Southern District of Georgia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Drug trafficking indictments bring multiple federal charges for narcotics, firearmsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Eight people have been charged in a 13-count federal indictment in a drug trafficking conspiracy that brought large amounts of narcotics from Atlanta for distribution in the Augusta area.
The indictments stem from a two-year joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office into cocaine deliveries from the Atlanta area into Augusta, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. In addition to other charges, all eight defendants – including an Augusta man and his two sons – are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances.
“This investigation is a great example of interagency cooperation supported by the latest technology,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office will take the handoff from our law enforcement partners, and carry the ball that last hundred yards to score another victory against those who would peddle poison in our community.”
During the investigation, federal 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.
Facing federal charges from the indictment are:
- Terrance Quain Freeman, 48, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine and an Amount of Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to life in prison. His two sons also are charged in the conspiracy.
- Mario Hubbard, 43, of Atlanta, charged with one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine and an Amount of Marijuana. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
- Timothy Jeremy Myers, 31, of Augusta, charged with one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine and an Amount of Marijuana, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
- Timothy Dale Reid, 51, of Augusta, is charged with charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
- Willie Antonio Bass, 35, of Augusta, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 40 years in prison.
- Tyquain Freeman, 27, of Augusta, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. He is a son of Terrance Freeman. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 40 years in prison.
- Christopher Chin, 34, of Augusta, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. And,
- Quieaton Freeman, 20, of Augusta, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of Firearms by an Illegal Drug User. He is a son of Terrance Freeman. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
If convicted, each of the defendants also would be subject to fines and to serve supervised release after completion of any prison terms.
Those facing charges from separate state indictments include:
- Marvin Hikeem Griffin, 30, of Augusta, charged with two counts of Illegal Use of Communications Facility (OCGA 16-13-32.3);
- Willie Lawrence Wimbley, 42, of Augusta, charged with Trafficking Heroin and Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, and one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Terrell Maurice Myers, 31, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm during a Crime, Use of an Article with an Altered Identification Mark, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Dana Dione Myers, 49, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm during a Crime, Use of an Article with an Altered Identification Mark, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Alonzo Walters, 51, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm during a Crime, Use of an Article with an Altered Identification Mark, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Bobby Lewis Jenkins, 31, of Augusta, charged with one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Jamie Anderson, 28, of Augusta, charged with one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Juan Holliman, 42, of Augusta, charged with one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Joshua McDaniel, 24, of Augusta, charged with one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Christian Walker, 50, of Augusta, charged with one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Michael Daggett, 38, of Augusta, charged with three counts of Illegal Use of Communications Facility;
- Joseph L. Turner, 32, of Augusta, charged with one count of Illegal Use of Communications Facility; and,
- Cornice Roberts Lee, 53, of Augusta, charged with six counts of Computer Invasion of Privacy.
The investigation is ongoing, with additional defendants identified.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, “This case illustrates how success can be achieved through collaborative efforts between federal, state and local law enforcement and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“The only way to seriously affect drug distribution in Augusta is by targeting, disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “We will continue to target these organizations. Our message is quite simple: If you distribute drugs in Augusta or cause those drugs to come to Augusta, we will hunt you down.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), 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. State defendants are being prosecuted by Falin Syms, Senior Assistant District Attorney for the Augusta Judicial Circuit.
Former deputy indicted on federal charge for possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A former Bulloch County sheriff’s deputy has been indicted by a federal grand jury with possession of child pornography.
Travis Tuenge, 43, of Statesboro, is charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“Exploitation of children through child pornography is a despicable crime that will not be tolerated in the Southern District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “In cooperation with our law enforcement partners, we will find and prosecute these cases no matter the status of those engaging in this exploitation.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua S. Bearden and Marcela C. Mateo.
Federal inmates charged with assaulting correctional officersRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA.: Three federal prison inmates have been charged in separate incidents in which correctional officers were injured.
Eduardo Bermudez, 21; Dominique Moultrie, 31; and Ulysses Hensen, 43, inmates at Federal Correctional Institution Jesup, in Jesup, Ga., each are charged with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding employees of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
In each case, the defendant is alleged to have refused instructions from correctional officers before assaulting them, resulting in injuries to the officers.
“The protection of our correctional officers is of paramount concern,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office will not hesitate to prosecute inmates who harm the officers whose job it is to house those inmates safely and humanely.”
“Staff at our federal correctional institutions serve, at times, under difficult conditions, trying to keep prisons safe for incarcerated felons,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Any abuse of prison staff by inmates cannot and will not be tolerated, and will be pursued for prosecution by the FBI.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.
Correctional officer, inmate charged in federal prison bribery indictmentRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: A correctional officer at a privately-operated federal prison has been indicted on multiple counts of accepting bribes from an inmate and lying about it to investigators.
Micheal Eaddy, 23, of Blackshear, Ga., a correctional officer at D. Ray James Correctional Facility, a privately prison operated under federal contract in Folkston, Ga., was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts of Bribery, one count of Providing Contraband in Prison, and one count of False Statement, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry possible punishment of up to 15 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
In the same indictment, Jean Civil, 24, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, an inmate at D. Ray James, is charged with Possessing Contraband in Prison after being found in possession of a cell phone. The charge carries possible punishment of up to one year in prison. Civil is serving a 78-month sentence for Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine.
“Crimes inside our federally operated prison system can have a dangerous and damaging effect on community safety outside the prisons,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “When guards violate their oaths and provide inmates with access to illegal materials, it reduces the ability to maintain order on the inside while facilitating criminal activity outside.”
According to the indictment, Eaddy is alleged to have accepted seven bribes totaling nearly $900 in return for smuggling cigarettes into the prison. He also is alleged to have denied accepting multiple bribes in return for smuggling contraband into the prison, instead claiming that he had conducted only one transaction. Investigators discovered the activity after seizing the contraband phone from Civil and examining its contents, which included electronic conversations between Civil and Eaddy.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“Contraband in prisons, specifically cell phones, poses a danger to correctional officers, prison staff, and the public,” said James F. Boyersmith, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Miami Field Office. “Our agents will continue to investigate any Department of Justice employees, including correctional officers, who violate the law by smuggling contraband into federal prisons.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.
Maximum sentence removes violent felon from Savannah neighborhoodRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Ga: A Savannah man has received the maximum federal prison sentence after his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Hosea Scott, 39, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Scott, who was convicted after a jury trial in June, also was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
Scott’s arrest occurred in March 2018 after the police initially responded to a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute. Scott fled the scene before police arrived and was apprehended a short time later in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine.
“Convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms at any time - period,” said Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “We are committed to prosecuting repeat criminals who fail to get this message, and will work to ensure that gun crimes will bring hard prison time.”
The value of this type of case can be measured in human lives,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “This case involved illegally possessed firearm in the hands of a criminal. It demonstrates the cooperation that exists between the Savannah Police Department and ATF.”
The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the ATF, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Frank Pennington.
Father and two sons among six more defendants sentenced to prison in Operation Vanilla GorillaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Another round of sentencings in the Operation Vanilla Gorilla drug trafficking investigation is sending more defendants to substantial terms in federal prison.
Cody Penfield, 28, of Savannah, Ga., was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, in U.S. District Court in Savannah by Judge R. Stan Baker to 162 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
According to court filings and evidence presented in Court, Cody Penfield conspired with his brother, Nick Penfield, and his father, Michael Penfield, and others as part of a major drug trafficking organization that included associates of the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang to distribute kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in the Southern District of Georgia and beyond. Nick Penfield is serving a sentence of 210 months in federal prison, and Mike Penfield is serving 175 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
“A father and his two sons have now each been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for distributing poison throughout Georgia and the Southern District,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Instead of responsibly guiding his children, Mike Penfield teamed up with his adult sons to earn dishonest profit from criminal drug trafficking. They’ve now earned stiff prison sentences as payment for their crimes.”
All 43 defendants indicted in November and December 2018 in the conspiracy have pled guilty, and most have been sentenced to prison. Members of the drug-trafficking organization also recently sentenced include:
- Baby Dwayne Garrison, 55, of Bloomingdale, Ga., sentenced to 145 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine;
- Mike Penfield, 54, Savannah, sentenced to 175 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine;
- Marcus Logan Greco, 29, of Rincon, Ga., sentenced to 170 months of imprisonment for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin, and to a consecutive 120 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person;
- Robert Fuller, 40, of Richmond Hill, Ga., sentenced to 100 months of imprisonment for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; and,
- David Rahn, 41, of Savannah, sentenced to 151 months in prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
Most of these defendants were on probation or parole when they committed the offenses, so the federal sentences will be run consecutive to the sentences for violating state probation or parole. After serving their federal sentences, each of the defendants will then be on federal supervision for at least three years.
Operation Vanilla Gorilla was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomingdale Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Frank Pennington. For any questions, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.
Defendant who conspired to steal aircraft secrets pleads guiltyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A North Carolina man has admitted taking part in a conspiracy to steal design information from aircraft companies to speed up approval of competing airplane technology.
Craig German, 59, of Kernersville, N.C., entered a guilty plea to Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets in U.S. District Court in Savannah, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
German faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release upon completion of his sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, German agreed with his co-conspirators to steal trade secrets from aircraft companies in order to assist a competitor company in developing their own anti-ice aircraft technology. Without authorization, German copied anti-ice trade secret documents onto a storage device from the aircraft company for which he worked, and then emailed those documents to his co-conspirators.
“German and his co-conspirators stole the secrets of U.S. companies rather than do the hard work necessary to succeed,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Our office takes the theft of intellectual property very seriously, and we will remain on the front lines of defending U.S. companies against this emerging economic threat.”
“Companies spend millions of dollars to develop trade secrets to compete in a free market system,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We cannot allow anyone to circumvent the system by using illegal and deceptive practices to steal protected information. The FBI is committed to identifying and prosecuting anyone who does.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee.
Four defendants admit guilt in drug conspiracy to produce and distribute narcoticsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Four defendants have pled guilty to various roles in a wide-ranging drug conspiracy that included mass production of pills and distribution of powerful synthetic opioids.
The defendants are among six indicted in April on federal charges accusing them of participating in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2016 that imported large amounts of drugs purchased with cryptocurrency on the Dark Web, used industrial-grade machinery to manufacture pills, and sold the drugs on the Dark Web and throughout Georgia, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The cases of two of the defendants are not yet resolved.
Entering guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Augusta are:
- Kolbie Hadden Watters, 22, of Augusta, Ga., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Watters faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison. He also is under indictment in Walton County, Ga., on state charges of felony murder and aggravated assault of a suspected co-conspirator.
- Jonathan Britt Lester, 22, of Loganville, Ga., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and Marijuana) and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Along with Watters, Lester also is under indictment in Walton County, Ga., on state charges of felony murder and aggravated assault of a suspected co-conspirator.
- Armand Sananda Saedi, 27, of Atlanta, Ga., and Morgan McKenzie Slaton, 22, of Hoschton, Ga., have each pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Alprazolam). Each face sentences of up to five years in prison.
Each of the defendants also is subject to fines and penalties, along with supervised release after completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, the four were indicted, along with Walker Christian Forrester, 24, of Loganville, Ga., after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Sept. 2017 began an investigation after Forrester’s purchase of an industrial-grade pill press. Two months later, Forrester, Watters and a juvenile were arrested on state charges in Harlem, Ga., after a traffic stop in which Harlem police officers found more than 5,200 counterfeit Xanax pills, marijuana and a sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle.
