Nine defendants indicted  in South Georgia drug trafficking organization

BRUNSWICK, GA:  Nine defendants have been accused in a federal indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court of operating a drug trafficking operation in multiple South Georgia counties.

The indictment includes charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and an amount of cocaine and marijuana, along with illegal firearms charges, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

Once the indictment was unsealed, seven of the nine defendants were remanded to custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after arraignment before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cheesbro. Of the other two defendants, one is a fugitive, and one was physically unable to appear in court, said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine.

As described in court documents and testimony, the operation targeted an organization that transported methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from the Atlanta area into Appling, Coffee and Telfair counties, and other areas in south Georgia, for street-level distribution from at least April 2018 through May 2020.

Each of the nine defendants is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and an amount of cocaine and marijuana. Those named in the indictment and their additional charges are:

• James Lamount Graham, a/k/a “JT Money,” a/k/a “James Livingston,” 47, of Jacksonville, Ga., also charged with two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine; and 34 counts of Use of Communication Facility, a charge that describes using telephones to facilitate the drug-trafficking conspiracy;

• James Diangelo Gibbs, a/k/a “Big Lope,” 46, of Baxley, Ga., also charged with Distribution of Marijuana; and four counts of Use of Communication Facility;

• Sandrell Maurice Hobbs, 35, of Douglas, Ga., also charged with two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine; and four counts of Use of Communication Facility;

• Deandra Laroy Graham, a/k/a “Bird,” 35, of McRae, Ga., also charged with six counts of Use of Communication Facility;

• Montoya Latse Eady, a/k/a “Mon,” 40, of McRae, Ga., also charged with four counts of Use of Communication Facility;

• Robert Livingston, 53, of Jacksonville, Ga., also charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and one count of Use of Communication Facility;

• Angela Leroy Livingston, 51, of Jacksonville, Ga., also charged with two counts of Use of Communication Facility;

• Willie Lee Batten, 59, of Jacksonville, Ga., also charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and seven counts of Use of Communication Facility; and,

• Darrell Lynn Veal, 55, of Helena, Ga., also charged with two counts of Use of Communication Facility.

Sandrell Maurice Hobbs currently is a fugitive with an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. DOJ grant will provide support for Richmond County efforts to deter youth gangs

AUGUSTA, GA:  A nearly quarter-million-dollar award from the U.S. Department of Justice will address the need for resources to prevent at-risk youth in Richmond County from becoming involved in street gangs.

Awarded for the support of Richmond County Juvenile Court, the $230,000 grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 2020 Comprehensive Anti-Gang Programs for Youth is aimed at supporting the Richmond County Youth Aiming for Success, or YAS, program, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Under the grant, Richmond County Juvenile Court is charged with using juvenile justice programs to promote youth and families; to encourage family structures through socially controlled activities; to deter youths from gang involvement through community-based mentoring programs; and demonstrate that the practices and services delivered through the program are supported by research. The court’s activity tracking system will be used to measure the program’s success.

For more information on Grant No. 2020-PB-BX-0023, contact the Office of Justice Program’s Office of Communications at 202-307-0703.