Eleven individuals have been indicted on charges related to a drug trafficking operation spanning multiple counties, following the unsealing of a federal indictment. The indictment accuses the defendants of conspiring to distribute significant quantities of illegal drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana.
"The defendants all face a primary charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute," stated Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. This charge carries a potential life sentence if convicted, along with financial penalties and supervised release after any prison term. Notably, there is no parole in the federal system.
“This drug trafficking investigation required significant coordination from multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify and interrupt the conspiracy,” added U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in protecting our community.”
The indictment in USA v. Johnson et al., details a drug trafficking conspiracy active in Bulloch, Chatham, and Liberty counties. Law enforcement agencies involved through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) conducted searches that resulted in the seizure of large quantities of drugs and 11 firearms.
Ten defendants have appeared in U.S. District Court following their charges being revealed; one remains at large.
Charged individuals include:
- William Johnson (“G” or “Gansta”), 36
- Keannon Wyckoff (“Cuz,” “Lank,” or “Link”), 41
- Thomas Blagmon, 40
- James Blagmon (“G-Man”), 41
- Erick Collins (“E” or “Big E”), 53
- Christopher Grant (“Crip” or “Scrappy”), 36
- Antwuan Byrd, 39
- Dederick Bryant, 45
- Jacob Robinson (“Miles”), 48
- Irma Wyckoff (“Auntie”), 60
Israel Grant is also charged but currently sought by police; information can be reported to the DEA Savannah Resident Office at 912-210-2944.
In addition to conspiracy charges, several defendants face accusations related to drug possession and distribution as well as illegal firearm possession.
The OCDETF initiative led this investigation using an intelligence-driven approach involving multiple agencies aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening national security.
This case sees prosecution by various federal bodies including the DEA and ATF with support from numerous local law enforcement departments across Georgia. Prosecution efforts are led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese alongside Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo from the Southern District of Georgia.
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