Twenty-Five Walton County Residents Charged In Eight Drug And Firearms Indictments

Twenty-five Walton County residents have been charged in eight indictments filed in the Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division, announced United States Attorney G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III. All of the indictments were returned on August 9, 2017, by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Macon, Georgia, and result from a two year investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Monroe, Georgia, Police Department. Twenty-two of the defendants charged in these indictments were taken into custody earlier today, with initial appearances for those arrested scheduled to begin this afternoon in Macon.

Anthony J. Johnson, 39, Anthony L. Smith, 51, his sons, Emmanuel B. Smith, 31 and Lachievous Smith, 29, Kristy Davis-Smith, 30, and Brittney Porter, 27, all of Monroe, Georgia, were named in a twenty-one count indictment charging them with drug conspiracy and distribution charges involving firearms and drugs in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia.

According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, Alprazolam pills and marijuana for over four years in Monroe, Georgia. Conviction of participation in this conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of a mandatory minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000 and up to five years of supervised release.

Cardia Wright, 28, John T. Chapman, 26, Casey Watts, 31, Chris Rivers, 25 and John Henry Wilson, 53, all of Monroe, Georgia are charged in a twenty-one count indictment which alleges a drug conspiracy and distribution of drugs and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug crime. According to the allegations in the indictment, over a four year period the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and Alprazolam and Oxycodone pills. Conviction of participation in this conspiracy carries a minimum mandatory sentence of five years to a maximum sentence of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00 and up to four years supervised release.

Vernon X. Cooper, 36, Carl L. Brown, 26 and Craig Towler, 34, all from Monroe, Georgia are charged in an eleven count indictment alleging a drug conspiracy and distribution of drugs and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug crime. According to the allegations in the indictment, the defendants conspired to distribute Cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and Oxycodone pills. Conviction of participation in the conspiracy carries a minimum mandatory sentence of five years to a maximum of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00 and up to four years supervised release.

Kendarious Gaither, 21, Quadarriaus Little, 20, Jermaine Davis, 33 and his wife, Clarissa Strong-Davis, 27, Shantrell Porter, 20 and Miquavious Flanigan, 25, all from Monroe, Georgia are charged in a fifteen count indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine and marijuana, distribution of drugs and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug crime. Conviction of participation in the conspiracy carries a minimum mandatory sentence of five years to a maximum sentence of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00 and supervised release of four years.

Devontae Durden, 23 and Darius O. Vinson, 22 from Monroe, Georgia are charged in a two-count indictment, alleging distribution of cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. Conviction of these charges carries a maximum sentence of twenty years, a fine of $1,000,000.00, supervised release of three years on Count One, followed by a consecutive sentence of five years minimum mandatory to Life, $250,000.00 and supervised release of 3 years on Count Two of the indictment.

Hunter, 45, from Monroe Georgia, was charged in a one count indictment of distribution of methamphetamine. Conviction of the charge carries a sentence of up to twenty years, a fine of $1,000,000.00 and 3 years supervised release.

Chauncey Brantley, 22 from Monroe, Georgia, was charged in a five-count indictment, alleging distribution of methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug crime. Conviction of the charges carries a minimum sentence of 5 years to a maximum of forty years, $1,000,000.00 and supervised release of 3 years for the drug offenses, followed by consecutive sentence of a minimum mandatory sentence of five years to a maximum of life, $250,000.00 fine and 3 years supervised release for the firearms charges.

Jammahl Fewquay, 23, from Monroe, Georgia, was charged in a count one of an indictment with distribution of marijuana and in count two with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. Conviction of count one carries a maximum sentence of five years, a fine of $250,000.00 and 1 year supervised release and count two of the indictment mandates a consecutive five years to life, $250,000.00 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Copies of the indictments are attached.

The arrests of the defendants were achieved with assistance and coordination with the FBI, Monroe Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Walton County, Barrow County and Gwinnett County Sheriffs’ Offices, the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia State Patrol , Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Athens-Clarke County and Norcross Police Departments and the investigators from the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Monroe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Jarrett is prosecuting the case for the Government.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.