraud the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program by submitting fraudulent claims for benefits using PII belonging other individuals. Unemployment insurance programs exist to provide needed assistance to qualified individuals who are unemployed or underemployed due to no fault of their own. Fraud against these programs causes state workforce agencies, like the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, to redirect valuable resources to address fraud to ensure benefits go to individuals who are eligible to receive them. The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and our many law enforcement partners to investigate those who exploit the unemployment insurance program,” said Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

The FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Pooler Police Department, Port Wentworth Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol investigated the case. It was prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

Please report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or go to justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.

AUGUSTA, GA:  Two brothers have been sentenced in U.S. District Court after admitting to a scheme to use a drone to smuggle contraband into a Georgia state prison.

George Lo, 27, of Powder Springs, Ga., was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Owning an Unregistered Aircraft that was Operated, Attempted to be Operated, or Allowed to be Operated by another person, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Lo’s brother, Nicholas Lo, 25, of Dallas, Ga., was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Serving or Attempting to Serve as an Airman Without an Airman’s Certificate. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. also ordered each man to serve one year of supervised release after completion of their prison terms.

There is no parole in the federal system. 

The criminal prosecutions of the Lo brothers, and of co-defendant Cheik Hassane Toure, 24, of Austell, Ga., who is awaiting sentencing after also pleading guilty, are among the first in the nation under federal law regulating non-passenger aircraft. The prosecution of Nicholas Lo is believed to be the first in the nation for illegally serving as a commercial drone pilot.  

“For as long as there have been prisons, inmates and their allies have attempted to circumvent security measures to introduce contraband inside the walls,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “In recent years, the increasing use of remotely operated aircraft has added complexity to this challenge, but in coordination with our law enforcement partners we will continue to work to maintain secure incarceration facilities.”

As described in court documents and testimony, George Lo was serving a state sentence for armed robbery at Telfair State Prison in Telfair County when he began conspiring with Nicholas Lo and Toure, and others, to own and operate a Storm Drone 4 kit-built unmanned aircraft without registration or licensing. The Lo brothers discussed using the drone to deliver contraband to Telfair State Prison, and Nicholas Lo and Toure practiced flying the aircraft. George Lo planned to pay the two to fly the aircraft to deliver the contraband, which he intended to sell to other inmates.  

At 1:30 a.m., on Aug. 26, 2019, Telfair County Sheriff’s deputies observed an approaching vehicle turn off its lights and park about 100 yards from Telfair State Prison. During a search of the area, Deputies encountered Nicholas Lo and Toure in a wooded area between the road and prison. The pair possessed a large duffle bag containing the drone, a controller, a video monitor and a headset. In addition, the bag contained 14 cell phones, at least 74 grams of tobacco, a digital scale and earbud headphones. Both men were taken into custody.

Federal law requires registration of unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds or more, and the Storm Drone 4’s weight was in excess of that requirement. Also, federal law requires the pilot of any unmanned aircraft to hold an airman’s certificate when operating the unmanned aircraft for compensation or hire.

“Today’s sentencing should serve as a warning that violating Federal regulations related to owning and operating drones will not be tolerated,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Southern Region. “As drones continue to be a more prevalent presence in our nation’s airspace, we are committed to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure that protecting public safety and security remains paramount.”

“Any type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are proud of our Special Agents for their diligence in stopping the introduction of dangerous contraband into Telfair State Prison,” said Georgia Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. “With the assistance and support of our law enforcement partners on every level, we are pleased to see that justice is being served on these individuals, and a message is being sent to others who may be contemplating similar actions that could pose a threat to the safety of the public and the secure operations of our facilities.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III and E. Greg Gilluly Jr.

SAVANNAH, GA:  More than a dozen defendants are charged in a major drug-trafficking conspiracy alleged in a 22-count indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Georgia.

Operation Snowplow II follows a series of indictments starting in June 2018 of 14 defendants in Operation Snowplow, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation into cocaine trafficking and money laundering in the Coastal Georgia area and beyond, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Building on the prosecutions in Operation Snowplow, the 29-page indictment in Operation Snowplow II, USA v. Gallegos et. al, charges 16 defendants with participating in a widespread, large-scale cocaine-trafficking conspiracy, and charges an additional defendant with trafficking marijuana. 

Conviction on the conspiracy charge carries a statutory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with a maximum sentence of life. There is no parole in the federal system.

“In collaboration with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in the Southern District, we continue to relentlessly pursue those who would gain profit from spreading poison in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The indictments in Operation Snowplow II demonstrate the results of that commitment.”

“This organization’s alleged drug trafficking activities in association with gun violence, presented a clear and present danger to the safety and security of Savannah, Georgia residents,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “Now that these individuals have been indicted, citizens of the Coastal Georgia area can sleep better at night.  This investigation was a success because of spirited law enforcement cooperation between DEA and its law enforcement partners.”

“Those charged in this indictment allegedly harmed our community by spreading toxins throughout the area and further endangered our residents by allegedly using guns to do so,” said Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team Director Michael G. Sarhatt. “I am grateful for the support CNT continues to receive from our partners at the federal, state, and local levels. The cooperation in this case allowed CNT to conduct the far-reaching investigation necessary to keep our community safe.”

