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Press Release

36 Defendants Indicted In Massive South Georgia Drug Trafficking Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia

WAYCROSS, GA – Two federal indictments were unsealed yesterday and today which charged 36 South Georgia, North Florida and California residents with conspiring to traffic large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and other drugs. The indictments follow a joint federal and state investigation into violent gang and drug trafficking activities in Ware, Pierce and Glynn Counties, Georgia. The drug trafficking activities are alleged to have occurred throughout Georgia, Florida and elsewhere. The more than one-year undercover investigation was led by the FBI, the Waycross Police Department and the Ware County Sheriff’s Office. The Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, the Blackshear Police Department, the U. S. Marshal Service, the U. S. Probation Office and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision also assisted.

The 36 Defendants charged are:

CEDRIC L. KING (37, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Ced” and “Sanchez,”

CARLOS RUELAS (35, Bakersfield, CA),

GIOVANNI ESQUIVEL (36, Bakersfield, CA),

A/K/A “Worm” and “Gio,”

TERRACA PARKER (24, Jacksonville, FL),

MARKEY PITTMAN (28, Jacksonville, FL),

A/K/A “Jap,”

PAUL DIXON (45, Waycross, GA),

BEN DUKES (80, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Pops,”

CALVIN IVEY (61, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Tex,”

JOHN HOWARD (54, Waycross, GA),

TARENCE WASHINGTON (40, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “T,”

QUANSHARD DUKES (27, Waycross/Brunswick, GA),

A/K/A “Shad,”

SHAMPOIRE ORANGE (35, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Po,”

WILBUR HIGHTOWER (38, Waycross, GA),

ISHMIL STRICKLAND (26, Blackshear, GA),

A/K/A “Ish,” and “Convertible Ish,”

STEFAN WILLIAMS (33, Waycross, GA)

MYRON BOLDEN (36, Waycross/Homerville, GA),

A/K/A “Snap,” and “Snapp Paid,”

COREY RIGGS (32, Waycross, GA),

ELMO ROBINSON (33, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Gutta Kolombo” and “Macon MO,”

ESQUADRICK WILLIAMS, (35, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Lamon,”

LASHADRE SMITH (26, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Shafa” and “Shaffa Billythekid Smith,”

JASON COOPER (24, Waycross, GA),

ANTWAN CLARK, (32, Waycross, GA),

DUSTIN STEEDLEY (31, Waycross, GA),

TYLER COUNCIL (22, Blackshear, GA),

CHRISTOPHER WELLS (29, Alma, GA),

A/K/A “Jugg,”

PHILLIP JOHNSON (25, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Gunplay,”

CLARENCE KELLY (29, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Buckshot,”

RANDY HAWKINS (45, Waycross, GA),

JOSHUA BEVERLY (28, Blackshear, GA),

ALVERTIS GEDDIS (27, Waycross, GA),

AKA “Man Man” and “Draco,”

JA’LYN KINCEY (22, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Monk,”

JERONE MARTIN (26, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Rome” and “Jermone,”

ZYTREVIS ROBINSON (27, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Webbie,”

IKEYA JONES (21, Waycross, GA),

A/K/A “Juvie Mona,”

LAKENDRA NORTON (28, Waycross, GA),

AND

TANYA JOHNSON (29, Blackshear, GA).

Most of the Defendants have been arrested and were brought yesterday and today before a federal Magistrate Judge sitting in Waycross, Georgia for their initial appearances. Defendants Esquadrick Williams, Quanshard Dukes, Jason Cooper, Anyway Clark, Giovanni Esquivel and Zytrevis Robinson remain at large. Upon conviction, many of the Defendants face up to life in a federal prison. Acting United States Attorney James Durham emphasized that the indictments are only accusations and are 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.

Assistant United States Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Jennifer J. Kirkland are prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States. Please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for any questions at (912) 201-2522.

Updated August 4, 2017

Topic
Drug Trafficking