An investigation that began last summer resulted in over 30 arrests Tuesday and Wednesday in a drug sweep, “Operation Street Hustler.”
Headed by Statesboro Police with the assistance of the Bulloch Count Sheriff’s Department, Georgia Southern University Police and other agencies, the sweep netted 33 arrests, with more expected after 57 drug-related warrants were served, said Statesboro Police Capt. Scott Brunson.
Operation Street Hustler targeted “street level and mid-level drug dealers,” he said. Citizens should notice a reduced amount of visible drug activity after the sweep, which removed a significant number of dealers from circulation, at least for the time being, he said.
Ninety law enforcement officers from numerous agencies rounded up the suspects, and a “special grand jury” was held Tuesday to indict the suspects, Brunson said. Ogeechee Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Barclay Black will prosecute the cases.
Officers seized crack cocaine, powder cocaine, Ecstasy (MDMA), marijuana and more, he said.
Search warrants were executed at D.C. Customs on Davis Street and at a home of Gentilly Road last week. In addition to the drugs, an undisclosed amount of cash and two vehicles were seized.
Brunson said the investigation was launched in response to citizen complaints.
The following were arrested:
* Terry Edward Baitmon, 37, Old River Road North – sale of MDMA (Ecstasy), unlawful use of communication facilities, parole violation.
* Henry Lee Shipman, 49, Pamela Way – sale of cocaine (party to a crime); manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects, probation violation, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
* Dinitra Lasalle Wadley, 36, Miller Street Extension – sale of cocaine.
* Shawn Danta Williams, 33, Johnson Street – sale of cocaine, sale of marijuana.
* Stevie Dewayne Dixon, 35, Pleasant Avenue – sale of marijuana, unlawful use of communication facilities.
* James Cornilius Johnson, 33, Pine Street – sale of marijuana; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects, unlawful use of communications facilities.
* Amei Nichelle Newkirk, 27, Packinghouse Road – sale of marijuana; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects (two counts), sale of cocaine, unlawful use of communication facilities, probation violation.
* Shannon Renate Lovett, 39, Waverly Lane – sale of cocaine; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects, unlawful use of communications facilities, counterfeit substances.
Jerry Travis Mikell, 27, Country Club Villas – sale of marijuana.
* Senakol Dorsette Reese, 32, address unlisted – sale of cocaine; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects, parole violation.
* Anthony Ton Fabrizio, 24, address unlisted – sale of cocaine; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects.
* Jerome Muhammad Preaster, 25, Dawne Drive – sale of cocaine; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects.
* Cornelius Lashon Johnson, 36, Church Street – sale of cocaine; unlawful use of communications facilities; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects.
* Matthew Huff, 38, Cypress Lake Mobile Home Park – sale of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, parole violation.
* Emory Taylor High, 21, Lanier Drive – sale of marijuana, manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near school property, unlawful use of communications facilities.
* Ray Ceasar Gardner III, 19, Harvey Drive – sale of marijuana; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or school property, unlawful use of communication facilities, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
* Mark Twain Ball, 19, Lanier Drive – sale of marijuana, manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near school property, unlawful use of communication facilities.
* Abram Rondez Hilton, 27, Hillcrest Drive, Sylvania – sale of marijuana; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects (two counts), unlawful use of communication facilities.
* John Mark Sweat, 20, Lanier Drive – sale of marijuana, sale of cocaine, unlawful use of communication facilities; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near school property.
* Rodriguez Mikell, 36, Pinemount Boulevard – sale of marijuana, sale of cocaine, manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects.
* Victor Jermaine Mercer, 31, Van Buren Street – sale of cocaine; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near a housing project, manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near school property.
* Brian Anthony Oglesby, 34, Smith Lane, Register – sale of marijuana, sale of cocaine, unlawful use of communication facilities, manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near school property.
* Jordan Jasona Jenkins, 22, Church Street – sale of cocaine.
* Kevin Oglesby Parrish, 40, Charleston Avenue – sale of cocaine, probation violation.
* Travis Marquis Webb, 27, West Maple Street – sale of cocaine (two counts).
* Isaiah Dennis Farley Jr., 35, Green Street – sale of cocaine; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near a housing project or public park, unlawful use of communication facilities.
* Laquan Calhoun Hartfield, 30, Garfield Street - manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects; manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near school property, unlawful use of communication facilities.
* Joseph Anthony Jones, 30, Gentilly Drive – possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; sale of marijuana, unlawful use of communications facilities.
* Andre Raymond Ware, 36, Burkhalter Road – sale of cocaine ( six counts), manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance on or near public parks or housing projects.
* Richard David Williams, 30, Lanier Drive – sale of marijuana (five counts), unlawful use of communications facilities, sale of cocaine.
* Yaheed Tyquan Brooks, 17, Church Street – sale of marijuana, unlawful use of communications facilities, battery.
* Eric Latron Hagins, 37, Miller Street Extension – sale of cocaine, sale of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a housing project.
Brunson said the Operation Street Hustler roundup was a team effort. During a press conference Wednesday, he thanked those from other agencies involved in the sweep.
Law enforcement agencies, in addition to the Statesboro Police, GSU Police and Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department, included the following: Georgia Bureau of investigation, GBI Region 5 Field Office, Savannah Regional Drug Enforcement Office, DEA Taskforce Savannah, Georgia State Patrol, Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
Also, Tri-Circuit Drug Task Force, Georgia Department of Parole, Georgia State Probation Office, Bulloch County Probation Office.