A federal indictment has been unsealed, revealing charges against 37 individuals in connection with a significant drug trafficking operation in South Georgia. The defendants, many of whom are currently incarcerated, are accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana across several communities.
The case is titled USA v. Brinson et al., and it involves suspects from Coffee, Atkinson, and Bacon counties. Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, stated that those convicted could face life imprisonment along with financial penalties and supervised release after serving their sentences.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons remarked on the impact of the operation: “This operation makes it clear that rural communities aren’t immune from the scourge of drug trafficking.” She also praised law enforcement's efforts in this investigation.
The indictment alleges that much of the conspiracy was orchestrated from within Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones. It includes 60 counts and details the seizure of 21 firearms and over $17,000.
Among those indicted are Litarus Brinson (an inmate at Jenkins Correctional Center), Christopher Brockington (of Douglas), Keevon Bussey (of Douglas), Stacey Daniels (of Douglas), Kenneth Davis (held in Coffee County Jail), T’Kiya Eady (of Lagrange), Patrick Ellis (of Atlanta), Anthony Gaskin Jr. (of Pearson), Dacia Gaskins (a former corrections officer from Douglas), Ernest Goodman (an inmate at Ware County Jail), Christopher Hawkins (of Douglas), Qudarious Hawkins (of Douglas), Breanna Henderson (of Douglas) among others.
Brian Ozden, FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge said: “The FBI and our law enforcement partners were able to achieve today’s arrests and seizures because all of us never stopped working together.”
Coffee County Sheriff Fred T. Cole emphasized community safety: “As the sheriff, it is my mission to eliminate the spread of illegal drugs in our community.”
This investigation was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration among various levels of law enforcement.
Additionally, it was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program which targets high-level criminal organizations threatening national security through a multi-agency approach led by prosecutors.
Several agencies contributed to this investigation including the FBI; Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit; Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeast Regional Drug Enforcement Office; Georgia State Patrol; Georgia Department of Community Supervision; police departments from Douglas and Waycross; sheriff’s offices from Bacon County and Atkinson County as well as Marion County Sheriff's Office in Florida and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in Florida.
Southern District Assistant U.S Attorneys Bradley R Thompson & Joshua K Davis are prosecuting this case for United States government authorities involved with legal proceedings surrounding these indictments against named individuals who remain innocent until proven guilty according to due process laws governing judicial systems nationwide ensuring fair trials without prejudice or bias affecting outcomes negatively impacting defendants' rights under constitutional protections afforded them equally irrespective guilt innocence determination rendered final verdict reached ultimately determining accountability responsibility actions taken during alleged criminal activities charged committed outlined documentation provided court filings related ongoing litigation processes involved herewith aforementioned details disclosed public record access available interested parties seeking information concerning matter subject review analysis scrutiny oversight relevant stakeholders engaged oversight 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