The indictment in the case alleges that Forrester purchased equipment used to create counterfeit Xanax pills, Alprazolam as the main ingredient, and binding agents to manufacture tens of thousands of pills per month. The illicit ingredients were purchased on the Dark Web using cryptocurrency, with the counterfeit Xanax likewise sold on the Dark Web or through conventional illegal drug distribution channels. Forrester’s case is still pending.
The conspirators moved their pill presses to various locations in the Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia to avoid detection, and at one point began manufacturing and selling synthetic heroin using Fentanyl and the more-powerful Carfentanil. Another defendant, Larry Overton, 46, of Harlem, Ga., is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Using or Maintaining a Drug Premises. His case is still pending.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division (CID), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Harlem Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Rhodes.
Department of Justice grant will provide law enforcement assistance in SavannahRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The Savannah Police Department is receiving a federal grant to improve safety in the community under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
The $61,828 grant will provide funding for surveillance cameras, fingerprint scanners and GPS tracking systems for the Savannah Police Department, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Christine announced the grant award Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Savannah Police Department headquarters.
“The Savannah Police Department is a vital partner in our public safety network,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We owe it to the law enforcement and prosecutors we rely upon to ensure that they have the best equipment and cutting-edge technology. These federal grants are a step toward fulfilling that obligation. We would like to congratulate Chief Roy Minter Jr. for the department’s successful application, and thank the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant review committee for their service in reviewing the grant requests.”
Other Southern District recipients of this year’s grants include the Brunswick Police Department, Glynn County Police Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Augusta District Attorney’s Office.
”Savannah Police Department is extremely pleased to be one of the recipients in the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant,” said Chief Roy Minter Jr. “This will be extremely beneficial in furthering the department and the city’s goals of reducing crime in Savannah. Our command staff is currently working on a deployment strategy so that we can ensure that this technology will be used to its fullest capability to help us identify and target offenders in our area.”
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. For example, it was under the umbrella of PSN that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies, including the Savannah Police Department, successfully conducted the sweep to reduce criminal gun violence in Savannah’s historic Cuyler-Brownsville neighborhood.
Department of Justice grant will provide law enforcement assistance in Brunswick communityRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: Two Brunswick law enforcement agencies are receiving a federal grant to improve safety in their community under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
The Glynn County Police Department and the Brunswick Police Department will share the $53,554 grant to the Glynn County Board of Commissioners, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The funds will be used to install a camera surveillance system for the Brunswick and Glynn County area.
U.S. Attorney Christine announced the grant awards Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Glynn County Police Department.
“Local law enforcement partners are a vital part of the public safety network in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We owe it to the law enforcement and prosecutors we rely upon to ensure that they have the best equipment and cutting-edge technology. These federal grants are a step toward fulfilling that obligation. We would like to congratulate Glynn County Police Chief John Powell and Brunswick Police Chief Kevin Jones for their successful application for the Department of Justice grant, and thank the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant review committee for their service in reviewing the grant requests.”
Other Southern District recipients of this year’s grants include the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Augusta District Attorney’s Office.
“The Glynn County Police Department, and its public safety partners, consistently focus on developing and improving both security and environmental well-being for our residents,” said Glynn County Police Chief John Powell. “With technology advancing at an exponential rate, we are exceptionally grateful for the ability to keep up with that growth and to improve our ability to reduce or solve violent crime cases. We look forward to utilizing the new technologies afforded to us from this grant to help keep our community safe.”
“On behalf of the Brunswick Police Department we would like to thank the Department of Justice for awarding the Brunswick Police Department and the Glynn County Police Department with a federal grant to improve safety in our neighborhoods,” said Brunswick Police Chief Kevin Jones. “This grant will enhance the Brunswick Police Department’s technological abilities in an effort to continuously serve the communities here in Brunswick, Georgia.
“The Brunswick Police Department and Glynn County Police Department are always looking at ways to continue in our efforts of making Brunswick and Glynn County a safe place to live and visit,” Chief Jones said. “Whenever smaller police departments are awarded extra funding, it is a big help in making sure the citizens in the community get the best service available.”
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. For example, it was under the umbrella of PSN that federal, state and law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office dismantled a major south Georgia drug trafficking organization whose leader recently was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Brunswick to nearly 11 years in federal prison.
Department of Justice grants will provide law enforcement and prosecution assistance in AugustaRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Police and prosecutors in Richmond County are receiving federal grants to improve safety in the community under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will receive $35,790 to purchase GPS trackers, surveillance cameras, provide video software upgrades, and purchase video cameras, while the Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office will receive $18,000 to purchase GreyKey software for unlocking and searching cell phones, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. Attorney Christine announced the grant awards Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
“Local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors are a vital part of the public safety network in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We owe it to the law enforcement and prosecutors we rely upon to ensure that they have the best equipment and cutting-edge technology. These federal grants are a step toward fulfilling that obligation. We would like to congratulate Sheriff Richard Roundtree and District Attorney Natalie Paine for their successful applications for the Department of Justice grants, and thank the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant review committee for their service in reviewing the grant requests.”
Other Southern District recipients of this year’s grants include the Savannah Police Department, the Glynn County Police Department, and the Brunswick Police Department.
“We are very fortunate to have a U.S. Attorney like Bobby Christine who is committed to bringing resources to our district,” said Natalie Paine, District Attorney for the Augusta Judicial Circuit. “The equipment we are receiving will not only aide us tremendously in solving crimes, but it also will be used by any law enforcement agency in the Augusta Judicial Circuit, saving these agencies thousands of dollars. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the Southern District of Georgia’s United States Attorney’s office.”
“The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office’s long partnership with the Southern District of Georgia’s United States Attorney’s Office has always benefited this community,” said Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “The Project Safe Neighborhood grants awarded to the Sheriff’s Office will go a long way in helping to reduce violent crime, which is my No. 1 goal for the Sheriff’s Office.”
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. For example, it was under the umbrella of PSN that federal, state and law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office performed Operation 30906 to round up criminals on firearms charges in south Augusta, and Operation Gunsmoke in Georgia and South Carolina for prosecution on drugs, firearms and gang charges.
ADVISORY: Savannah Office of U.S. Attorney to close in advance of Hurricane DorianRead the Press Release
Due to mandatory evacuation orders for the state of Georgia east of I-95 in advance of Hurricane Dorian, the Savannah Office of the United States Attorney will be closed Tuesday, Sept. 3, Wednesday, Sept. 4, and Thursday, Sept. 5. Further advisories will be issued as conditions necessitate.
The Augusta Office of the U.S. Attorney will remain in operation during this period.
Savannah man ordered detained until trial on charges related to firebombingRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been ordered held without bond on federal charges related to the July 2 firebombing that badly burned a Savannah woman.
After a Friday morning, Aug. 30, detention hearing, Barry Wright, 52, of Savannah, was ordered to be detained pending trial by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Christopher L. Ray on federal charges of possession of an unregistered destructive device, and one count of the use of fire or explosive to commit a felony offense, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Each charge carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
According to testimony during Wright’s detention hearing, he is alleged to have constructed and placed an incendiary device inside a woman’s vehicle. The device set the vehicle on fire, and the woman received severe burns.
“We applaud the quick work of our federal and local law enforcement partners in bringing these charges,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office will vigorously prosecute those whose violent and destructive actions bring harm to others.”
“This arrest was made after countless hours of meticulous investigation,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Arthur Peralta, with the Atlanta Bureau. “These types of crimes require an immediate response, intense investigation and collaboration at every level.”
Wright’s charges in the case are not a finding of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania Groover and Joseph McCool.
Former Army colonel sentenced to federal prison for Fort Gordon fraud, kickback schemeRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Ga: A former active-duty U.S. Army colonel has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for accepting bribes to help steer military contracts to a business fraudulently claiming status as a small business.
Anthony R. Williams, 59, of Vienna, Va., was sentenced today [Aug. 30, 2019] to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Dudley H. Bowen after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery and felony conflict of interest, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Williams previously agreed to forfeit more than $1.2 million in proceeds derived from the scheme. After completion of his sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information provided in court documents and proceedings, Williams, while serving as a colonel in the U.S. Army, accepted bribes to steer federal procurement contracts to the CREC Group, a company owned by Calvin Devear Lawyer, 60, a retired U.S. Army colonel. The CREC Group had received Small Business Administration (SBA) status as a small, disadvantaged business based on false representations from Lawyer and from Dwayne Oswald Fulton, 58, then an employee of a defense contractor.
Lawyer previously pled guilty in the case and is serving a 60-month prison sentence, while co-conspirator, Anthony Roper, 57, a former active duty U.S. Army colonel at Fort Gordon, also pled guilty and is serving a 60-month sentence.
The cases were investigated by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Inspector General, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
“Williams’ sentence wraps up an investigation that shed light on a cynical and disheartening scheme to steal taxpayer funds intended for our nation’s military,” said Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “These men disgraced their oaths to serve their country, and accordingly are being held accountable for their despicable thefts.”
“Today's sentencing is another clear example that no matter how hard one may try to get away with fraud, you will be caught,” said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command's Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “This defendant used the trust placed in him by the government to line his pockets. This sentence is well-deserved.”
“SBA OIG is committed to bringing to justice those engaged in conspiracy to commit fraud against SBA and its programs,” said SBA OIG's Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kupperbusch. “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that those responsible will be held accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.”
"DCIS is committed to fully investigate and bring to justice individuals who corrupt the DoD procurement system," said Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, DCIS Southeast Field Office. "We are pleased with this significant sentence and the message it sends to those who defraud the DoD."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Federal complaint charges Savannah man with fire-related offensesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been charged in a federal complaint with charges related to a fire.
In a complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Savannah today, Aug. 28, Barry Wright, 52, of Savannah, was charged with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device, and one count of the use of fire or explosive to commit a felony offense, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Each charge carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
Criminal complaints contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania Groover and Joseph McCool.
Gang members among drug traffickers sentenced to federal prison in Operation Vanilla GorillaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Members of two criminal street gangs are among five additional defendants sentenced to substantial federal prison terms as prosecutions continue in Operation Vanilla Gorilla.
Andrew Campos, a/k/a “Chubs,” 29, of San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced to 235 months in prison by United States District Judge R. Stan Baker, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Campos was designated as a career criminal and has ties to the Tango Orejon gang, which operates largely in Texas prisons. He pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Campos conspired with others, including affiliates of the Ghost Face Gangsters, to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in the Savannah area. Operation Vanilla Gorilla, which dismantled the drug distribution network, was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation that included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and other state and local law enforcement agencies.
“Operation Vanilla Gorilla was an aggressive strike by law enforcement that continues to pay dividends. More prison sentences are removing more violent criminals from our midst,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “By definition ‘career criminals’ plague law-abiding citizens, and we as prosecutors continue to work relentlessly to sweep them from our streets.”
The prosecution in Operation Vanilla Gorilla resulted in federal prison sentences for other members of this drug trafficking organization in recent days, including:
Brandon Chapman, 26, of Savannah, Ga., was sentenced to 130 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and 120 months in prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Rodney Rose, 39, of Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine;
Cody Eubanks, 27, of Pembroke, Ga., was sentenced to 90 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; and,
Christopher Hendrix, 40, Savannah, Ga., was sentenced to 72 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Hendrix was a leader of the Ghost Face Gangsters.
All of the defendants were on probation or parole when they committed the offenses, so the federal sentences begin after completion of their sentences for violating state probation or parole. There is no parole in the federal system.
As noted in court, these defendants had a combined total of more than 50 state criminal convictions, including at least 18 felony convictions, and more than 15 prior probation/parole violations. These five defendants were members of a major drug trafficking organization that distributed kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”) in the Southern District of Georgia and elsewhere.
