By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Operation Statesboro Blues ATF raid leads to 67 arrests
041304 OPERATION STATESBORO BLUES 3 web
Ninety-five confiscated weapons are displayed at a press conference in Statesboro, Ga. on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. It was announced that sixty individuals have been indicted on federal charges following an undercover storefront investigation called "Statesboro Blues" conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in conjunction with the Statesboro Police Department.
Note: NFA stands for National Firearm Act, and guns regulated by this act include machine guns, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, suppressors, and destructive devices (grenades, bombs, poison gas weapons, and non-sporting firearms with bores over .50 inches.)
   
   
    Justin Craig Anderson — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    William Craig Anderson — multiple counts each of felon in possession of a firearm, distribution of controlled substances, possession of a listed chemical with knowledge of intended unlawful use, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Toriano Adarius Blackmon — multiple counts each of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone.
    Avery Branch — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Irie Williams Brinson — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Franklin Lamar Bacon — multiple counts of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Anthony Lamar Brown — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Jason Earl Cooper —  multiple counts each of possession of a listed chemical with knowledge of intended unlawful use,distribution of controlled substances , conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, transfer of firearm to prohibited person.
    Walter Dickerson — multiple counts each of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, use or carrying a firearm during/in relation to drug trafficking, distribution of controlled substances.
    Eddirico Sanchez Eason — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Jeffrey Finch — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Stephen Franklin — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Clinton Jack Frost — multiple counts each of making false statements regarding health care mattes, distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Curtis Fann — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    David Fagan II — possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, unlicensed possession of a NFA weapon,  unlawful t transfer of a NFA weapon, possession of a NFA weapon not identified by a serial number.
    Harriet Green — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Charles Hagins — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy  to distribute controlled substances.
    William R. Hunt — multiple counts each of transfer of firearm to prohibited person, distribution of controlled substances, possession of listed chemical with knowledge of intended unlawful use, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, .
    Elnora Hagins Herrington — multiple counts each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substance in or near a school zone.
    Codey Hagins — multiple counts each of possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Jerome Hagins — multiple counts each of felon in possession o a firearm, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Stephen Joseph Hanselman — distribution of controlled substances  (multiple counts).
    Matthew Hendrix — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Michael Hendrix — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Ladamien Roaquez Henry — possession of a firearm by a domestic violence convict, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone.
    Emmanuel Rossell Hills — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, possession of a firearm by a domestic violence convict, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, false statements regarding a health care matter.
     Jeremi Holt — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, false statements regarding a health care matter..
    Macguyver Geraldo Huff — conspiracy, unlicensed dealing in firearms; multiple counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms, possession of stolen firearms, possession of firearms in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Also, unlicensed possession of a NFA weapon, unlawful  transfer of a NFA weapon.
    Frank Marcellous Hancox — conspiracy; multiple counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, unlawful possession of a NFA weapon, unlawful t transfer of a NFA weapon, possession of a NFA weapon not identified by a serial number.
    Gabriel Henderson — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
    Eileen Jenkins — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, possession of a listed chemical with knowledge of intended unlawful use,conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Marlin Jones — multiple counts each of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Paul Benjamin Jones — felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by an armed career criminal.
    Jonathan Luther Jones — multiple counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, false statements regarding  health care matters, distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Jonathan Lamar Jones —  multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substance, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, unlicensed dealing in firearms, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone.
    Jimmy Lanier — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Zakia Dortez Lee — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
    Jeffrey Deondra Lewis — multiple counts each of use or carrying a firearm during/ in relation to drug trafficking, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Roland James McClain — multiple counts each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Desmond Roosevelt Munion — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Lakesha McReynolds — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Herman McClouden III — multiple counts each of unlicensed dealing in firearms, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of  a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Joel Dennis Murray — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Lakelvyn Demarcus Neal — conspiracy, unlicensed dealing in firearm' multiple counts of possession of stolen firearms, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, unlicensed possession of a NFA weapon, unlawful  transfer of a NFA weapon.