As alleged in the indictment, as early as April 2019, the defendants in the conspiracy coordinated shipments of kilogram quantities of cocaine into the Savannah area for distribution. The 14 firearms seized during the investigation were used to protect the drug trade and its proceeds. 

Initial court appearances for the defendants charged in USA v. Gallegos et. al have been held, and all are awaiting further proceedings. Those charged in the indictment, and their charges, include:

• Victory Hugo Gallegos, 43, of San Antonio, Texas, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
• Robert Canseco, 39, of Houston, Texas, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
• Adam Mathias Garcia, a/k/a “Flako,” of Decatur, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• William Richard Moore, a/k/a “Billy,” 43, currently incarcerated at the Chatham County Detention Center, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana;
• Aubrey Rodriquez Williams, a/k/a “Gab,” charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine;
• Raphael Samuel Smith, a/k/a “Ray Ray,” 50, of Savannah, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Japheth Charles Orr, a/k/a “Fatz,” 41, of Pooler, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
• Eric Lavar Brown, a/k/a “Boss,” 37, of Pooler, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Harold Jenkins Jr., a/k/a “Pound,” 44, of Savannah, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; and three counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Suzana Salinas-Garza, a/k/a “Suzy,” 41, of Houston, Texas, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
• Christopher Joseph Shoemake, a/k/a “Shoe,” 44, of Savannah, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Ebony Antonia Perry, a/k/a “Eb,” charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine;
• Reginald Java Brown, a/k/a “Spot,” a/k/a “Red,” 46, currently incarcerated at the Chatham County Detention Center, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Nolan Sental Smith, a/k/a “Hot,” a/k/a “Dredd,” 40, of Savannah, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
• Vernest Cleveland, a/k/a Peanut,” a/k/a “Vito,” 40, of Springfield, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
• Antonio Terez Graham, a/k/a “Weezy,” 36, of Savannah, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine; and,
• Tamika Lashaun Huff, 38, of Scottsdale, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Agencies involved in the investigation include the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, the FBI, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Chatham County Aviation Unit, and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Ruffini.

AUGUSTA, GA:  One man has been sentenced to federal prison and four others await sentencing after admitting to firearms felonies in U.S. District Court.

Joseph M. Powell, 21, of Waynesboro, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Powell to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Getting guns out of the hands of criminals is an essential part of keeping our communities safe,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will continue to work in collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who would illegally possess firearms.”

Powell was on felony probation for a state firearm conviction in June 2019 when he admitted selling a sawed-off 12-guage shotgun to an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Other defendants have entered guilty pleas on federal firearms charges, including:

• Joe Lewis Hills, a/k/a “Polo,” a/k/a “David Owens,” 33, of Augusta, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Marijuana, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Hills and a co-defendant, Edward Albert Brown, 28, of Augusta, who previously pled guilty to an Information charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment, were arrested July 29, 2019, after Richmond County Sheriff’s investigators searched a hotel room rented to Hills and found drugs and an AR-15-style rifle with two loaded, high-capacity magazines. Hills served a previous federal prison sentence for armed robbery.
• Kenneth Wayne Jones, 27, of Augusta, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jones, who has a prior state felony conviction involving gun violence, admitted possessing a semi-automatic pistol when he was arrested June 9, 2020, after a car and foot chase involving Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies.
• Clifford Lee Stone Jr., 29, of Wrens, Ga., pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Stone admitted illegally possessing an assault-style rifle on April 28, 2018, when he fled from a Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy, first in a car and then on foot.

 

The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes, Jennifer A. Stanley, and Alejandro V. Pascual IV.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

SAVANNAH, GA:  One man has been sentenced in the Southern District of Georgia to federal prison and others have admitted guilt in U.S. District Court on separate charges involving drugs and firearms.

Joseph Brandon Melton, 30, of Waycross, was sentenced to 71 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Melton to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Joseph Melton’s extensive criminal record and participation in a violent gang makes it abundantly clear that he is a danger to the community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to bring to justice those who threaten the safety of our citizens.”

Melton, a member of the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang, admitted to illegally possessing a semi-automatic pistol when he was charged Jan. 23, 2020, by deputies from the Ware County Sheriff’s Office. Melton was on probation for a prior state felony conviction at the time of his arrest.

Other defendants await sentencing after pleading guilty to felony charges in U.S. District Court:

