19 More Charged As Feds And Locals Combine To Dismantle Violent Gangs In Brunswick, Georgia

BRUNSWICK, GA- A federal indictment, unsealed today, has charged 19 Brunswick, Georgia residents with conspiring to traffick crack cocaine and other drugs.  Some of the defendants were also charged with related gun charges.  If convicted of the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, the defendants face at least a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.  According to evidence presented during today’s initial appearances of several defendants, the investigation of this case centered around the unlawful activities of alleged members of the Bloods, a national gang.    

The 19 Brunswick residents indicted on federal charges include:       

                    ROMIA DANIELS, 40,

                    AMELIA ROBINSON, 36,

                    CLEVELAND NOBLE, 39,

                    ANDRE SHORT, 46,

                    CONNELL ALDRIDGE, 47,

                    PEARL WARD, 54,

                    CALVIN LEWIS, 37,

                    MELVINA LEWIS, 44,

                    JAMAR BRADLEY, 27,

                    KURLIE KEMP, 24,

                    LOVELL JONES, 26,

                    FREDDIE HOLLOWAY, 24,

                    WILLIE MIDDLETON, 33,

                    AARON MCCLENDON, 25,

                    DEBOE PICKERING, 21,

                    JOHN EARL ROBERTS, 30,

                    CHARLES WILSON, 56,

                    TYRONE MIDDLETON, 33, and,

                    KEVIN SMITH, 24.

Nine of the Defendants were scheduled to have their initial appearances today at 3:30 p.m. in the federal courthouse in Brunswick before United States Magistrate Judge R. Stan Baker.  United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver emphasized 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 guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Today’s announced indictment falls on the heels of a successful federal prosecution targeting the activities of another national gang operating in Brunswick, the Gangster Disciples.  In that case, 16 defendants  associated with the Arron Clark Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) were convicted of a number of charges, including conspiracy to distribute drugs, felon in possession of firearms, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.  Evidence presented in court filings and hearings demonstrated that the many members of the Clark DTO were also members of the Gangster Disciples.  Members of this group sold drugs, committed violent acts, and used violence as a means to protect turf.  Members of the group openly sold drugs on Wolfe Street in Brunswick. 

Chief United States District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood sentenced Arron Clark, age 24, a leader of the organization, to serve 25 years in federal prison, to be served “far from Brunswick, Georgia.”  Last week, Judge Wood sentenced Christopher Young, age 26, another leader of the organization, to serve 24 years in federal prison.  Upon their release from prison, both will be placed on supervised release for five years.

The Brunswick residents who were convicted and sentenced as part of the Clark DTO include:

ARRON BERNARD CLARK, 300 months in prison,

CHRISTOPHER DASHAUN YOUNG, 288 months in prison,

BERNARD STERLING ELLZY, awaiting sentencing,

JOHN WESLEY BOONE, 24 months in prison,

GEORGE LASHAWN HUMPHREYS 27 months in prison,

JARVIS MAURICE DENMARK, 138 months in prison,

CHRISTOPHER EMMANUEL WILLIAMS, awaiting sentencing,

JOHNNY LEE WILLIAMS, 40 months in prison,

AKEEM ELIJAHWOUN KIRKSEY, 57 months in prison,

RONALD GREEN, 40 months in prison,

DONIEL PORTER, 90 months in prison,

CRAIG LAMAR ELKINS, 151 months in prison,

BEVERLY L. TYSON, 18 months in prison

ALAN EUGENE ADDISON, 110 months in prison,

TERRANCE TREMAIN THOMAS, 60 months in prison, and,

EBONE KATRELLE ALVIN, 24 months of probation.

Both of these cases were investigated by members of the FBI Costal Georgia Safe Streets Task Force (CGSSGTF), which is comprised of members of the FBI, Glynn County Police Department and the Brunswick Police Department.  This task force was created to address the violent gang threat in southeast Georgia by structuring a new relationship with federal and local partners, who work together by aggressively identifying, prioritizing, and targeting the most violent street gangs.  The task force was created in response to the increase of violent crime in the Brunswick area.  The ATF, the U.S. Marshals and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (GA Probation and Parole) also worked the investigations. 

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver said, “We will continue to work with our federal and local law enforcement partners to make our communities safer places.  In 2015, this United States Attorney’s Office indicted a large and violent drug trafficking organization that was terrorizing the streets of Brunswick.  A year later, those individuals are in prison.  This year another separate and distinct organization has been charged for allegedly committing similar types of crimes.  The United States Department of Justice will continue to identify and aggressively prosecute criminal organizations that terrorize Georgia communities.  Keeping our neighborhoods safe is our only motive.”

J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated, “These two investigations are a tremendous example of the gang reduction success resulting from the partnership formed between the Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, and the FBI to combat violent crime in the region. The FBI's Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force will continue to focus on investigating and arresting violent groups and individuals posing a threat to our community. We encourage all those in the community who have knowledge of gang activity to contact the FBI or local authorities as we all work together to reduce violent crime.” 

Brunswick Police Department Chief Kevin M. Jones stated, “The collaborative efforts of this task force have had a direct impact on the reduction of crime in Brunswick over the last year. The first phase was successful and we look forward to the continued benefits of safer neighborhoods and streets as the assigned officers work hard to wrap up phase two.” 

Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering stated, “Law Enforcement has many parts that contribute to the whole of collaborative success. The partnership with the Brunswick Police Department, the FBI, the ATF, the United States Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office is a fine example of commitment to the safety our community.”

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carlton R. Bourne, Jr., E. Greg Gilluly, Jr., Marcela Mateo and Tania Groover.  The District Attorney’s Office for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit has also assisted in the investigation and prosecuted related state cases.  Any additional questions should be directed to First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.