Gwinnett Drug Gang Investigation Nets 22 Arrests

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A total of 22 people have been arrested in connection with a two-month gang investigation in Gwinnett County, police said Tuesday.

Named Operation Water Hazard, the investigation centered on drug and gang activity and was spurred by a shooting at 3370 Club Dr. in Lawrenceville.

In that incident, a man was shot in the chest. He survived and is out of the hospital, Gwinnett County Police said.

The investigation came to a head on Feb. 9, when Gwinnett Police, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Georgia Army National Guard Counterdrug Task Force executed two simultaneous search warrants at a duplex apartment there.

Police seized cocaine, Xanax, marijuana, hydrocodone, tramadol and seven firearms.

Over 30 felony arrest warrants have been obtained and gang charges are pending for some of the people who were arrested, police said. An arrest warrant was also taken out for a man who failed to register as a sex offender after coming to Georgia from Michigan.

A total of 12 people were arrested on February 9. The remaining 10 were arrested before the conclusion of the operation.

"We believe that this operation sends a clear message to would be offenders that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in Gwinnett County because we strongly value the safety and quality of life of our citizens," said police Chief Butch Ayers.

The following are the people who have been arrested so far as part of the operation:

• Damion Bolden, 43. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Possession of a firearm during commission of a felony. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Robert Carter, 22. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Yoabelt Cebrian-Gomez, 28. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana
• Donald Corley, 48. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuna
• Valentina Espinosa, 32. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana
• Dominic Fincher, 25. Public indecency
• Clarence Hart, 57. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (x2)
• Eddie Hobbs, 42. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Possession of cocaine. Obstruction of an officer.
• Eric Lewis, 24. Possession of cocaine
• Diego Millan, 44. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Possession of cocaine.
• Cornelius Price, 29. Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Possession of a Schedule IV drug with intent to distribute.
• Courtney Robinson, 38. Loitering and prowling. Failure to register as a sex offender.
• Kendrick Richardson, 31. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Possession of a Schedule IV drug (x2). Possession of a Schedule 3 drug. Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
• James Smith, 34. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana
• Aleyah Swope, 22. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana
• Michael Tate, 24. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Possession of a Schedule IV drug. Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
• Demetria Womack, 32. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana
• Christopher Ausmer, 25. Possession of more than an ounce of marijuana
• Tonquiron Brothern, 20. Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Possession of a Schedule IV drug with intent to distribute
• Trevon Ferdinand, 34. Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Possession of a Schedule IV drug with intent to distribute.
• Delanor Lovejoy, 43. Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana
• Kimberly Richardson, 51. Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Possession of a Schedule IV drug (x2). Possession of a Schedule III drug.

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