• Gary Hamiter Joye Jr., 36, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. A Fort Gordon Military Police officer found Joye Sept. 9, 2020, asleep in his car, which was illegally parked on the lawn of the post laundry service. In a subsequent search of Joye’s vehicle, investigators found a quantity of methamphetamine, along with drug sales paraphernalia and $3,000 in cash.
• Jonah Robert Schafner, 33, of Grovetown – sentenced March 9 to 108 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon – faces an additional five years in prison after pleading guilty to Escape from Custody. After his sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Augusta, Schafner escaped from the Jefferson County Jail while he was awaiting transfer to federal prison. He was taken into custody four days later in Columbia County.
• Letrail Jerome West, 42, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. West admitted illegally possessing drugs and an SKS-style rifle when arrested Oct. 30, 2019, by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies 
• Newman Everette Tryon, 38, of Savannah, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Tryon admitted illegally possessing a revolver when he was arrested Oct. 30, 2019, by Chatham County Police.  
• Jamerson Brandon Turner, 28, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Turner admitted illegally possessing a pistol when questioned May 15, 2020, by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies. 
• Tron Smith, 34, of Savannah, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith admitted to illegally possessing a pistol when arrested by Savannah Police officers June 17, 2019.
• Chance Derrell Christian, 32, of Kingstree, S.C., pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Christian admitted illegally possessing a loaded revolver when arrested May 11, 2020 on Interstate 20 in Columbia County after a traffic stop and subsequent search of his vehicle by the Georgia State Patrol.
• Delvon Brown, 35, of Savannah, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brown – who has previous convictions on state felonies, including illegal firearms possession – admitted to illegal possession of a semi-automatic pistol during a traffic stop Sept. 5, 2019, by Savannah Police officers.
• Zachary Brent Sadler, 27, of Augusta, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Sadler admitted pawning a handgun in October 2019, and he later was charged by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when attempted to repurchase the gun and was denied during a background check.
• Kijordan Markel Ceaser, 22, of Thomson, Ga., pled guilty to Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. Ceaser, who was on parole after a conviction on state charges, admitted illegally possessing a pistol when agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision searched his residence Sept. 17, 2020.

“These cases are the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “These prosecutions will ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals and contribute to the restoration of order and peace.”

The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the U.S. Marshals Service, along with state and local agencies including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia State Patrol, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, the Savannah Police Department, and the Chatham County Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland, Henry W. Syms Jr., Noah J. Abrams, Alejandro V. Pascual IV, Steven H. Lee and John P. Harper III, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Caban Jr.

AUGUSTA, GA:  The former office manager for an Augusta medical practice has been sentenced after admitting she stole more than half a million dollars from the business.

Shirley Ann Taylor, 65, of Gibson, Ga., was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to an Information charging her with nine counts of Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Taylor to pay $1,163,091.68 in restitution, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Shirley Ann Taylor violated the trust of her employer and fellow employees to enrich herself at the company’s expense,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to the vigilance of a fellow employee, she’s now being held accountable for her thefts.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Taylor was employed at an Augusta medical practice from 2006 to 2020 as the office and payroll manager. The year after she was hired, Taylor began stealing from her employer by inflating her own pay and writing unauthorized company checks which she deposited in her own account or used to pay her mortgage.

The company in 2020 hired a new office manager who quickly noted accounting discrepancies amounting to nearly $1.2 million. In her guilty plea, Taylor accepted responsibility for stealing a minimum of $550,000 from the company.

“Taylor threw away an important position in a company that entrusted her by stealing money she didn’t deserve,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Now she is being held accountable for her actions, thanks the cooperative efforts from the company and our law enforcement partners.”

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia G. Rhodes.

AUGUSTA, GA:  A woman who admitted to submitting loan applications containing knowingly false representations in an effort to secure COVID-19 relief loans has been sentenced in U.S. District Court and ordered to pay restitution.

Jacinthia Williams, 44, of Augusta, was sentenced to 12 months plus one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Chief U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Williams to pay $61,600 in restitution.

“Funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act was provided to help small businesses survive pandemic-related losses,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “When unscrupulous actors attempt to swindle the funds for their own enrichment, those criminals will be held accountable.”

As described in court documents and testimony, in June and July 2020 Williams applied for and received three loans totaling $137,500 under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program comprised of funds appropriated by the CARES Act. Williams has already paid a portion of the fraudulently obtained loans back to the SBA.

In pleading guilty to the charges, Williams admitted falsifying the loan applications by inflating the number of employees of the businesses and the amount of money those businesses earned prior to the pandemic-induced economic downturn. She also admitted to spending some of the loan proceeds on purely personal matters.

“Making false statements to fraudulently gain access to SBA’s disaster assistance loan programs is unacceptable,” said Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the SBA Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Region. “SBA OIG, in coordination with its law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs aimed at assisting the nation’s small businesses struggling with the pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its leadership and dedication to pursuing justice.”

“Stealing from American taxpayers, whose money was intended to keep small businesses afloat during the worldwide pandemic, is the definition of greed,” said Steven Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “We will always work collaboratively with our partners to bring those who prey on our financial systems to justice.”

“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration will aggressively pursue those who endeavor to defraud taxpayer-funded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act programs, which were established to provide assistance to American business owners during these unprecedented times,” said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners in this effort.”

To report a COVID-19-related fraud scheme or suspicious activity, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling the NCDF Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case, with prosecution for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and COVID-19 Fraud Coordinator Patrick J. Schwedler and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Porter.

SAVANNAH, GA:  Seven defendants face felony firearms charges after indictments by a U.S. District Court grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia. 

The cases are being investigated in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, with charges related to illegal possession of firearms.