“There are some who think joining a gang or gang life is cool; I can assure you it’s not,” said Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team Director Everett Ragan. “Hopefully these individuals will use their time in federal prison to reflect on their poor decisions.”
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation included the ATF, the GBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomingdale Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Frank Pennington.
Convicted murderer and Gangster Disciple found guilty of running drug trafficking ring from inside Georgia prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A convicted murderer serving a life sentence was convicted of leading a major drug trafficking conspiracy from inside a Georgia state prison.
Eugene Markeith Allen, a/k/a “Poncho,” 42, a former Savannah resident, was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 500 Grams of More of Cocaine, and Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Kilograms or More of Marijuana by a jury in U.S. District Court in Savannah, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a possible sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison.
Also convicted in the trial was co-conspirator Karteau Omar Jenkins, a/k/a “Yay,” 42, of Atlanta, on two counts of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 500 Grams of More of Cocaine, and one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Kilograms or More of Marijuana. Sentencing for both Allen and Jenkins will be held at a later date
Allen, while incarcerated at Autry State Prison for a 2006 murder conviction, used smuggled contraband phones to direct Jenkins and other members of the extensive drug trafficking conspiracy that imported marijuana and cocaine from California into Atlanta and throughout the Savannah area.
“This hard-fought conviction represents a major step in the continued prosecution of ruthless drug traffickers and gang members who reached from coast to coast in distributing their poison,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, however, these traffickers have hit a dead end in the Southern District of Georgia.”
Allen, a leader in the Gangster Disciples street gang, was one of 22 defendants indicted in August 2017 in Operation Five Hole, a multi-agency investigation targeting the drug trafficking organization that hid cash proceeds from drug sales in cotton candy machines for shipment by U.S. Mail and in vehicles with hidden compartments. The operation netted the seizure of pounds of marijuana and kilos of cocaine, along with nearly $400,000 in cash and multiple firearms.
“Not even prison bars could keep this defendant from continuing to commit crimes that threaten our citizens’ safety,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Even while in prison Allen directed his fellow conspirators to prey upon the good people of our communities. The FBI is dedicated to ending their reign of terror no matter where they are.”
“Eugene ‘Poncho’ Allen poisoned and terrorized our community when he lived here and managed to continue to do the same from behind bars,” said Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team Director Everett Ragan. “Thankfully, his time has finally come to an end. This case should serve as a reminder that no one is above the law or too big to be stopped.”
This investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Chatham County Narcotics Unit (CNT), the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham and Effingham County Sheriffs’ Offices, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Marshals Service as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations.
The cases were prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney/Assistant District Attorney Noah Abrams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Pennington, with assistance from Litigation Technologist Dean Athanasopoulos.
Prison sentence for leader of drug trafficking conspiracy wraps up major investigationRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA – The lead defendant in a major south Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to nearly 11 years in federal prison, representing the final defendant to be sentenced from the now-dismantled drug trafficking ring.
John Eugene Overcash, a/k/a “Cowboy,” 53, of Brunswick, Ga., was sentenced to 128 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Overcash pled guilty to Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine and an Amount of Marijuana, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. He also was sentenced to 120 months to be served concurrently on the firearms charge, and after completion of his sentence will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The court also ordered Overcash to forfeit $60,207 in cash seized during the investigation, along with two vehicles and multiple firearms and ammunition.
“Through vigorous investigation and relentless prosecution, Overcash and his criminal cohorts will no longer be pumping poison into our communities,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The same fate awaits any others who are tempted to follow in their footsteps: A prison cell is available for them, too.”
Overcash was the lead defendant among two dozen indicted on federal and state charges in spring of 2018 in the takedown of a large-scale drug-trafficking operation centered around Glynn and McIntosh counties. The investigation, which led to the seizure of kilograms of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of marijuana, crack cocaine, more than $60,000 in cash and dozens of firearms, was coordinated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office and the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Other defendants convicted and sentenced in the operation include:
Edrin Temple, a/k/a “Pete McCiver,” 40, of Darien, Ga., sentenced to 130 months in prison for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Temple will begin serving his federal sentence after release from state prison for state charges and for violating probation.
Kenneth Leon Bradley, 51, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 112 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, including 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a quantity of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana;
Anthony Bernard Lewis, a/k/a “Amp,” 47, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
Jeremy McIntyre, 38, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 34 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
Richard Carter, 58, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana;
Darrius Merrell, 39, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine;
Keneil King, 26, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. After completion of his sentence, King will be referred to Immigrations and Custom Enforcement for deportation.
Troy Crosby, 50, of Hortense, Ga., sentenced to 38 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Distribution of Cocaine;
Jessica Tabateau, 32, of Orlando, Fla., sentenced to three years of probation for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent and to Distribute Cocaine;
Amy Manson, 38, of Hortense, Ga., sentenced to time served for Unlawful Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Drug Crime;
Joseph Simmons, a/k/a “Bug,” 49, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for Unlawful Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Drug Crime;
Tommy Murray, 51, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 12 months plus one day in prison followed by one year of supervised release for Unlawful Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Drug Crime;
Clifton Foster, 65, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for Unlawful Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Drug Crime; and,
Marcus Mungin, 34, of Brunswick, Ga., sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for Unlawful Use of a Communications Facility to Facilitate a Drug Crime.
Additional defendants in the operation were prosecuted on state charges.
“This case is 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 Division of the ATF. “These sentences will ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals and contribute to the restoration of order and peace around Glynn and Mcintosh Counties.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Josephson and E. Greg Gilluly Jr. prosecuted these cases for the United States.
Government settles alleged False Claims Act violations with Sesolinc GroupRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The Sesolinc Group has agreed pay up to $2.4 million to settle allegations that they supplied defective products and submitted false claims to the Army, Department of Veterans Affairs and General Services Administration.
Based on the allegations of the unsealed complaint, Sesolinc is alleged to have violated the False Claims Act when it sold products to the United States that were not in compliance with required electrical and structural standards, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After concerns were raised internally, Sesolinc, which manufactures its products in Statesboro, Ga., is alleged to have continued to deliver defective products to government customers. As part of the settlement, Sesolinc has agreed to repair goods previously supplied to the United States and pay an additional penalty.
“If a contractor represents to the United States that it will provide products consistent with basic requirements of the government customers, this office will hold them to those promises,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We will continue to vigorously pursue any contractors who try to cut corners at the taxpayers’ expense.”
“This settlement sends a clear message that defective products sold to our military will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “The tireless efforts by DCIS and our investigative partners ensures that contractors are held accountable for the work they perform and the members of our military receive the proper resources to safely and effectively complete their mission.”
“This settlement serves as another reminder that attempting to defraud the government is a very bad idea,” said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. “Providing shoddy and unsafe conditions for our men and women in uniform to widen profit margins is a total disservice to our government.”
David Spilker, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs, stated, “The substituted, sub-standard, and defective products that veteran-owned Sesolinc Group provided to the VA put at risk critical infrastructure used to care for veterans during times of emergencies and natural disasters. The continued oversight of the companies who do business with VA, as shown in this investigation and subsequent settlement, safeguard the integrity of VA programs and funding.”
Special Agent in Charge Floyd Martinez of the Office of Inspector General of the General Services Administration (GSA OIG), said “Contractors cannot abuse the GSA contracting system to knowingly sell defective products to the federal government. GSA OIG will aggressively pursue those who abuse this process for their own gain. GSA OIG stands ready, with our federal law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice, to combat fraud, waste and abuse.”
The Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) Chief of Business Integrity and Procurement Fraud Prevention Program, B. Patrick Costello, Jr., said, “DLA, working in tandem with the Department of Justice, reached a settlement agreement in this matter with Sesolinc. This agreement resolves DLA’s claims against Sesolinc, which provided certain products that failed safety standards and put warfighters at risk. This agreement not only provides monetary relief to DLA, but more importantly will provide a mechanism to repair and make safe all deficient products that were delivered to DLA customers, including the U.S. Army. This agreement reflects DLA’s commitment to warfighters and the taxpayers, and reaffirms that DLA will hold contractors responsible for compliance with all applicable safety standards.”
This settlement resolves allegations that were originally part of a federal lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens with knowledge of false claims to file suit on behalf of the government and to share in the recovery. The government would like to sincerely thank Charles Jackson in this case for bringing the issue to the government’s attention and his assistance with the investigation of this matter.
This case was investigated by Special Agent Lam Hoang with DCIS; Special Agent James Parkinson with Army CID; Special Agent Priva Guillory with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent Steven Heckler with GSA-OIG. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Shannon Heath Statkus and J. Thomas Clarkson.
Cartel-connected illegal alien drug trafficker and associate sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: Two drug traffickers, including an illegal alien with ties to a Mexican drug cartel, will spend more than a decade in federal prison after sentencing in a methamphetamine conspiracy.
Ricardo Santana-Hernandez, a/k/a “Richard Hernandez,” a/k/a “Armond,” a/k/a “Armani,” 32, of C’daltimairano, Guerroro, Mexico, was sentenced to 135 months in prison, and Ryon Bland, 32, of Douglas, Ga., was sentenced to 110 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Both were sentenced for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute large quantities of crystal methamphetamine. After completion of their sentences, Santana-Hernadez will be deported, and Bland will be placed on court-supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system.
Santana-Herndandez, Bland and nine other conspirators pled guilty after their indictment by a federal grand jury in October 2018 for drug trafficking and firearms-related offenses.
According to court filings and testimony, in early 2018, the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office received information that Donna Bazemore, a/k/a “Dirty D,” 45, of McRae, Ga., was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine from her residence in Telfair County. Investigators searched the residence and seized 16 bags of methamphetamine, a bag of cocaine, two bags of MDMA (a/k/a Ecstasy), at least six firearms, a video security system, and other drug trafficking tools. Agents arrested Bland, who was at the location breaking down methamphetamine into smaller bags for distribution.
The investigation revealed that Santana-Hernandez was a source of supply for the drug trafficking organization that operated in Telfair County and elsewhere. Santana-Hernandez, who resided in the Atlanta area illegally, received kilograms of methamphetamine from the “La Familia” cartel in Mexico. In August 2018, Santana-Hernandez delivered two kilograms of methamphetamine to the Southern District of Georgia via a courier. Federal agents then arrested Santana-Hernadez when he came to a Dublin, Ga., restaurant to collect payment.
In addition to Santana-Hernandez, Bland and Bazemore, the following people also have been convicted for their roles in the conspiracy:
Enio Camacho-Pineda, a/k/a “Tony,” a/k/a “Tony Montana,” 31, of Atlanta;
Enrique Lopez, a/k/a “Ricky,” 44, of Douglas, Ga.;
Eugene Wright, a/k/a “Burt,” 52, of Millwood, Ga.;
Cristian Jesus Martinez, 19, of Mexico;
Angela Hurst, 38, of Douglas, Ga.;
Kristel Merritt, 43, of Douglas, Ga.;
Angie McCoy, a/k/a “Angie Woods,” 24, Douglas, Ga.; and,
Kenneth Woodrow Mancil, 53, Sylvania, Ga.
“These sentences demonstrate that our partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement are the key to targeting and dismantling organized crime,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “With hard time for their crimes, two drug traffickers will pay the penalty for spreading poison in our communities.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, “This sentencing is a great example of what can be achieved when DEA works hand-in-hand with its law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This trafficker was clearly working under the direction of the La Familia drug cartel based in Mexico. Consequently, he will spend in excess of a decade in federal prison.”