    Luke Alan O'Quin — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Kevin Parrish — multiple counts each of possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, possession of stolen firearms, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Tameka Roberts — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Derrick Reese — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Vinnie Rock — multiple counts each of  conspiracy, unlicensed dealing in firearms, possession of a stolen firearm, receipt of firearm by a person under indictment, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Also, unlicensed possession of a NFA (National Firearm Act) weapon, unlawful transfer of NFA weapon, possession of a NFA weapon not identified by a  serial number.
    Dontae Cartavis Roundtree — multiple counts of engaging in business of dealing in firearms without a license, possession of firearms in or near a school zone, distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Inez Meylon Rountree — multiple counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms, possession of firearms in or near a school zone, false statements regarding health care matters, distribution of controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Brittany Carseca Reeves — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substance, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone.
    Kennedy Leroy Scott Jr. — multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substance, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, false statements regarding a health care matter.
    Kevin Tyrone Saunders — multiple counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm in or near school zone, use/carrying a firearm during/n relation to drug trafficking.
    Also, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, unlawful possession of NFA weapon, unlawful transfer of NFA weapon, possession of NFA weapon not identified by serial number..
    Chad Gerald Schultz — multiple counts of distribution of controlled substances.
    Kenneth Doeran Smith — multiple counts each of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone, distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substance, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone.
    Antonio Tanksley — felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in or near a school zone.
    Chereka Levette Williams — multiple counts each of distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy  to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone.
    Jarvis Fernando Washington —  multiple counts each of distribution of a controlled substance, distribution of controlled substances in or near a school zone, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
    Eddie Lemuel Weathers — multiple counts of distribution of controlled substances.
    Local, state and federal agents rounded up 67 suspects Tuesday morning during “Operation Statesboro Blues.” The multi-agency effort headed up by the Statesboro Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) targeted illegal drug and gun activity.
    A total of 17 law enforcement and government agencies participated in the 10-month-long investigation, including the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department, Georgia Southern University Police and Georgia State Patrol.
    The investigation culminated in a raid that began early Tuesday morning as more than 200 local, state and federal agents scoured Statesboro and Bulloch County seeking suspects after a long-term investigation led to more than 100 indictments, said Statesboro Police Chief Stan York.
     At a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, agents had 95 guns on display.
    Edmund A. Booth Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said ATF undercover agents met with suspects, many “associated with local street gangs,” and purchased illegal drugs and guns.
    ATF Special Agent Gregory K. Grant said drugs seized included Ecstasy, marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and methamphetamine. The amount of drugs seized were valued at “over a quarter million dollars,” he said.
    York said he began noticing increased crime involving guns and drugs about a year ago and contacted the ATF, then entered into a partnership with the agency to target these crimes.
    ATF agents worked undercover to buy drugs and guns. They “targeted the worst drug and gun offenders in the area,” Grant said.
    York offered a warning to others still on the streets committing these crimes.
    “Let me be crystal clear,” he said. “If you are involved in violent crime or drug trafficking, we’ll do everything in our power to have you jailed to the maximum extent. Today our community is a lot safer.”
    Grant said undercover agents made more than 350 contacts with offenders during the investigation. Referring to the vast array of guns confiscated, he said “These guns will no longer fuel violence in this community ... We don’t just react to violent crime - we attack it. Today these predators have become the prey of law enforcement.”
    Booth praised the local law enforcement agencies for their partnership with each other and state and federal agencies.
    “What you’ve seen is an example of cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement to address gang-related  crime in our communities,” he said.
    Many offenders have both drug and firearms charges, and some had charges of giving false statements regarding health matters to Medicaid, he said.
    York said law enforcement officers are still seeking about 20 offenders at large.
    “This is just the tip,” he said. “This will be ongoing on a daily basis. We will continue to have like operations ongoing.”
Sign up for the Herald's free e-newsletter