“By coordinating with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to make our streets safer as we remove illegally possessed firearms,” said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

In the past three years, more than 680 defendants were federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a previous felony. That charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

Defendants named in federal indictments from the June 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:

• Matthew Ryan Gordon, 31, of Brunswick, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Heroin; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Charles Walker, 53, of Savannah, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Kenneth Mitchell, 29, of Savannah, charged with Possession of with Intent to Distribute BMDP (bath salts); Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
• Joe Welcome, 33, of Pooler, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Damario Antron Williams, 35, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
• Bryan Heyward, 20, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
• Leaa Jones, 23, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

  

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Additional defendants recently have been adjudicated on charges that include illegal firearms possession, including:

• John Thomas Barnes III, 32, of Augusta, was sentenced to 84 months in prison, fined $1,500 and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Barnes March 27, 2020, after finding him in illegal possession of a pistol.
• Tona Nikia Wright, 47, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Drug User, and Violation of Security Regulations and Orders regarding Department of Defense properties. Wright admitted that she was an unlawful user of cocaine and marijuana, and that on April 30, 2020, she entered a controlled access point at Fort Gordon Military Reservation without properly reporting the Taurus .380 caliber pistol in her possession. 
• Terrence Latroy Brown, 30, of North Charleston, S.C., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Drug User. Brown admitted that on April 29, 2020, he was an illegal user of methamphetamine and Eutylone when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found him illegally possessing an assault-style rifle.
• Malcolm Robinson Brown, 38, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Brown admitted to illegally possessing a loaded pistol when questioned May 16, 2020, by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies.
• Brian Thomas Myers, 35, of Beech Island, S.C., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Transfer of an Illegal Firearm – a sawed-off shotgun – to an ATF agent. A co-defendant, Alisha Nicole Howard, 35, of Augusta, also awaits sentencing after pleading guilty May 12 to Transfer of an Illegal Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Distribution of Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Heroin. The charges stem from an August 2018 ATF investigation that led to the defendants’ arrests.  
• Joseph Edward Palmer, 28, of Thomson, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Palmer admitted illegally possessing a pistol when questioned May 22, 2020, by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies.  

These cases also are being investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for adjudication of alleged crimes.

Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF; the FBI; the Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; the Chatham County Police Department; the Glynn County Police Department; and the Brunswick Police Department.

The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Project Guardian Coordinator Henry W. Syms Jr., Patricia G. Rhodes, E. Gregory Gilluly Jr., Joshua S. Bearden, Marcela C. Mateo, Alejandro V. Pascual IV, and Steven H. Lee, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Caban.

Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.

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AUGUSTA, GA:  An Evans man has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to possession of child pornography.

Oludare Oluwabusi, 44, of Evans, Ga., was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Oluwabusi to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Criminals who exploit children attempt to hide their deeds in the far corners of the internet, but our law enforcement partners relentlessly track them down and bring them to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Oludare Oluwabusi will now be held accountable for his crimes.”

As described in court, Oluwabusi was taken into custody in April 2020 after FBI agents searched his residence based on a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators who examined multiple devices seized from Oluwabusi’s home in the Riverwood Plantation community identified hundreds of photos and videos of child pornography stored on those devices.

Oluwabusi has no prior criminal record.  

“Oluwabusi’s sentence should be a message to anyone involved in this abhorrent behavior,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always make it a top priority to protect our children by working with our federal, state, local and private sector partners to track down and hold accountable anyone who victimizes them.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  A Liberty County man whose gun malfunctioned when he attempted to shoot at investigators searching for drugs has been found guilty on all charges by a U.S. District Court jury.

Charles Hyde, 63, of Hinesville, Ga., was found guilty in U.S. District Court in Brunswick on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and a Quantity of Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number; and Possession and Brandishing of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The convictions subject Hyde to a possible maximum sentence of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

“Charles Hyde has profited from the sale of poison in our communities for years, squandering multiple opportunities to lead a law-abiding life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “He’s lucky to still be alive, and now likely will spend the rest of that life behind bars – and our neighborhoods are safer as a result.”

As described in court documents and testimony, starting as early as July 2016 through December 2018, Hyde and key codefendant Stacey White, 34, of Hinesville, made multiple trips each month to the Atlanta area to obtain kilograms of methamphetamine from a supplier. They recruited other defendants to assist in selling the drugs.

After a controlled purchase of drugs from Hyde in May 2018, investigators from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a search of Hyde’s residence. Hyde’s handgun malfunctioned when he attempted to shoot at the investigators; a Liberty County deputy shot Hyde in the hand, and he was taken into custody. Investigators found large amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana in his residence. An examination of Hyde’s Taurus pistol determined that the firing pin had left a mark on the .40-caliber cartridge in the chamber, but that it had failed to fire.

Hyde and White, along with four other defendants, were indicted on federal conspiracy charges in February 2019. White, a certified member of the violent Bloods criminal street gang, pled guilty and was sentenced in August 2020 to 246 months in prison; three codefendants also pled guilty and are serving prison terms. The sixth codefendant, Hyde’s brother, Terry Hyde, 58, of Hinesville, is awaiting trial and is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

“DEA and its law enforcement partners presented a united front to bring this poly-drug trafficker to justice, said the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “This sentencing is a victory, not only for the law enforcement community, but for Liberty County and the surrounding area. Mr. Hyde may very well spend the remainder of his life in federal prison.”