“Narcotic traffickers have no regard for the well-being or safety of our Georgia communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Art Peralta. “Narcotic trafficking and violence go hand in hand, and these sentences prove that our efforts to identify and arrest those individuals who promote violent crime through the distribution of narcotics is having a positive impact.”
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations, and was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the U.S. Marshals Service, Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit, and other local law enforcement agencies. The case also falls under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Harper and E. Greg Gilluly, Jr.
Correctional officer indicted for accepting bribes to smuggle contraband into prisonRead the Press Release
DUBLIN, GA: A correctional officer at a federal prison has been charged in a 14-count indictment with accepting bribes in return for smuggling cigarettes to an inmate.
Michael Kerr, 30, of Vidalia, Ga., is charged with 12 counts of Bribery, one count of Providing Contraband into a Prison, and one count of making a false statement to law enforcement, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry possible punishment of up to 15 years in prison.
The indictment alleges that on 12 occasions Kerr, a correctional officer at McRae Correctional Facility, a private prison operated under a federal contract in Telfair County, accepted payments ranging from $400 to $640 in return for smuggling cigarettes to the inmate. The indictment alleges Kerr then lied when confronted about the allegations by claiming the payoff occurred only once, for $100. The forfeiture allegation included in the indictment contends Kerr accepted bribes totaling of $5,790.
“The corrections officers in our federal prison system perform outstanding work under difficult conditions,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Any guard who violates their oath makes the job for all the others more difficult, and as a consequence merits prosecution.”
“Introducing contraband undermines the integrity of federal prisons and creates a danger for correctional officers, prison staff, and inmates,” said Special Agent in Charge James F. Boyersmith, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office. “Bribery and smuggling contraband into federal prisons will not be tolerated, and our agents will continue to root out these schemes. I’d like to thank U.S. Attorney Christine for his partnership in this effort.”
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.
Major heroin trafficker and co-conspirator sentencedRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two heroin traffickers have been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to their roles in a major drug distribution conspiracy.
Gary Johnson, a/k/a “G,” 44, of Savannah, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison, while Jamison Lanier, a/k/a “Monica Lewinsky,” 36, also of Savannah, was sentenced to 53 months in prison, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.
Johnson and Lanier pled guilty in U.S. District Court in February to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin.
According to court statements and filings, Johnson and Lanier were involved in a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of heroin from at least February through December of 2018. During the investigation, investigators observed Lanier and Johnson distribute heroin at multiple parking lots in the Savannah area. On Nov. 8, 2018, federal agents executed search warrants at three locations associated with Johnson, resulting in the seizure of more than $97,000 cash and more than 170 grams of heroin, much of it laced with the deadly synthetic opioid Fentanyl.
“The United States is in the midst of a drug epidemic, with nearly 30,000 overdose deaths last year attributed to drugs laced with fentanyl,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Our commitment to the community is that we will prosecute traffickers and send them to prison and prevent them from contributing to this deadly marketplace.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Atlanta Field Division stated, “Heroin and synthetic drugs have no boundaries. Once consumed, they destroy their victims like predators ravage their prey. Many thanks to the collaboration of law enforcement agencies and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who all made this investigation a success.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection service remains steadfast in our resolve to ensure that we seek justice to the end against criminals that pose a direct threat to the safety and stability of our communities,” said Antonio J. Gomez, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division. “This goal is achieved through collaborative investigative efforts with other law enforcement agencies.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Bearden.
Medical business owner sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for medicare fraudRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: The owner of a Thomson, Ga., medical equipment company was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison Tuesday, July 30, for a wide-ranging Medicare fraud scheme.
Detra Wiley Pate, owner and CEO of Southern Respiratory LLC, of Thomson, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randall Hall to 121 months in federal prison for multiple counts of health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. She also was ordered to pay $950,000 in restitution, and must serve three years of supervised release after completion of her sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Detra Wiley Pate had every opportunity to operate a successful, legitimate business serving the needs of the elderly and vulnerable in her community,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Instead, she got greedy and charged Medicare for expensive equipment patients neither needed nor received, using prescriptions doctors had not written. As an ironic result, she’ll grow old in prison while reflecting on her fraud.”
According to the information presented in court documents and testimony, from 2014-2016 Pate submitted thousands of false claims, fabricated patient files, and falsified prescriptions from doctors for items such as heavy-duty wheelchairs while providing much cheaper standard wheelchairs to patients – and pocketing the substantial difference in cost. Pate used the money she stole from Medicare through this fraud to pay for such things as jewelry, including a 1.5 carat diamond and a Rolex watch.
“The FBI and our federal law enforcement partners are determined to prosecute anyone who chooses to profit personally at the expense of those who count on federal healthcare programs for their deserved benefit and the taxpayers of this country,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing is an example of that determination and our commitment to protect our citizens and uphold the Constitution.”
“Fraud schemes such as these divert taxpayer funds from vital federal healthcare programs to fraudsters – such as Detra Wiley Pate – who seek personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Our agents, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to clamp down on such scams.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Rhodes and Thomas Clarkson led the prosecution for the United States with assistance from Litigation Technologist Dean Athanasopoulos.
Main figure in fraudulent debt-collection scheme sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Florida man who set up and operated a fake debt collection business has been sentenced to federal prison for fraud.
Vincent Plumb, 56, of Sarasota, Fla., was sentenced to 48 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa G. Wood after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. In addition, Plumb and other previously sentenced defendants are ordered to forfeit assets as part of $130,523.13 in restitution to more than 200 victims who were defrauded in the scheme, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, Plumb – who originally is from London, England – set up and led Crown Oaks Media, a fraudulent debt-collection business in Douglas, Ga. Employees of the Coffee County business, using written scripts, would call victims demanding payment of fictitious payday loan and credit card debt, often threatening service with legal documents.
Individuals who worked at Crown Oaks Media reported the scheme to authorities, who initiated an investigation in January 2016. Plumb was indicted in 2018, and pled guilty in December 2018. Three co-conspirators, including Plumb’s son, Alex Plumb, previously were sentenced for their involvement in the scheme.
“Most junk telephone calls are merely annoying and inconvenient, but these scam calls cheated vulnerable people out of their hard-earned money to line the pockets of greedy crooks,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Vincent Plumb will find his telephone privileges are significantly limited from inside federal prison.”
“This case was initiated by the U.S. Secret Service when one good citizen saw behavior that they deemed reprehensible by their fellow coworkers,” said Glen M. Kessler, Resident Agent in Charge of the Savannah Resident Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “When defendants like Vincent Plumb choose to victimize the elderly and veterans of our country, more citizens should step up and alert law enforcement to assist in closing these fraudulent telemarketing operations.”
“This sentencing further shows that IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to identifying and prosecuting those who try to take advantage of our most vulnerable citizens. People who create elaborate schemes that have no purpose other than to mislead others run the very high risk of prosecution,” said Thomas J. Holloman, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field office of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus Cyber Forensics Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo and the Asset Recovery Unit for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Five defendants in Operation Vanilla Gorilla sentenced for drug conspiracy, weapons crimesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA.: Five drug-trafficking conspirators and affiliates of the violent Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang are being sent to federal prison just days after prosecutors notched the final convictions of all 43 defendants in Operation Vanilla Gorilla.
Those sentenced this week for drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms violations include a purported leader of the conspiracy and an enforcer of gang rules, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“Outstanding work from our law enforcement partners and prosecutors wrapped up these cases with convictions of every defendant just eight short months after their indictments,” U.S. Attorney Christine said. “The significant federal prison sentences for these criminals should make it clear that we will not tolerate street gangs who peddle poison in our neighborhoods and violate the safety of our citizens. We will find them, and we will shut them down.”
U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced five more of the 43 defendants to substantial prison terms, and upon completion of their sentences each will serve an additional three to five years of supervised release. To date, 21 defendants have been sentenced for their roles in the criminal conspiracy. Those sentenced this week are:
David McCloskey, a/k/a “Larchmont,” 47, of Augusta, Ga., was sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison: 165 months for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and 120 months for being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. McCloskey was a leader in the drug conspiracy.
Joshua McNelly, 26, Savannah, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
Dillon Myrick, a/k/a “Country Crack,” 31, of Port Wentworth, Ga., was sentenced to 120 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Methamphetamine. As a “violator” in the Ghost Face Gangsters, Myrick’s job was to collect drug debts, settle disputes, and assault those believed to be enemies of the street gang.
Crystal Wilson, 37, of Bloomingdale, Ga., was sentenced to 65 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Methamphetamine; and,
Kari Neely, 27, of Statesboro, Ga., was sentenced to 24 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Quantity of Methamphetamine.
Some of these defendants were on probation or parole when they committed the offenses, so the federal sentences will run consecutive to the sentences for violating state probation or parole. There is no parole in the federal system.
As noted in court, these five defendants had a combined total of at least 19 state convictions, including at least three felony convictions, and had previously violated state probation at least four times.
These five defendants were members of a major drug trafficking organization that distributed kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”) in the Southern District of Georgia and elsewhere. McCloskey received pounds of crystal methamphetamine and delivered it for others to distribute. When Effingham County deputies arrested McCloskey on April 16, 2018, he had in his possession a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, a firearm with two fully loaded magazines, $2,225 in cash, and drug trafficking scales. McNelly transported and distributed kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and possessed firearms. Myrick served as a “violator” for the Ghost Face Gangsters, and both Wilson and Neely stored, transported, and distributed drugs for the organization.
“These sentences will ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals and contribute to the restoration of order and peace,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Operation Vanilla Gorilla was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. The case was investigated by the ATF, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomingdale Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Frank Pennington.
Nine men indicted on federal charges in child sex trafficking stingRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: Nine men snared in a child sex trafficking sting have been indicted on federal charges.
Operation Do You Know Your Neighbor, coordinated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in late March, targeted adults who were seeking children for indecent purposes, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“It’s always troubling that there are adults who seek to prey on underage children for their own gratification,” Christine said. “Anyone with such disturbing proclivities should be reminded that our law enforcement agencies are diligent in their efforts to find them and prevent the exploitation of innocent children.”
Those indicted on federal charges in the sting include:
Daven Jones, 29, of Jacksonville, is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement; Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity; and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Matter to a Minor;
John Torrance, 35, of Naples, Fla., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement; Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity; and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Matter to a Minor;
Joshua Weaver, 34, of St. Marys, Ga., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement, and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Matter to a Minor;
Dylan Wescott, 27, of Orange Park, Fla., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement, and Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity;
Charles Barreras, 48, of Kingsland, Ga., charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement;
Matthew Coffey, 37, of Brunswick, Ga., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement;
Alvaro Hernandez, 35, of Bristol, Ga., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement;
Marquise Little, 22, of Kingsland, Ga., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement; and,
Trevor Rountree, 28, of Orange Park, Fla., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement.
Charges in the indictments carry possible penalties of 10 years to life in prison.
“The success of this operation comes from the strong partnership NCIS shares with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office,” said NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Matt Lascell. “We are dedicated to combating child sexual crimes that endanger Department of the Navy families and the citizens of Georgia.”
Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor said, “The investigation conducted by federal, state and local agencies is an example of how a cooperative effort by law enforcement protects the youth from those who attempt to prey upon the children of our communities.“
Indictments contain only charges. All defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The sting was set up by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the GBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for the purpose of identifying adults who were seeking out children for indecent purposes. Other agencies participating in the investigation included the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the Kingsland Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Savannah Police Department.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales.
All 43 defendants in Operation Vanilla Gorilla now convicted of drug, firearms crimesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: In the eight months since Operation Vanilla Gorilla became the largest-ever takedown of associates of the Ghostface Gangsters criminal street gang, all 43 defendants indicted in the firearms and drug trafficking investigation have now been convicted of their crimes.
