WAYCROSS, Ga. (WSAV) — Over 30 people are named in a federal indictment that alleged they were involved in a drug trafficking operation in South Georgia, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday.
The indictment in USA v. Brinson, et al., named 37 individuals in the Coffee, Atkinson and Bacon County area as conspirators.
They are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Tara Lyons said. Indictments only include charges, not convictions.
The 60-count indictment includes the seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms and more than $17,000, the DOJ said.
FBI Atlanta
The indictment also alleges that much of the conspiracy was directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones. Eight of the people named in the indictment are in a Georgia jail, correction center or prison.
If they are convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison for most defendants, a DOJ spokesperson said. Along with that, they could face financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Those named in the indictment include:
- Litarus Brinson, 26, an inmate at the Jenkins Correctional Center
- Christopher Brockington, 44, of Douglas
- Keevon Bussey, 26, of Douglas
- Stacey Daniels, 32, of Douglas
- Kenneth Davis, 62, being held in the Coffee County Jail
- T’Kiya Eady, 24, of Lagrange
- Patrick Ellis, 42, of Atlanta
- Anthony Gaskin Jr., 35, of Pearson
- Dacia Gaskins, 31, of Douglas, a former Georgia state corrections officer
- Ernest Goodman, 42, an inmate of the Ware County Jail
- Christopher Hawkins, 30, of Douglas
- Qudarious Hawkins, 25, of Douglas
- Breanna Henderson, 34, of Douglas
- Corey Hill, 34, of Ambrose, Georgia
- Demarcus Holland, 32, of Douglas
- Wanda Hollinger, 57, of Douglas
- Zarionna Holloway, 23, of Douglas
- Roger Jenkins, 27, of Alma, Georgia
- Marquan Jenkins, 30, an inmate at Macon State Prison
- Richard Jewell, 51, of Douglas
- Aaron Kahn, 49, of Douglas
- James Lander, 35, Douglas
- Jeffrey Maxwell, 28, an inmate of Wilcox State Prison
- Darien McDaniel, 35, of Waycross
- Antarious McTear, 30, of Douglas
- Adrian Munford, 41, of Waycross
- Ferlonzo Newton, 28, of Douglas
- Reginald Powell, 36, of Douglas
- Patricia Raven, 65, of Valdosta
- Marcus Reynolds, 44, an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
- James Robinson, 33, an inmate at Telfair State Prison
- Sedarrien Smith, 24, of Douglas
- Billy Toombs Jr., 32, of Douglas
- Dequatte Tucker, 33, an inmate at Wheeler Correctional Facility
- Travis Tucker, 33, of Douglas
- Assyria Watts, 29, of Douglas
- Brian Wright, 48, of Alma
Several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation, the DOJ said.
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners were able to achieve today’s arrests and seizures because all of us never stopped working together, combining our resources, and advocating for a safer place to live for everyone in this community,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden. “And we will not rest until we bring back to our community a sense of security and law and order that is so greatly needed.”
Coffee County Sheriff Fred T. Cole said, “This operation was only successful because of the collaborative effort of the various agencies. As the sheriff, it is my mission to eliminate the spread of illegal drugs in our community. This operation highlights the importance of community safety and the lasting effects it has on our community.”
Agencies conducting the investigation include the FBI, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeast Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Douglas Police Department, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, the Marion County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Joshua K. Davis.