“Illegal drugs have no place in Georgia. They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “The fact that this defendant attempted to shoot at investigators when being taken into custody shows his utter disregard for law enforcement. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”

This drug-trafficking conspiracy was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Darron J. Hubbard.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A California man who once operated a drug-trafficking ring in the Savannah area has been sentenced to federal prison after his capture in Nevada.

Antonio Acosta, 45, of Berkeley, Calif., was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. after pleading guilty to two counts of Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises (Conspiracy to Distribute, and Distribution, of Controlled Substances), said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Acosta will be required to serve three years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“We commend the alert law enforcement professionals who captured Antonio Acosta and returned him to the Southern District to be held responsible for spreading poison throughout the Savannah community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Justice was delayed, but it’s no longer denied.”

Acosta and eight co-defendants were indicted in February 2014 on federal drug trafficking charges following a two-year investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT). As described in court documents and testimony, Acosta shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine via the U.S. Postal Service, and an extensive network of co-conspirators distributed those drugs throughout the greater Savannah area.

At the culmination of the investigation, DEA and CNT investigators executed search warrants in multiple locations, seizing large quantities of drugs, more than $200,000 in cash, multiple firearms, and drug distribution paraphernalia. Seven of the co-defendants pled guilty to charges in the indictment and received sentences of up to 127 months in federal prison; an eighth co-defendant died shortly after indictment. Acosta fled from the Savannah area, and on July 29, 2020, officers from the Reno, Nev., Police Department received a tip that Acosta was wanted for arrest and was in a Reno casino. Acosta was taken into custody without incident while sitting at a gambling table, and U.S. Marshals returned him to the Southern District where he was re-indicted in November 2020 and later pled guilty.

“This cocaine trafficker eluded justice and evaded law enforcement capture for six years,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “With patience, investigative skill and relentless pursuit, this fugitive from justice was captured. This is a shining example of how DEA and its law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to pursue drug traffickers who run from justice.”

“The dedication of the CNT Agents and our partners across the country who worked together for years to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute Acosta is remarkable,” said Michael G. Sarhatt, Director of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team.  “The sentencing in this case demonstrates that no matter how long someone tries to hide, they will be held responsible for distributing these poisons in our community.”

The case was investigated by the DEA and CNT, with assistance from the Reno, Nev., Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah J. Abrams.

 

 

 

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Savannah man who operated an interstate commercial sex trafficking business and distributed drugs has been sentenced to more than three decades in federal prison.

Anthony Wilson Jackson, 50, of Savannah, was sentenced to 366 months in prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Travel or Transportation in Aid of a Racketeering Business (Prostitution); Possession of a Machine Gun; Possession of a Machine Gun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Money Laundering Conspiracy, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison sentence, Jackson must serve five years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Anthony Jackson is a violent serial criminal who profited from trafficking drugs and renting human beings for sex acts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our law enforcement partners deserve accolades for shutting down his illegal enterprises and removing him from civilized society.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Jackson came to the attention of multiple law enforcement agencies in May 2016 during an investigation into the death of Ava Fulmer, a woman who worked for Jackson and whose body was found inside a burned vehicle in Savannah.

Jackson was identified as the leader of a conspiracy that operated a commercial sex trafficking business across the country, and shipped and distributed large amounts of marijuana in the Savannah area. During subsequent searches, authorities seized drugs and drug trafficking paraphernalia, multiple firearms and ammunition, and more than $7,000 in cash.

As entered into evidence during his sentencing hearing, Jackson was violently abusive, threatening to murder women whom he trafficked for sex and forcing them to bow and pray to him, and in one instance beating his child so severely with a belt that the child urinated and defecated on himself. Jackson previously served prison time for drug trafficking, and while incarcerated he was punished for engaging in multiple assaults, including one in which another inmate was seriously injured.

Jackson also was prosecuted on state charges in 2019 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Two of his codefendants pled guilty to related federal charges and were sentenced to prison. 

Ava Fulmer’s murder remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Savannah -Chatham County at 912-234-2020.

“Our detectives spent a substantial number of hours collaborating with our state and federal partners to bring a violent criminal to justice,” said Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter. “This man was connected to multiple facets of illegal activity that contribute to crime and safety concerns in our community, from guns to drugs to sex crimes. Putting an end to his time on our streets is one more step toward a safer Savannah.”

“This case is the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local and federal partners to target, investigate, and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This sentence will ensure the incarceration of a dangerous criminal and contribute to the restoration of order and peace.”

“The United States Postal Inspection Service remains committed to assisting its law enforcement partners in investigations that involve anyone using the mail in the furtherance of a criminal enterprise, and in this case, individuals engaged in additional egregious acts that victimize others,” said Joseph Cronin, Postal Inspector In Charge, Miami Division.

“Jackson’s reign of drugs, violence and suffering has thankfully ended. Hopefully, those that he savagely victimized can feel relieved and begin the healing process,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama.

“Concealed income will eventually come to light,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette. “Coordination with other agencies and leveraging each of our strengths is the key in the fight against drugs and sex trafficking. Thanks to the financial expertise and diligence of our agents, these criminals are now off the street and will now be held accountable for their actions. Today’s sentencing is a reminder that there are detrimental consequences for this type of criminal behavior. IRS-CI is committed to continue using our financial expertise wherever we are needed.”

