Twenty-Three Defendants Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking and Weapons Charges

A federal indictment, unsealed September 27 in federal court, has charged 23 defendants with a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, prescription pills, and ecstasy in the Thomson, Georgia area. Several of the defendants have also been charged with weapons charges.

The indictment follows a 12-month Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into drug trafficking activities in Thomson and Atlanta. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) conducted the joint investigation. During the investigation, agents seized drugs, money, vehicles, and guns.

United States Attorney Edward Tarver said, “This prosecution required the coordinated efforts of law enforcement on the state and federal levels to bring to justice those who profit from the scourge of illegal narcotics trafficking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to partner with federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute drug dealers and remove their drugs and dangerous weapons from our communities.”

The 23 defendants indicted on federal charges include:

WILLIAM LEON WOODS III, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia
KEVIN ELLIOTT GAINES, 29, of Thomson, Georgia
ANTONIO DANTWAN GRISSON, 27, of Thomson, Georgia
EDDIE DEWAYNE GALISON, 27, of Thomson, Georgia
GREGORY VALENTINO IVEY, 24, of Thomson, Georgia
SOLOMON MANDRELL GRIER, 32, of Thomson, Georgia
DEVICCO TROY MOSS, 29, of Thomson, Georgia
CEDRIC FERLANDO JOHNSON, 30, of Thomson, Georgia
ROBERT LEE BELTON, JR, 32, of Thomson, Georgia
CHRIS ANTONIO MOSS, 33, of Thomson, Georgia
SANTIONO TYWAN CARTLEDGE, 29, of Thomson, Georgia
TITO NAVADA HATCHER, 37, of Sparta, Georgia
ERNEST ROYMETTRIS HATCHER, 28, of Sparta, Georgia
SANCHEZ VANQUIS JONES, 27, of Thomson, Georgia
ROBERT LEE WILLIAMS, 31, of Thomson, Georgia
ROBERT LEE NEAL, 49, of Thomson, Georgia
JAMES BOUTTRY, JR., 24, of Thomson, Georgia
JAMARIO QUILTON LEE, 26, Thomson, Georgia
MARIO DEANGELO CLEMONS, 28, of Thomson, Georgia
QUANTAVIOUS ANTWAIN DAWSON, 26, of Thomson, Georgia
CHRISTINE MICHELLE WILLINGHAM, 36, of Appling, Georgia
APRIL OLIVIA DAWSON, 37, of Thomson, Georgia, and
DEBRA GAINES, 48, of Thomson, Georgia.

Mr. Tarver stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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