Kenneth L. Jenks, a/k/a “Juno,” 40, of Savannah, is the final defendant in the 93-page, 83-count indictment to enter a guilty plea in the operation, which was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) from 2015 through 2018, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. On Wednesday, July 17, Jenks pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Possession of Methamphetamine and will be sentenced at a later date.
A day earlier, U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced Nick Penfield, a/k/a “Picnic,” 22, of Savannah, to 210 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Penfield pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 5 Grams or more of Methamphetamine. Evidence presented in court filings and testimony demonstrated that Penfield; his brother Cody Penfield, 28, of Savannah; and their father Mike Penfield, 54, of Pooler, Ga., were associates of the Ghost Face Gangsters and distributed kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine. Nick Penfield was the first of the three to be sentenced.
The same day, Judge Baker sentenced Devon Aines, a/k/a “Devon Johnson,” 33, of Savannah, to 171 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Aines and his brother, Trevor Aines, a/k/a “Sticks,” 29, of Garden City, Ga., were convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. According to court records, Devon Aines associated with Ghost Face Gangsters, distributed methamphetamine, and used threats of violence to collect drug debts. Trevor Aines awaits sentencing.
“Operation Vanilla Gorilla is a stellar example of federal, state and local law enforcement professionals and prosecutors working together to target and dismantle a violent, drug-trafficking criminal street gang,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The swift convictions and significant sentences of every defendant indicted in this operation demonstrates the value of cooperation between and amongst the agencies involved. It takes a network to dismantle a network.”
Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF) said, “ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources in conjunction with those crucial law enforcement contributions of local agencies to the pursuit of eradicating and forestalling criminal gang activity.”
Operation Vanilla Gorilla was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. The case was investigated by the ATF, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Chatham County Narcotics Team (CNT), the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomingdale Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Frank Pennington.
Federal jury quickly convicts serial illegal deporteeRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Honduran national who has repeatedly entered the United States illegally has been convicted in federal court after his fifth return.
A jury on July 15 found Celso de Jesus Urbina-Aleman, 43, of Honduras, guilty of Re-entry After Removal/Deportation in U.S. District Court in Augusta, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The conviction carries a possible sentence of up to two years in federal prison, followed by deportation.
“Urbina-Aleman’s case demonstrates the challenge our federal immigration partners face in enforcing our nation’s laws,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “For a decade and a half the defendant has broken our laws over and over again, been caught and deported. This jury verdict has changed the script and will permit justice to be served at the time of sentencing.”
Urbina-Aleman was arrested Dec. 2, 2018 after a traffic stop in Taliaferro County, Ga., and was charged with driving without a valid license. A check on his immigration status determined he was illegally present in the United States and previously had been deported four times.
According to court records and proceedings, Urbina-Aleman was initially removed from Texas in 2006, was deported in 2010 after being caught in Pennsylvania, then was caught again near the border in Texas in 2011 and deported. Less than three months later, he was caught again in Texas, convicted in federal court of Illegal Entry and again deported.
“The woman and men of ICE perform the vital role of arresting and removing immigration law violators, particularly those who demonstrate a constant and wanton disregard of our laws,” said ICE Atlanta Field Office Director Sean Gallagher. “ICE officers, in concert with our law enforcement partners, will continue to perform their duties as intended by Congress with veracity, courage and professionalism.”
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro V. Pascual IV.
Pharmacists charged in fraud, diversion investigationsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two Georgia pharmacists have been charged after separate federal investigations involving fraud and diversion of drugs to non-patients.
Ray Ashley Dixon, 41, of Baxley, Ga., is charged with Conspiracy with Objects of Healthcare Fraud and Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substances, and Janice Colter, 62, of Darien, Ga., is charged with False Statements Related to Healthcare, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Both defendants are charged via criminal informations. If convicted, each face up to five years in federal prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Dixon owned and operated Fulghum Discount Drugs in Baxley, Ga. An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) uncovered that, beginning as early as January 2015 and continuing until at least October 2018, Dixon created fake prescriptions purportedly prescribing drugs to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and billed those programs for the drugs. In addition, Dixon distributed controlled substances to individuals without a prescription from a physician.
Also charged is Colter, who was pharmacist-in-charge of a pharmacy in Darien, Ga. From 2015 through 2017, Colter filled a large number of prescriptions for controlled substances from high-volume prescribers. In response to a review of her dispensing history, which included a focus on select high-prescribing physicians, Colter drafted documents that contained false and fraudulent statements, which the Drug Enforcement Administration would review as part of any regulatory compliance audit.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable medical professionals who disregard their duties to the people of this district and to taxpayer-funded health programs,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “These coordinated multi-agency investigations show the results we can deliver in response to this continued opioid epidemic.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “Healthcare professionals, such pharmacists who commit fraudulent crimes, sometimes prey on patients who are addicted to prescription opioids. Some of these licensed practitioners dispense addictive substances under the guise of a ‘professional practice,’ when in actuality, they act like a common drug dealer. This successful investigation was a direct result of the collaboration between all law enforcement agencies involved and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“Together with our federal, state and local partners, we are dedicated to fighting the war against the opioid epidemic,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We will hold all unscrupulous and self-serving health care providers accountable.”
“The citizens of our community expect our law enforcement agencies to take an active role in helping to fight the drug epidemic, particularly the abuse of prescription opioids,” said Mark Melton, Sheriff of Appling County. “Our office will work with all partner agencies in defeating the illegal narcotics trade.”
Criminal informations contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases were investigated under the Health Care Fraud and Opioid Abuse Task Force by the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad, DEA Diversion, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the Appling County Sherriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Thomas Clarkson and Jonathan A. Porter.
High-speed trooper chase results in five-count guilty verdict for drug conspiracy, firearms crimesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man is facing a substantial prison sentence after a federal jury returned a guilty verdict on all five counts against him.
Amari Jermaine Sams, a/k/a/ “Face”, 37, of Savannah, was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess With Intent Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine and a quantity of Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession With Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine and a quantity of Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in U.S. District Court, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Sams now faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
According to evidence presented at the three-day trial, on the morning of April 22, 2018, Sams and his co-conspirators, Jovonn Brisbon and Hakeem Campbell, led Georgia State Patrol officers on a chase at speeds up to 120 mph in a Ford F-150 stolen from the Savannah Airport. During the pursuit, a stolen Glock. 40 firearm was thrown from the vehicle and later recovered. State troopers forced the vehicle to a stop and apprehended Brisbon and Campbell, and Savannah Police Department officers captured Sams hiding in a creek parallel to I-516. A search of the stolen vehicle yielded approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine, and inside a book bag found next to the vehicle officers found a stolen Springfield XD .45 caliber pistol, approximately 1 pound of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine, scales and baggies. The occupants had more than $4,000 cash combined.
Brisbon and Campbell previously entered guilty pleas in the case and are awaiting sentencing.
“The game of hide and seek for this defendant is over, and his next stop will be federal prison,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “I commend the brave law enforcement officers and investigators who safely brought an end to this dangerous crime spree, and the prosecutors who successfully brought this dangerous felon to justice.”
“ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources in conjunction with crucial 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 (ATF).
Said Chatham County Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) Director Everett Ragan, “Living the fast life caught up to them. I have no doubt a long prison sentence will slow them down.”
This case was investigated by ATF and CNT, along with the Savannah Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol. The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Bearden and Frank Pennington.
Blythe man indicted for firing on helicopter during federal law enforcement operationRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Blythe man has been indicted on federal charges that he shot a helicopter being used in support of a law enforcement operation.
Terry Kielisch, 55, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of Assaulting a Person Assisting an Officer of the United States, Damaging an Aircraft, Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The charges in the five-count indictment carry sentences of 10 years to life in prison, along with substantial fines.
According to court documents in the case, Kielisch is accused of firing at and striking a Georgia State Patrol helicopter piloted by a GSP trooper and with a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigator as a passenger on March 12. The aircraft was providing support for Operation Gunsmoke, a sweep of defendants accused of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession in Georgia and South Carolina, coordinated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Kielisch was not a target in the operation, and while the helicopter was damaged, neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured.
“This assault had potentially deadly consequences for the officers conducting their law enforcement duties,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “Our office will vigorously prosecute anyone who would harm or attempt to harm the professionals who protect our communities.”
The case was investigated by the ATF, the Georgia State Patrol and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Syms Jr. and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marchman.
A criminal indictment contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two men indicted for importing cocaine in Port of Savannah shipmentRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two men have been charged in a four-count federal indictment for the June 2019 shipment of more than 45 pounds of cocaine through the Port of Savannah.
Jimmy Alexander Pujols, a/k/a “El Gallo,” 35, and Fausto Mendez Ramos, a/k/a “Rudy Reyes Polanco,” 40, are charged with Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance, Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Controlled Substance, Importation of a Controlled Substance, and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Conviction on the charges carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
In June, Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Augusta Fire Department, seized packages containing 21.3 kilos of cocaine while serving a federal search warrant at an Augusta warehouse holding a shipping container that had been transported from the Port of Savannah. Pujols and Ramos were taken into custody.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Marcela Mateo.
Hephzibah man admits drug charges in court plea, faces up to 40 years in prisonRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Hephzibah man has admitted owning a stash of drugs and a handgun that led to his arrest on federal charges.
In U.S. District Court on Wednesday, July 10, Eric Bernard Ferguson, 37, of Hephzibah, pled guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Ferguson faces a sentence of five to 40 years in federal prison.
As described in court documents and testimony, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigators, including a member of a Drug Enforcement Administration task force, served a search warrant in August 2018 at Ferguson’s home. The search discovered packages containing more than 180 grams of cocaine, more than 5 grams of methamphetamine and quantities of marijuana, along with cash and a loaded handgun hidden under a mattress. As noted in court, Ferguson has three prior convictions in state court for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
“This case represents excellent work from our federal and local law enforcement partners to target and remove drug distributors from our community,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The prospect of real, significant time in federal prison, with no parole, should help deter those who likewise would push poison in our neighborhoods.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said of the guilty plea, "Cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana are dangerous drugs that pose a clear and present danger to the community. Because of the collective efforts of our local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts, this defendant was brought to justice. This case is a shining example of what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies at all levels and the U.S. Attorney's Office work collaboratively."
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro V. Pascual IV.
Couple admit producing child pornography while planning to sexually exploit young girlRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A couple who admitted producing and sharing child pornography during a plot to sexually exploit an 8-year-old girl pled guilty to federal charges.
Charles Brandon Powell, 33, of Hephzibah, and Carrie Marie Minton, 25, of Cordoba, S.C., pled guilty Monday, July 8, to one count of Production of Child Pornography in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge J. Randall Hall, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years, followed by supervised release of five years to life. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The facts of this case are sickening and disturbing, revealing a cesspool of cooperative depravity,” said Christine. “Quick action from our federal and state law enforcement partners halted this scheme in the early stages, thankfully sparing further exploitation of two innocent children.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Powell and Minton, identified as a couple, held online discussions to plan a sexual encounter with an 8-year-old girl whom Minton planned to bring to Powell’s Hephzibah home from Neeses, S.C. After Minton sent an explicit photo of another juvenile, a 5-month-old girl, to Powell, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities, who intervened as the plot was in motion. Powell and Minton were taken into custody without either of the children subjected to further harm.
“This case is an excellent example of how partnerships between the FBI and our state and local law enforcement agencies are essential in protecting our citizens and in particular, children, our most vulnerable citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta FBI. “Keeping our children safe is a top priority for this office and I thank law enforcement for their quick work on this matter.”