The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania D. Groover and E. Gregory Gilluly Jr. 

SAVANNAH, GA:  A former Savannah resident serving a life sentence in state prison for murder has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for operating a drug trafficking organization while incarcerated.

Eugene Allen, a/k/a “Poncho,” 44, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine and 50 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Allen was convicted of the charge by a U.S. District Court jury in August 2019. After completion of his prison term, Allen must serve eight years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Using contraband cell phones to circumvent prison monitoring of his conspiracy, Eugene Allen directed nearly two dozen others outside the prison to bring large amounts of drugs to the Savannah area for distribution throughout the region,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our diligent law enforcement partners shut down this poison distribution network, and Allen is the final member of this conspiracy to now find himself in federal prison.”

As described in court documents and testimony, Allen – a high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang – has been in state prison since 2004 after violating parole on a prior state conviction. In 2006, he was convicted of multiple violent crimes, including murder, and sentenced to life in prison. While incarcerated in Autry State Prison and at Coffee Correctional Facility, Allen used cell phones – dropped in by remote-control drone aircraft, or smuggled via prison guards – to direct the other members of the conspiracy.

In an investigation dubbed Operation Five Hole started in 2014, the FBI, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) and the Savannah Police Department determined that those co-conspirators shipped or delivered kilogram amounts of drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana, from California to Atlanta, and then to Savannah for distribution throughout the area, often concealing the shipments in candy machines. Co-conspirators also shipped large quantities of vacuum-sealed cash to pay the sources of supply.

Allen and 19 co-defendants were indicted in U.S. District Court in 2017 for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy. All have been adjudicated, with17 found guilty and sentenced and two cases dismissed. Another 12 related defendants also have been sentenced. Many of the defendants also were convicted and sentenced for related state charges.

“This sentencing is the result of the hard work and dedication of multiple federal state and local law enforcement agencies, as part of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. As a result, Allen, who continued to wreak havoc in the community even after his state prison sentence will now face federal prison time, without the possibility for parole.  Hopefully, this sends the message that the FBI and our partners will go to any length to uphold the law.” 

“By directing a drug trafficking network from prison, Allen has shown an obvious disregard for the law which cannot be ignored,” said CNT Director Michael G. Sarhatt, “CNT continues to focus our efforts on targeting criminal organizations such as this one in order to keep these toxic substances from reaching our community. I am thankful for the assistance from our federal, state, and local partners during this investigation.”

Operation Five Hole was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

The case was investigated by the FBI, CNT, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham and Effingham County Sheriffs’ Offices, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah J. Abrams, Frank M. Pennington II, and E. Gregory Gilluly Jr.

DUBLIN, GA:  Three of seven defendants have admitted in court to participation in a dog-fighting operation broken up in 2018 in Dodge County.

Benjamin Shinhoster III, 41, of Augusta; Deveon Hood, 34, of Tennille, Ga.; and Andre Archer, 23, of Sandersville, Ga., entered guilty pleas today [Wednesday, May 26] before U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr., said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. Shinhoster pled guilty to Sponsoring and Exhibiting a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture, while Hood and Archer each pled guilty to Conspiracy. Each of the charges carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison, with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Along with our law enforcement partners, our office is committed to eradicating these animal fighting operations that are nothing more than organized contests of cruelty,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Such barbaric activities will continue to find an intensely unwelcoming environment in the Southern District of Georgia.”

Sentencing dates for Shinhoster, Hood and Archer have not yet been set.

The lead defendant in the investigation, James Lampkin, a/k/a “Pookie,” 46, of Eastman, Ga., awaits trial on charges of Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act; and 63 counts of Possessing and Training a Dog for Purposes of an Animal Fighting Venture, related to the 63 dogs seized March 17, 2018, on his property where a federal indictment alleges dog fights were taking place. The charges all are felonies, each carrying a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to five years in prison. Lampkin also is charged with Attending an Animal Fighting Venture, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison. Also charged and awaiting further legal proceedings are:

• Xavier Simmons, 34, of Sandersville, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, and Attending an Animal Fighting Venture;
• Joe Ford, 33, of Elgin, S.C., charged with Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, and Attending an Animal Fighting Venture; and,
• Dwight McDuffie, 44, of Eastman, Ga., charged with Attending an Animal Fighting Venture.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The investigation began in response to reports of a dogfighting operation when Georgia State Patrol troopers and Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens conducted traffic stops in Eastman, discovering a dog in one of the vehicles that appeared to have been injured while fighting. The 63 dogs later were seized at Lampkin’s residence after investigators serving a search warrant found the animals chained in the back yard.

While the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office initiated a civil forfeiture action, an animal rescue operation took custody of the dogs.

“This investigation and prosecution should send a strong zero-tolerance message to those individuals who traffic in inflicting pain and suffering on animals,” said Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General. “We appreciate the commitment of our federal partners in pursuing these purveyors of death who operate and find entertainment in animal fighting ventures.”

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Rock.

SAVANNAH, GA:  An Italian company has entered a guilty plea in a scheme to evade United States national security laws.

