Twenty-Three Defendants Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking and Weapons Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 28, 2010 |
AUGUSTA, GA—A federal indictment, unsealed yesterday 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
Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia Green Rhodes is prosecuting the case for the United States. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.