After accepting please from Powell and Minton, Judge Hall remanded them to federal custody until a sentencing hearing is held. Both are in custody in the Jefferson County Jail.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the South Carolina Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Appling man admits to possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: An Appling man has pled guilty to a federal charge of possession of child pornography.
Ricardo Dale Alva, 64, entered a guilty plea Monday, July 8, in U.S. District Court in Augusta to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, followed by no less than five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. A sentencing hearing will be held at a later date.
Alva was arrested March 7 after Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies were alerted by an online tip that led to a search of Alva’s Appling home by the FBI. The search discovered a cell phone containing images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“Children exploited by pornography are victimized when their images are recorded, and again and again when those images are shared,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The successful resolution of this case leaves many other victimizers to pursue, and our office and investigative partners will never rest until we end this repulsive victimization of children.”
“Individuals who possess pornographic images of children for their own self-gratification support the further exploitation of the most innocent victims,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always make it a top priority to protect the most vulnerable in our society, our children,”
The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tara Lyons.
Savannah man arraigned for 2018 murder on Fort StewartRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man charged with killing the wife of a deployed U.S. Army soldier on post at Fort Stewart has been ordered held without bond.
Stafon Jamar Davis, 27, of Savannah, was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Savannah where he entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of Premeditated Murder in the July 9, 2018 shooting death of Abree Boykin, 24, a resident of post housing at Fort Stewart Army Reservation, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Davis also is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Magistrate Christopher L. Ray granted the prosecution’s motion and ordered Davis held without bond and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He is being held at the Liberty County Jail.
The indictment alleges that Davis, while on Fort Stewart, “willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought, did unlawfully kill Abree Boykin, by shooting Abree Boykin with a 9mm firearm.” The body of Boykin, whose husband was a then-deployed soldier, was discovered by Military Police in her residence.
Davis was arrested West Palm Beach, Fla., and transported to the Southern District of Georgia for court proceedings.
FBI and CID continue to offer a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the recovery of Abree Boykin’s black 2018 Honda Accord, Georgia license plate RLQ1762. Those with information are encouraged to call the FBI Atlanta Field Office at (770) 216-3000, email [email protected], or call 1-844-ARMY-CID. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous will be protected to the degree allowable under the law.
A criminal indictment contains only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Army Criminal Investigation Command, with assistance from the Savannah Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer G. Solari.
Former police officer convicted of enticement of a minorRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former Richmond Hill police officer faces substantial prison time after his conviction in federal court for luring teen girls to meet him for sex.
A federal jury convicted Jeffrey Allen Allmond Jr., 25, of Richmond Hill, of one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Allmond faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison and must register as a sex offender after his release. There is no parole in federal prison.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that Allmond, then a police officer, met two girls, ages 15 and 16, via the Tinder dating app. Allmond then communicated with the girls through Snapchat and arranged to pick them up in the middle of the night outside the gate of Fort Stewart, where the two lived on post. Allmond then drove the teens back to his apartment and performed sexual acts on both of them. Later that night, Allmond returned the girls to the Fort Stewart gate. Allmond continued communicating with the girls through Snapchat and met up with them twice more at his apartment where he performed sexual acts on them.
The Richmond Hill Police Department asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to investigate the case and terminated Allmond after initial charges were filed. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) provided assistance during the investigation.
“This repugnant crime victimized the children of active-duty military personnel while disgracing the badge of a law enforcement officer,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Hard time in federal prison awaits those who would engage in such despicable behavior.”
“We are glad that we were able to assist our fellow law enforcement agencies in bringing this individual to justice,” said Chris Grey, spokesman for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. “We strive every single day to do everything possible to protect our soldiers, civilians and family members.”
“This law enforcement officer violated his oath of office by preying upon minors he swore to protect,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “No one is above the law. The protection of innocent victims is a priority in the state of Georgia.”
“This conviction validates our department’s actions in immediately suspending, and then terminating, Allmond when the allegations came to our attention,” said Richmond Hill Police Chief Mitch Shores. “We take such betrayals of the public trust very seriously, and gave full assistance to the agencies that investigated and prosecuted this case.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Groover prosecuted the case for the United States.
Texas family pleads guilty in scheme to obtain multiple Masters tickets for resaleRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Ga: Four members of a Texas family have admitted taking part in an elaborate scheme to fraudulently obtain multiple Masters Golf Tournament tickets.
Stephen Michael Freeman, of Katy, Texas, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in proceedings held in U.S. District Court in Augusta, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. In addition, Freeman’s parents, Steven Lee Freeman and Diane Freeman, of Helotes, Texas, and sister, Christine Oliverson, of San Antonio, Texas, also entered guilty pleas to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
In pleading guilty to the charge, Stephen Michael Freeman agrees to a sentence of 36 months in federal prison and has paid community restitution of $157,493.70. At sentencing, the court may accept or reject the plea agreement. Steven Lee Freeman and Diane Freeman agreed to pay community restitution of $59,000 each, and with Christine Oliverson, are subject to sentencing by the court.
The payment of community restitution, negotiated through the Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is unprecedented in the Southern District of Georgia, and recognizes that the defendants are returning the proceeds of their crime. The funds from community restitution are dispersed under federal guidelines to qualifying non-profit organizations.
“These profiteering con artists thought they had succeeded in hijacking the Augusta National’s generous ticket lottery system to satisfy their own greed,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “The vigilance of the Augusta National staff and the investigative acumen of the FBI ferreted out the fraud, ensuring justice is served to these cheats for the federal crimes they committed.”
The defendants admitted in court that they used names and addresses from a purchased bulk mailing list to create multiple fraudulent accounts in the Augusta National Golf Club’s online ticket application system. All this occurred without the knowledge or permission of the individuals whose identities were used.
When any applications received notice of ticket awards via the email addresses provided for them, Stephen Michael Freeman or others acting at his direction would create fake identification documents including driver’s licenses, utility bills and credit card statements to persuade the Augusta National to change the winner’s mailing address to one that was under control of the conspiracy. Once the defendants received the tickets at those addresses via U.S. Mail, they would then resell the tickets at a substantial profit. Also, in some cases in which the recipient’s address was unchanged, one or more of the defendants would visit the recipient’s home to persuade them, sometimes with modest payment, to turn over the tickets by claiming they had been sent to the wrong address by mistake.
“This scheme was designed to profit from the resale of tickets, but in the process, it also would have denied legitimate citizens a fair chance to obtain tickets to a prestigious golf tournament,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We hope that this case sends a message that the FBI will make it a priority to investigate these cases, and if you get caught, you will pay the price.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, and was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons and Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Two indictments among 1,700 nationwide for child exploitation in 'Operation Broken Heart'Read the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two Georgia men are among nearly 1,700 arrested for child sex exploitation crimes as part of a nationwide Department of Justice initiative.
Steven Andrew Ross, 29, of Savannah, is charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity for incidents in Camden and Chatham counties, and Benjamin Ray, 38, of Honea Path, S.C., is charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Felony Offense Involving a Minor Committed by a Registered Sex Offender for incidents in Chatham County, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The federal charges for which Ray is indicted carry a penalty of 20 years to life in prison, while the charges against Ross carry a penalty of 10 years to life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system, and if released, each defendant would be subject to serve supervised release for five years to life.
“As the perception of sexual exploitation of children continues to move from windowless vans in back alleys to Dark Web sites on the Internet, the investigation and prosecution of these vile crimes must continue to evolve,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are determined, with our law enforcement partners, to find these criminals wherever they try to hide and protect the innocent from victimization.”
Operation Broken Heart, a nationwide operation conducted during April and May by the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces, led to the arrest of nearly 1,700 suspected online child sex offenders. The task forces identified 308 offenders who either produced child pornography or committed child sexual abuse, and identified 357 children who suffered recent, ongoing or historical sexual abuse or were exploited in the production of child pornography.
During the course of the operation, the task forces investigated more than 18,500 complaints of technology-facilitated crimes targeting children and delivered more than 2,150 presentations on internet safety to over 201,000 youth and adults.
“The sexual abuse of children is repugnant, and it victimizes the most innocent and vulnerable of all," Attorney General William P. Barr said. “We must bring the full force of the law against sexual predators, and with the help of our Internet Crimes Against Children program, we will. Over the span of just two months, our ICAC task forces investigated more than 18,000 complaints of internet-related abuse and helped arrest 1,700 alleged abusers. I would like to thank our Office of Justice Programs, all of the task force members, and especially the state and local partners who helped us achieve these important results. We are committed to bringing the defendants in these cases to justice and protecting every American child.”
“Sexual exploitation steals the innocence of children, and the criminals who engage in these acts often inflict life-long trauma on their victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan of the Atlanta field office of Homeland Security Investigations. “HSI is committed to investigating child exploitation cases as one of its highest priorities, and we deeply appreciate the efforts of our U.S. Attorney partners to protect children from these terrible crimes.”
The ICAC Program is funded through the Department’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). For more information, visit the ICAC Task Force webpage at www.icactaskforce.org.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases in the Southern District of Georgia are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Savannah Police Department, in conjunction with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Groover.
Doctor sentenced to prison for prescribing narcotics to non-patientsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Ga: A physician with clinics in Pooler, Ga., and Braselton, Ga., was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for illegally prescribing drugs to non-patients.
Dr. Johnny Di Blasi, 46, of Braselton, Ga., was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Unlawfully Dispense Controlled Substances (Oxycodone), said Bobby L. Christine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Di Blasi had been in custody since Christmas Eve, when he was arrested at Miami International Airport by agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as he waited to board a flight to Medellin, Colombia, in an attempt to flee prosecution.
As described in court filings and in court proceedings, Di Blasi, known as “Dr. Johnny,” admitted writing prescriptions for narcotics, including opioids and amphetamines, to non-patients – many of whom he never met. Di Blasi wrote the prescriptions through clinics he operated in Pooler, Ga., and Braselton, Ga., to individuals traveling from at least 11 states. In addition, Di Blasi also provided and sold prescriptions for opioid pain medications and amphetamines to non-patients he met in restaurants and bars. One of those receiving prescriptions was an individual who was in prison at the time the prescription was written.
Di Blasi’s illegal practices took place for more than a year, with the DEA initiating a formal investigation in March 2018.
“Unscrupulous, profiteering medical professionals not only abuse their trust as health care providers, but feed the illicit pipeline of drugs that fuel the opioid crisis in our communities,” said Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “As the arrest and prosecution of Di Blasi demonstrates, we and our law enforcement partners will be relentless in removing dangerous drug distributors from our neighborhoods, whether they are street-corner dealers or professionals who disgrace their lab coats.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “It is sad commentary when medical professionals like Dr. Di Blasi use their position of trust to hide behind the veil of legitimacy to commit criminal acts. The reckless distribution of pharmaceuticals results in addiction and death, and this doctor can no longer do harm to drug-seeking customers. Many thanks to the hard-working law enforcement partners who made this case a success.”
“Dr. Di Blasi flagrantly violated his oath to do no harm, opting instead to line his pockets by illegally prescribing drugs,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue fighting those seeking to defraud government health programs.”
Said Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team Director Everett Ragan, “There are a lot of good doctors who take their medical oath seriously. Sadly, Dr. Di Blasi opted to go against his, which in turn continues furthering the opioid crisis. His arrest is a prime example that we will seek all drug dealers no matter if they wear a white coat or what their day job or title is.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Josephson and J. Thomas Clarkson prosecuted the case for the United States.