GVA International Oil and Gas Services (GVA) pled guilty in U.S. District Court to violating the Export Control Reform Act, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects the company to a sentence of up to five years’ probation, along with significant fines and financial restitution.

GVA owner Gabrielle Villone currently is serving a 28-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy in the case, USA v. World Mining and Oil Supply et. al.

“This conspiracy represents a tangled web of deceit designed to allow Russian interests to evade United States trade sanctions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to hold accountable those who would threaten our nation’s security.”

As described in court documents and testimony, the conspiracy began when an unnamed Russian government-controlled business contracted with Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin, general director of KS Engineering (KSE), a St. Petersburg, Russia-based energy company, to purchase a power turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer for approximately $17.3 million. The Russian company intended to use the turbine on a Russian Arctic deepwater drilling platform, expressly prohibited by the U.S. Department of Commerce without first obtaining a license.

Nikitin and KSE previously pled guilty to a conspiracy to evade U.S. export regulations and to defraud the United States and await sentencing.

Nikitin admitted that he and another KSE employee, Anton Cheremukhin, conspired with Villone, GVA, and GVA employee Bruno Caparini, to obtain the turbine on their behalf. Villone, Caprini and GVA then employed the services of Dali Bagrou and World Mining and Oil Supply (WMO) of Dacula, Ga., to procure the turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer and to have the turbine shipped overseas. The parties conspired to conceal the true end user of the turbine from both the U.S. manufacturer and the U.S. government by submitting false documentation that stated it would be used by a U.S. company in and around Atlanta.

Nikitin, Villone, and Bagrou all were arrested in Savannah, Ga., while attempting to complete the illegal transaction. Bagrou remains in custody pending further legal action, and with all defendants is considered innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, as well as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney William A. Mackie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

SAVANNAH, GA:  An Atlanta man faces up to five years in prison after admitting he attempted to hide firearms in an overseas shipment of goods.

Shawn Sabi, 34, of Atlanta, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with Submitting False or Misleading Export Information, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Sabi to a possible statutory sentence of up to five years in prison followed by two years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.

“With massive numbers of shipments moving daily through the Port of Savannah, our law enforcement partners perform stellar work in intercepting illegal materials moving through commerce,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “When these shipments are detected, we will hold those attempting such criminal acts accountable.”

In March, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained Sabi’s shipment, labeled “115 pieces used household goods and personal effects,” based on discrepancies in declarations filed for the shipment. An agent from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) reviewed the records, leading to a search of the container in which a shotgun, a rifle, and three handguns were discovered concealed inside the legs of an aluminum shelving unit, along with ammunition and other materials.

In most cases, it is illegal to export firearms to another country without a federal export license. BIS confirmed that Sabi does not possess such a license.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, Miami Field Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Customs and Border Protection; and Homeland Security Investigations, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.

SAVANNAH, GA – A previously convicted felon whose crime spree ended when he was shot by a store employee will spend nearly four decades in federal prison for a string of armed robberies and carjackings across Georgia and South Carolina.

Demetrius Lamar Jackson, a/k/a “Meechy,” 31, of Savannah, was sentenced today (Monday, May 24) to 444 months in prison after pleading guilty to Discharging and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence; Carjacking and Attempted Carjacking; Interference with Commerce by Robbery; and Conspiracy to Use and Carry Firearms During Crimes of Violence, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Jackson to pay restitution to nine victims in the case, and to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.

There is no parole in the federal system. 

“Meechy Jackson is the epitome of a violent, armed criminal, and providence prevented his stolen gun from firing when he attempted to shoot his final victim,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The legal gun owner then used his own weapon to defend himself, bringing an end to Jackson’s crime spree. He’ll have a long prison term to contemplate his errors – and to be thankful that he’s still alive.”

During sentencing, Jackson repeatedly disrupted the proceedings and was restrained by members of the U.S. Marshals Service after he lunged toward the prosecutors’ table.

According to court statements and filings, in November 2018, Jackson perpetrated a two-and-a-half-week crime spree across Georgia and South Carolina, including:

• Nov. 6, 2018: Jackson robbed an employee of a Boost Mobile store in Savannah at gunpoint while the employee was transporting cash for the store. Jackson shot the store manager in the abdomen when she came to assist, and fled the scene in a car driven by his accomplice, Nautica Morgan, 23, of Savannah. 
• Nov. 12: Jackson approached a young couple who was washing a Nissan sedan at a midtown Savannah carwash. Jackson pointed a gun at them and twice pulled the trigger, but the gun malfunctioned. Jackson then sped away in the victims’ car. 
• Nov. 13: Jackson robbed a Valdosta, Ga., Boost Mobile employee and his girlfriend at gunpoint. The getaway car was the one stolen at the Savannah car wash. 
• Nov. 19: Morgan attempted to steal merchandise from a beauty store in Augusta, Ga. When the store manager followed Morgan, Jackson pointed a gun at the manager. Jackson and Morgan later carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint from a woman at a nearby CVS. Later that day, at a Walgreens pharmacy in Conyers, Ga., Jackson held a man at gunpoint and attempted to steal his car, then stole a purse.
• Nov. 20: Jackson robbed a Boost Mobile store in East Point, Ga. Armed with a pistol, Jackson ordered the store’s employees to empty the cash register and safe. He then demanded the employees kneel on the floor of a back room and surrender a key to the store and their personal cell phones, debit cards, and cash before he fled.
• Nov. 21: Jackson carjacked a 73-year-old woman in Athens, Ga., while she was vacuuming her SUV. Jackson threatened to shoot her and then pistol-whipped her in the head. Later that same day, Jackson walked into a Boost Mobile store in Aiken, S.C., pulled out a gun and demanded money. Before he left with the store’s cash, Jackson seized an employee’s cellphone and smashed it.
• Nov. 23: Jackson attempted to rob a Boost Mobile store in Columbia, S.C., and his pistol jammed when he tried to shoot a store employee. The employee produced his own legal firearm and shot Jackson, and Morgan then drove Jackson to a hospital emergency room in a Chevrolet Tahoe that the two of them had carjacked in Georgetown, S.C., a few hours earlier.

