SAVANNAH, GA - A federal grand jury sitting in Savannah, Georgia returned an indictment last week charging 8 defendants with trafficking powder and crack cocaine and marijuana in the Savannah area and elsewhere. This federal indictment follows state charges, where the Eastern Judicial Circuit/Chatham County District Attorney’s Office indicted 20 others for their involvement in the drug-trafficking conspiracy.
The indictment follows an 18-month Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into drug trafficking activities from Savannah to California. Agents with the DEA and the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) led the joint investigation. The investigation culminated in arrests and search warrants being executed on Sept. 11, 2013, in the following locations: Port Wentworth, Garden City, and Savannah. During the investigation, agents seized large quantities of powder cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and other illegal drugs. Agents also seized over $250,000 in cash.
United States Attorney Edward Tarver said, “Drug dealers beware. If you are pushing poison in our communities, federal and state law enforcement will unite to make sure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that your ill-gotten-gains will be forfeited."
Eastern Judicial Circuit / Chatham County District Attorney Meg Heap stated, “An operation and resulting seizure of this magnitude was made possible through the collaborative focus and team effort of the U. S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, Counter Narcotics Team and the District Attorney’s Office. By each of these agencies working together towards a common goal, we can ensure that large scale drug operations such as these are effectively razed and prosecuted appropriately for their crimes."
Harry S. Sommers, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “All participating agencies played a crucial role in the eradication of a criminal network. These drug trafficking activities posed a significant threat to the quality of life in the affected communities. Dismantling drug trafficking organizations makes communities a safer place. I want to thank our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts who had a direct impact in making this investigation a success."
Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Director Everett Ragan said, “This is a classic example of the cooperation between the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, the DEA- Savannah field office, and the U. S. Attorney’s Office seeking to remove another major drug organization from the streets of Chatham County."
The 8 defendants indicted on federal charges include:
ANTONIO ACOSTA, Savannah, 37;
NAKIEA J. HAMPTON, Savannah, 33;
CHRISTOPHER CRIMLEY, Port Wentworth, 39;
KEVIN SPEAK, Savannah, 31;
SHERONE MCBRIDE, Garden City, 36;
SHAMONE MCBRIDE, Garden City, 36;
TRAVIEL PERKINS, Savannah, 36; and,
WILLIAM MCDONALD, Savannah, 39.
Upon conviction, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, and a period of supervised release. Mr. Tarver stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The Defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant United States Attorney, E. Greg Gilluly is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. For additional questions, please contact James D. Durham, First Assistant United States Attorney at (912) 201-2547.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