Cocaine seizure in Augusta raises Savannah port total to more than $53 millionRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Renewed action to scrutinize shipments into the growing Port of Savannah have led to significant recent drug seizures, including two arrests and more than 20 kilos of cocaine seized in a weekend raid at an Augusta warehouse.
Jimmy Alexander Pujols, 35, and Fausto Mendez Ramos, 40, are charged in a federal complaint with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine after their arrests Friday, June 7, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “Drug distribution networks moving their loads by sea, often hide their drugs in cargo containers, as was the case in this investigation. This case is a perfect illustration of the battle DEA and its law enforcement counterparts face when trying to prevent dangerous drugs from entering our country and ultimately hitting the streets of our communities. As a result of DEA’s unwavering commitment to protect communities and through the strength of its law enforcement partnerships, this poison never reached its intended users.”
“Identifying and intercepting transnational drug traffickers is one of Homeland Security Investigations’ highest priorities to protect the public from the serious harm these criminals inflict without any regard for the violence and public health damage they cause,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta Nick S. Annan. ”While transnational criminal organizations continually seek vulnerabilities to U.S. border controls, this case illustrates the excellent interagency coordination that exists between federal, state and local law enforcement partners to identify and stop them at the Port of Savannah.”
“This case exemplifies the commitment of CBP’s partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement and other key stakeholders to protect the American public,” said Donald F. Yando, Director of Field Operations for the Atlanta Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree, who has two investigators assigned to the Augusta DEA Task Force, lauded the DEA/RCSO’s continued partnership. “This operation and associated seizures reinforce our commitment to remove dangerous drugs from the streets of Augusta and elsewhere,” Roundtree said.
A criminal complaint contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Marcela Mateo.
Former pro baseball player sentenced to federal prison in Operation Vanilla GorillaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former professional baseball player has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking network dismantled in Operation Vanilla Gorilla.
Darren J. Driggers, also known as “DJ” and “eBay,” 26, of Bloomingdale, Ga., was sentenced to 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
At the completion of his incarceration, Driggers will be on supervised release for three years. There is no parole in the federal system. Because he was on probation when he committed his offense, his federal sentence will be served consecutively to his sentence for violating probation.
In November 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Driggers and 42 other defendants as part of Operation Vanilla Gorilla, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation into a drug trafficking organization associated with the Ghost Face Gangsters, a violent criminal street gang. Of the 43 defendants, 41 have been convicted of federal charges in this multi-district case.
According to information presented in court filings and testimony, Driggers and other conspirators, including associates of the Ghost Face Gangsters, distributed crystal methamphetamine throughout southern Georgia. Driggers, a convicted felon, also possessed and sold stolen firearms to conspirators to assist the drug trafficking organization by promoting a climate of fear. During the investigation, Driggers bragged to federal agents that he was nicknamed “eBay” because he sold stolen goods via social media platforms.
Prior to his criminal activity, Driggers was selected in June 2012 in the 22nd round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers. The following year he received a 50-game suspension after failing a drug test, and in January 2014 he was released from the MLB after positive drug screens. Driggers explained to the United States Probation Office that “I decided I liked meth better than baseball.”
“DJ Driggers was a gifted athlete who did what thousands of hard-working athletes can only dream about: He was chosen to play professional sports,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Instead, he fouled out of his once-promising career by abusing illegal drugs, squandering a truly major-league opportunity and will now spend half a decade in prison for gun and drug charges.”
“This is yet another example of the law enforcement community working together to make our streets and communities a safer place to live, said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Dismantling these violent drug trafficking networks continues to be a priority for ATF and our law enforcement partners.”
“Methamphetamine continues to dominate the country as the most abused illicit drug,” said Jamie Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the Savannah Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). “Driggers is just one of many victims whose lives have been destroyed because of meth. However, Driggers made the decision to become a distributor of this poison, which in turn affected countless others. This was his downfall, as distributors become targets of law enforcement and go to prison or in some cases end up dead in the street. Fortunately for Driggers, he goes to prison and not the graveyard.”
Operation Vanilla Gorilla was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. The case was investigated by the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the GBI, the Chatham County Narcotics Team (CNT), the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomingdale Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Frank Pennington.
Savannah man indicted for 2018 murder on Fort StewartRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been indicted for the murder last summer of the wife of a deployed U.S. Army soldier on post at Fort Stewart.
In an indictment unsealed today, Stafon Davis, 27, of Savannah, is charged with Premeditated Murder in the July 9, 2018 shooting death of Abree Boykin, 24, a resident of post housing at Fort Stewart Army Reservation, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Davis also is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
The indictment alleges that Davis, while on Fort Stewart, “willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought, did unlawfully kill Abree Boykin, by shooting Abree Boykin with a 9mm firearm.” The body of Boykin, whose husband was a then-deployed soldier, was discovered by Military Police in her residence.
Davis is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail in West Palm Beach, Fla. He is scheduled to have an initial appearance Friday in the West Palm Beach Division of the Southern District of Florida, and will be required to appear in the Southern District of Georgia for further proceedings.
“Our service members already make a tremendous sacrifice for their country, including deployments, and they deserve to know their families will be kept safe here at home – especially at our own military facilities,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We owe it to Abree Boykin’s family to seek the full measure of justice for her killer.”
“Nothing will ever resolve the pain and suffering this murder has caused the husband, family and friends of Abree Boykin, but hopefully this indictment is the beginning step toward some sense of justice for them,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This result would not have been possible without the cooperation of our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Army and U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
FBI and CID continue to offer a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the recovery of Abree Boykin’s black 2018 Honda Accord, Georgia license plate RLQ1762. Those with information are encouraged to call the FBI Atlanta Field Office at (770) 216-3000, email [email protected], or call 1-844-ARMY-CID. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous will be protected to the degree allowable under the law.
A criminal indictment contains only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Army Criminal Investigation Command, with assistance from the Savannah Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer G. Solari.
Violent fleeing felon with firearm sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man will spend nearly four years in federal prison on a firearms possession charge that started with his attempt to outrun police.
Elisha Gadson, 26, of Savannah, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to statements made in court and in court filings, Port Wentworth Police Department officers attempted to stop Gadson for a minor traffic violation when he made an illegal U-turn and sped away, endangering others by racing up to 100 mph in a 35 mph zone. Once Gadson was apprehended, Port Wentworth officers recovered a Glock 19 9mm with a fully loaded magazine under the driver’s seat of Gadson’s vehicle and another loaded 9mm magazine in the trunk. Because of prior felony convictions, including a conviction involving violence, Gadson is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
“The joyride for this defendant is over, and his next stop will be federal prison,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We commend the Port Wentworth Police Department for their diligence and for successfully removing yet another firearm from the hands of a convicted felon.”
“This case involves an illegally possessed firearm in the hands of a criminal,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “It demonstrate the cooperation that exists between the Port Wentworth Police Department and ATF.”
This case was investigated by the Port Wentworth Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Bearden.
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'Vanilla Gorilla' defendant sentenced to nearly 10 years for drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: An associate of the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang will serve nearly 10 years in prison for his role in distribution of methamphetamine.
Adam Cushman, 39, of Savannah, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine by U. S. District Judge R. Stan Baker, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his sentence, Cushman will serve supervised release for three years and all federal benefits will be denied for five years. There is no parole in the federal system.
In November 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Cushman and 42 other defendants as part of Operation Vanilla Gorilla, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation into a drug trafficking organization associated with the Ghost Face Gangsters, a violent criminal street gang. Of the 43 defendants, 41 have been convicted of federal charges in this multi-district case. Cushman pled guilty within two months of being indicted.
According to information presented in court filings and in court proceedings, Cushman and other conspirators, including other associates of the Ghost Face Gangsters, distributed crystal methamphetamine throughout southern Georgia. Although tattooed with a large “G” and a skull on his chest, Cushman denied being a member of the Ghost Face Gangsters but admitted associating with others in the conspiracy.
As noted in court, Cushman’s criminal history spans two decades, with his first conviction at age 17. He has state convictions for DUI, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Sale of Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, among others. He was on state probation for the fifth time when he participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, and his federal sentence will begin immediately after he completes his prison sentence for violating state probation.
At sentencing, Cushman told the court, “Me being in prison may be the best thing that has happened to me,” and U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine agrees. “Cushman is an example of why people who sell methamphetamine should be locked up for a long time,” Christine said. “Cushman, himself, admitted that he would not have committed his crimes but for his own addiction to methamphetamine. Meth destroys lives, families and communities, and drug addicts often commit crimes to feed their addiction – as Cushman’s crimes abundantly demonstrate.”
“ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources to eradicate criminal gang activity,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Operation Vanilla Gorilla was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. The case was investigated by the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Chatham County Narcotics Team (CNT), the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Richmond Hill Police Department, the Pooler Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Bloomingdale Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly, Jr. and Frank Pennington.
Lead defendant gets 20-year sentence in major drug trafficking investigationRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The lead defendant in a Statesboro drug trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Natividad Dias, a/k/a as “Nat,” “Nate,” “Amigo” or “Huevos,” 46, a Mexican national who lived in Sylvania, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Dias also must pay a $10,000 fine and will serve an additional five years of supervised release after completion of his sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“By operating a pipeline of illegal narcotics from Atlanta, California and Mexico, this conspiracy polluted these small communities of the Southern District as surely as if it had dumped toxic waste in the neighborhoods,” said Christine. “The law-abiding residents saw something and said something – so we did something by bringing these drug traffickers to justice.”
Evidence in the case showed that Dias was a leader, organizer and recruiter of the conspiracy that distributed multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, powder cocaine, and marijuana. During the operation, investigators seized kilograms of methamphetamine and multiple pounds of marijuana, along with multiple firearms.
Operation Icehawk, a joint federal, state and local investigation began in 2015, after citizens complained about drug trafficking and violent crime in Screven County, Ga., and soon uncovered a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana in Screven, Effingham, Jenkins, Bulloch and Evans counties.
In addition to Dias, other defendants in the operation include:
John Timothy Collins, 48, of Sylvania, Ga.;
John Kenneth Joyner, 47, of Sylvania, Ga.;
Palmer Alton Bazemore III, 51, of Sylvania, Ga.;
Cassie Jo Barbee, 36, of Sylvania, Ga.;
Jaime Elton Newsome, 39, of Statesboro, Ga.;
Megan Nicole Bazemore, 30, of Millen, Ga.;
Christina Elizabeth Davis, 32, of Sylvania, Ga.;
Derrick Riggs, 42, of Statesboro, Ga.;
Gary Paul Joyner, 51, of Sylvania, Ga.;
Monica Isabell Jimenez, 22, of Statesboro, Ga.;
Zackary Allen Durrence, 26, of Statesboro, Ga.;
John Dillon Joyner, 25, of Sylvania, Ga.;
Jonathan Travis Oliver, 36, of Sylvania, Ga.;
Michael Shane Bishop, 44, of Claxton, Ga.;
Jonathon Evan Oglesby, 27, of Millen, Ga.;
Alfred Anthony Woods, 28, of Sylvania, Ga.; and,
Noah Quinn Pope, 25, of Sylvania, Ga.
The 19th defendant named in the indictment currently is undergoing a medical evaluation.
“We are fortunate in the Southern District of Georgia to have such a hard-charging group of local, state and federal personnel pursuing the real bad guys,” said Jamie Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office. “Drug distributors poison and disrupt families across the state daily. This organization has been terminated, and hopefully some families will benefit from their demise.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency Atlanta Field Division stated, “This defendant infested a number of small communities with more than methamphetamine and marijuana. His drug trafficking activities also led to the spread of violent crime. Thanks to our federal, state and local law enforcement partners who responded to this small communities’ call for help. As a result, this poly-drug trafficker was removed from the streets and will spend well-deserved time in prison. This case is a shining example of how success can be achieved when local, state, federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office work together make our communities safer.”