 

Jackson and Morgan were both arrested shortly after the Columbia shooting, and a search of the Tahoe revealed bloody clothes, the stolen .22 caliber pistol used in the crimes, and numerous stolen items.

Jackson’s charges stem from two separate indictments brought by grand juries sitting in the Northern and Southern Districts of Georgia. The Northern District’s indictment was transferred to the Southern District. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Middle District of Georgia and District of South Carolina were important in bringing these cases to resolution.

For her role in the crime spree, Morgan was sentenced in February 2020 in the District of South Carolina to 144 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Use and Carry a Firearm During Crimes of Violence, and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. 

“Quick, effective collaboration between state and federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors throughout Georgia and South Carolina has brought Demetrius Jackson to justice,” said Kurt R. Erskine, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “This office is fully committed to tackling violent crime and protecting the community from violent criminals.”

 “Jackson brutally inflicted a reign of terror against innocent victims across two states,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia. “His lengthy prison sentence is a deserving result, and our communities will be safer with him behind bars.”

“Jackson terrorized innocent victims in two states in a crime spree that lasted more than two weeks, leaving those victims with emotional and physical scars for life,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence won’t wipe away those scars, but thanks to an alert citizen and our many law enforcement partners, they won’t have to worry about him hurting anyone else for a long time.”

“This case is the product of a concerted collaborative effort on the part of ATF and its local partners to investigate and eliminate the perpetrators of violent crime,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the ATF. “These sentences will ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals and contribute to the restoration of order and peace in the Southern District of Georgia.”

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Savannah Police Department, the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department, the Valdosta Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the East Point Police Department, the City of Conyers Police Department, the Aiken (S.C.) Department of Public Safety, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and the Georgetown (S.C.) City Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the Southern District of Georgia and Theodore S. Hertzberg of the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted Jackson’s cases for the United States.

STATESBORO, GA:  An Emanuel County man has admitted operating an animal fighting venture, representing the third owner of a cockfighting operation in the Southern District to enter a guilty plea to federal charges.

Wendell Allan Strickland, 67, of Swainsboro, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of Sponsoring and Exhibiting an Animal in an Animal Fighting Venture; two counts of Conducting an Illegal Gambling Business; and one count of Possession and Transport of an Animal in an Animal Fighting Venture, all felonies; and one misdemeanor charge of Attending an Animal Fighting Venture, said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. In addition to forfeiture of the property on which illegal cockfights were held, Strickland faces a possible statutory penalty of up to five years in prison and significant financial penalties, followed by up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Animal fights are illegal and barbaric, and also are magnets for other criminal activity,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to shut down these operations and hold the organizers accountable.”

The investigation into animal fighting operations in the Southern District, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and in cooperation with multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, determined that Strickland operated a cockfighting venue called The Red Barn on his Swainsboro property. Multiple law enforcement agencies raided the site in September 2020, seizing cockfighting gear and arresting Strickland.

Cockfights were held at The Red Barn on alternating weekend schedules with those at Little Sunset, a larger venue in nearby Midville, Ga., owned by William Shannon Scott, 49. Scott was arrested on federal charges as part of Operation Sunrise, a multi-agency raid of a cockfighting tournament at his property in June 2020 in which nearly 200 possible defendants were identified. Scott pled guilty to Sponsoring and Exhibiting an Animal in an Animal Fighting Venture and is awaiting sentencing.

A third cockfighting venue owner, Lanier Augustus Hightower Jr., 65, of Lincolnton, Ga., also pled guilty to Sponsoring and Exhibiting an Animal in an Animal Fighting Venture and is awaiting sentencing. Hightower and more than three dozen other defendants were indicted after a December 2019 raid during a cockfighting tournament on his farm.

Both Scott and Hightower face forfeiture of their farms, along with up to five years in prison, substantial financial penalties, and up to three years of supervised release. Most of the other defendants charged in the cases have been sentenced after entering guilty pleas.

“The gruesome ritual of animal fighting has no place in a civilized society and will not be tolerated,” said Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, USDA-OIG. “Our agency has prioritized dismantling animal fighting ventures as we continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who would take pleasure in inflicting misery and death upon these defenseless creatures.”

The cases are being investigated by the USDA-OIG and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandro V. Pascual IV and Xavier A. Cunningham, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Rock and Edwin Caban Jr.