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.

-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Twitter: @FayetteFP

Perry Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Illegal Drugs, Attempting to Influence a Juror

G.F. “Pete” Peterman, III, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces the conviction in the United States District Court in Macon of WENDELL DOUGLAS WALKER age 39 of Perry, Georgia. Walker entered a plea of guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine) and one count of Endeavoring to Influence a Juror on December 3, 2009, before the Honorable C. Ashley Royal, Chief United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia. The charge of Endeavoring to Influence a Juror resulted from Walker’s contact with and efforts to corruptly influence a trial juror selected in May, 2009, to try the crack cocaine charge against him.

Walker admitted to selling a confidential informant more than 50 grams of crack cocaine in November, 2007. He further admitted that he had a relative contact the trial juror, who was asked to call a cellular telephone number because someone wanted to speak with her. When the juror called that number, Walker answered, identified himself and asked to meet with the juror, who then hung up on him. Walker admitted that he made the contact in an effort to wrongfully and corruptly influence the juror in exercising her duties as a juror at his trial.

Walker faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison on the Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base count and up to an additional 10 years in prison for Endeavoring to Influence a Juror.

Acting United States Attorney Peterman said that trafficking illegal drugs is a crime whose prosecution is a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office, adding that, “with regard to the jury influencing charge, attempts to corrupt the jury trial process, which is the very heart of this country’s criminal justice system, will always be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible by this office.”

The crack cocaine case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Perry Police Department. The case of juror influencing was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Macon. Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. McCullers prosecuted the case for the government. For additional information contact Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, at 478-621-2602.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page