“This case is collaborative effort to rid violent narcotics traffickers from Screven County,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“Methamphetamine and other drugs have devastated countless communities due to the dramatic health and public safety consequences that typically accompany its introduction into an area,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Nick S. Annan. “This sentencing stems from an extensive collaborative effort between federal, state and local enforcement partners to disrupt a drug trafficking organization responsible for flooding southern Georgia with these dangerous substances. This operation is a testament to the seamless partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies serving the citizens and communities of Georgia.”
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, the premier U.S. Department of Justice program utilized to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations.
The investigation was a joint operation of federal agencies including the DEA, HIS, ATF, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Participating state agencies included the GBI, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Local law enforcement included the Screven County Sheriff’s Office, Sylvania Police Department, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office, Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, Evans County Sheriff’s Office; and the Claxton Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Marcela C. Mateo is prosecuted the case for the United States.
Final prison sentences wrap up cocaine trafficking investigationRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two sentencings in federal court represent the final defendants from a dismantled major cocaine trafficking conspiracy that spanned the country and transported significant amounts of drugs into the Savannah area.
Michael Dean Hubbard, 39, of Garden City, Ga., was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, and Domminick Sentell Robbins, 39, of Guyton, Ga., was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The sentencing for these two criminals slams the door on a major conspiracy to peddle poison in our communities,” Christine said. “With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to tracking down and bringing to justice those who would pollute our neighborhoods with illegal drugs – and Operation Lazarus is a great example of our success.”
Operation Lazarus, a joint federal, state and local investigation, began in 2012 through 2017 in the Savannah area under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and initiated by the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The investigation uncovered a major conspiracy that transported significant amounts of cocaine and other narcotics to Savannah, Atlanta and Florida via tractor-trailer from Texas and California.
During the operation, investigators seized more than 10 kilograms of powder and crack cocaine, 16 pounds of marijuana and large amounts of heroin, Ecstasy and prescription pills, along with 50 firearms and more than $700,000 in cash. A total of 54 defendants – 21 prosecuted in federal court, and 33 prosecuted in state court – have been sentenced after convictions or guilty pleas. A full list of defendants is included below.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented on the sentencings, “The mission of DEA is unwavering – we relentlessly pursue drug traffickers who distribute dangerous drugs in our communities. These drugs cause immeasurable damage, but DEA, its law enforcement partners and the U. S. Attorney’s Office are committed to protecting and serving the citizens of those communities. These defendants will spend well-deserved time in prison.”
“This case recognizes how important it is for local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to unite in order to dismantle this organization,” said CNT Director Everett Ragan. “It is a joint effort and we must hold those responsible for the illegal acts accountable for their actions.”
In addition to DEA and CNT, agencies cooperating for Operation Lazarus included the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Garden City Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. The OCDETF program is the premier U.S. Department of Justice program utilized to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations.
The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
Defendants in Operation Lazarus include:
Federal defendants:
Christopher Shawn Crimley, 44, Port Wentworth, Ga.;
Nakiea Javon Hampton, 38, Savannah;
Sherone Kenya McBride, 41, Garden City, Ga.;
Shamone Moquis McBride, 39, Garden City, Ga.;
Traviel Lamar Perkins, 45, Savannah;
Kevin Lamar Speaks, 37, Savannah;
Michael Dean Hubbard, 39, Garden City, Ga.;
Cedric Jermaine Manior, 46, Rincon, Ga.;
Travis Terrell Godwin, 28, Garden City, Ga.;
Kendrick Carnell Doomes, 36, Ludowici, Ga.;
Steve Gordon, 40, Register, Ga.;
Ronnie Cope, 39, Guyton, Ga.;
Domminick Sentell Robbins, 39, Guyton, Ga.;
Anderson Holmes III, 51, Savannah;
Trevor Wendell Walker, 47, Savannah;
Eric Donnell Washington, 39, Savannah;
Jonathan Turner, 40, Savannah;
Latonya Maria Shannon, 32, Morrow, Ga.;
Omar Guevara, 39, Roswell, Ga.;
Jerrod Baugh, 41, Atlanta; and,
Jameel Lawton, 40, Savannah.
State court defendants:
Deandre Antonio Singleton, 38, Garden City, Ga.;
Donald Lee Oliver, 33, Garden City, Ga.;
Bobby Terrell Alexander, 50, Savannah;
David Renaldo Scarver, 35, Garden City, Ga.;
Christopher Delmont Jones, 45, Savannah;
Ellison Robert Burns Jr., 43, Garden City, Ga.;
Adam Gershon Palmer, 34, Savannah;
Ebony Jabriea Harley, 34, Garden City, Ga.;
Curtis Keith Knowles, 64, Savannah;
Robert Edward Singleton Jr., 52, Garden City, Ga.;
Willie James Grant, 27, Savannah;
Taurus Eugene Holloway, 43, Savannah;
Michael Bernard Jenks, 33, Savannah;
Ramone Williams, 50, Savannah;
Dennis Lee Morris 29, Garden City, Ga.;
Deatra Babaham 39, Garden City, Ga.;
Michael Andrea Wilson, 51, Hardeeville, S.C.;
Antonio Daywan Newton, 38, Savannah;
Edward Callahan, 48, Atlanta;
John Terrell Nelson, 41, Savannah;
Javonne Washington, 40, Savannah;
George Michael Muller, 41, Atlanta;
Steven Chad McCoy, 48, Savannah;
Richard Glen Valeiko, 43, Rincon, Ga.;
Sabrina Morell 42, Rincon, Ga.;
Bonnie Wayne Romine, 66, Garden City, Ga.;
George Bernard Lilly, 49, Rincon, Ga.;
Destiney Kawandra Clifton, 30, Lyons, Ga.;
Samuel Ashley Bartley, 43, Guyton, Ga.;
Melveric Jamelle Ford, 37, Garden City, Ga.;
Phillip Anthony Edwards, 34, Garden City, Ga.;
Edwin Gary Burroughs, 35, Garden City, Ga.; and,
Michael Anthony Green, 35, Savannah.
Woman found guilty of money laundering in scheme that stole money from Augusta attorneyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Ga: A Texas woman who helped steal nearly a quarter-million dollars from an Augusta attorney faces up to 20 years in prison after being found guilty in a jury trial.
Gloria Ifem Okolie, 39, of Dallas, Texas, was found guilty Wednesday, May 15, of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering as a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Augusta began a second day of deliberations, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. She was acquitted of a second charge in the case, Wire Fraud. A date for sentencing has not yet bet set.
According to court documents and testimony during the trial, Okolie, along with former co-defendant Paul Wilson Aisosa – who previously pled guilty to money laundering – participated in a scheme to steal $246,218.83 from an Augusta attorney who was deceived into rerouting the proceeds from the sale of a West Lake home.
The money was sent to an account Okolie opened at a Dallas bank, where she, Aisosa and a co-conspirator who is currently in Nigeria withdrew large portions of the money that they sent to other conspirators who also are believed to be in Nigeria.
“Complex international cases involving cyber fraud and banking manipulation are still, in the end, just old-fashioned theft,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “And just like any other theft, our job is to work with our law enforcement partners to bring these thieves to justice and shut down the avenues by which they enrich themselves at the expense of honest people.”
“Okolie was part of an elaborate plan of deception to steal money from an unsuspecting victim through an email scam,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is committed to working with our international partners to crack down on these fraud schemes and reminds businesses to be diligently alert to potential email compromises.”
“Today’s conviction is a direct result of the excellent partnership IRS and the U.S. Attorney’s office has in combating violations of federal law,” said Thomas J. Holloman III, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “This conviction should serve as a deterrent to those who might contemplate similar fraudulent actions.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Rhodes and Hank Syms.
Statement from U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine in the on-duty death of Savannah Police Sgt. Kelvin AnsariRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: “It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss and honor the selfless service of Savannah Police Department Sgt. Kelvin Ansari,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “After serving 21 years in the U.S. Army, and 10 years as a police officer in Savannah, Sgt. Ansari exemplifies the type of leader who deserves the respect and appreciation of a grateful nation. On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our many law enforcement partners, we join in expressing our deepest sympathy to Sgt. Ansari’s wife and four children, and to his many brothers and sisters in blue. Our heartfelt prayers for their comfort are with them today.”
Eighteen charged in 20-count drug distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Eleven men and seven women have been charged as part of an undercover investigation targeting a multi-county drug distribution network.
The 20-count indictment charges the defendants with a wide-ranging conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and marijuana and with gun possession violations stemming from Operation Who’s Laughing Now, said Bobby L. Christine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“The scope of this operation and the number of defendants demonstrates why the Southern District of Georgia ranks No. 1 in the United States in the number of violent crime defendants charged per prosecutor,” Christine said. “Our office is committed to working with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in targeting and eradicating these criminal drug and firearms operations.”
According to court documents, the defendants were arrested during the operation conducted by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with other local law enforcement agencies in a 20-county area of eastern Georgia. In addition to quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana, investigators also seized 14 firearms – including two unregistered sawed-off shotguns – and a large amount of ammunition and magazines.
All 18 defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana. Additional charges in the indictment are:
- Tina Hatterer, 39, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; four counts of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Deanna Parker, 35, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Robert Jennings, a/k/a “Tattoo,” 32, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and selling firearms without a license;
- Bayleigh Laughing, 22, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;
- Daniel Jeffers, a/k/a “Dirty,” 30, of Savannah, GA charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;
- Michael Cronk, 28, and his brother Steven Cronk, 34, both of Savannah, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Toni R. Lowery, 36, of Midway, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Cassandra Ellis, 28, of Savannah, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;
- Jonathan Vollmer, a/k/a “Erik,” 43, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with selling firearms without a license; Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; and possession of a sawed-off shotgun;
- Ashley Vollmer, 43, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; and possession of a sawed-off shotgun;
- James Blue, a/k/a “Fat Boy,” 30, of Hinesville; Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.
- Houstin Schlernitzauer, 23, of Richmond Hill, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;
- Zachary Carter, 34, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon;
- Christina Moore, 33, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;
- Tyler Aceto, 27, of Hinesville, charged with charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;
- Steven Teft, 30, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; and,
- Dejoun Thomas, a/k/a “Dae Dae,” 23 of Hinesville, charged with two counts of Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.
The charges carry penalties upon conviction of up to life in prison.
“As prosecutors, we appreciate the hard, dangerous work of the law enforcement professionals who conduct these undercover operations,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will honor their heroism by doing our duty, and bring justice to those who would pollute our neighborhoods with drugs and illegal weapons.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, “Today we have removed dangerous criminals from the streets of south Georgia. These poly-drug traffickers will no longer be able to deliver deadly doses of poison in the community. This investigation was a success because of the great working relationship that DEA has with its federal, state, local counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“This is another example of our law enforcement partners working together to rid our streets and communities of drugs and firearm-related violence,” said Lenwood S. Reeves, Resident Agent in Charge of the Savannah Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes stated, “This operation is the result of many long hours of work by the men and women of several law enforcement agencies, but I want to especially recognize the members of the Narcotics Unit of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. Because of their dedication to this operation, our citizens can rest assured that their neighborhoods are safer now. I also want to express my appreciation for the assistance of the ATF and DEA during this long investigation. This type of case would be very difficult to prosecute without the cooperation of our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn Semales and Marcela Mateo.