GA Operation Targets Drug Traffickers, Leads To 16 Arrests

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Sixteen people are behind bars following the U.S. Department of Justice's 'Operation Benchwarmers.' More than 300 law enforcement members from 23 agencies, included the Gwinnett County Police Department, participated in the operation.

Law enforcement captured more than a dozen people wanted on federal gun and drug charges, officials said. One person remains at large, authorities confirmed. The operation took place on Tuesday, Jan. 21 in the Athens-Clarke County, GA area, netting an estimated street value of $955,986 in illegal narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine, along with 43 firearms and assault rifles, plus $84,013 in cash.

“This operation represents the best of what law enforcement can accomplish when federal, state and local agencies come together with the unified goal of eradicating drug trafficking from a community,” Charlie Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, said. “Our message to drug traffickers and gang members and other criminals in Athens is clear: Law enforcement is committed to protecting the citizens of Athens from illegal guns, gangs and drugs. I want to thank all participating agencies involved in this historic operation.”

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, with the assistance of the following agencies:

• Athens-Clarke Fire Department
• Banks County Sheriff’s Office
• Clarke County Sheriff’s Office
• DeKalb County Police Department
• FBI
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation
• Georgia Department of Community Supervision
• Georgia Department of Corrections
• Georgia State Patrol
• Greene County Sheriff’s Office
• Gwinnett County Police Department
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Madison County Sheriff’s Office
• Oconee County Sheriff’s Office
• City of Statham Police Department
• United States Marshals Service
• United States Probation Office
• Walton County Sheriff’s Office

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office said, the following individuals have been charged and taken into custody:

• Rickshun Willigham, aka “Teddy,” 32, of Athens
• Jaquavious T. Turner, aka “Take One”
• Jamian Huff, aka “Dunk,” 34, of Athens
• Andrew Bravo Jimenez, aka “Droopy” (at-large)
• Manuel Gonzalez Romero, of Athens and Mexico
• Steven Ricole Scott, aka “Black,” aka “Unc,” 43, of Athens
• Antonio M. Mitchell, aka “Tonio,” 30, of Athens
• Marques Ward, aka “YG,” 31, of Athens
• Ttajia Forney, 19, of Athens
• Christopher Sanders, aka “Chris,” 33, of Athens
• Bernard Barnett, aka “Nard,” 22, of Athens
• Maquila Jones, aka “Qui,” 20, of Athens
• Nicholas Jackson, aka “Nick Bean,” 26, of Athens
• Terrell Bush, aka “T-Rock,” 45, of Athens
• Shaddrick Cox, aka “Shad,” 24, of Athens
• Robert Bolton, Jr., aka “Rob,” 31, of Athens

The following firearms, cash and illegal drugs were seized during the operation:

• 43 firearms seized (including 8 assault rifles)
• $84,013 U.S. Currency seized
• 8.34 kilograms of heroin (Street Value: $667,200)
• 4.3 pounds of crystal methamphetamine (Street Value: $195,400)
• 26.1 ounces of crack cocaine (Street Value: $78,200)
• 2.4 pounds of marijuana (Street Value: $4,376)
• 3.31 ounces of power cocaine (Street Value: $9,400)
• 94 controlled pharmaceuticals (Street Value: $940)
• 40 grams of oxycodone (Street Value: $470)

“This case is a perfect example of how the FBI’s partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are integral to protecting law abiding citizens in our communities,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The results of this operation speak for that. There is no question that our community is safer today than it was before these arrests.”

The investigation was conducted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

“The broad collection of law enforcement agencies allowed for an aggressive offense to be waged against a well-established poly-drug distribution network,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Drug traffickers ultimately bring misery and destruction to communities. Consequently, DEA, its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to serving and protecting these communities. The city of Athens, Georgia and surrounding areas are safer because these criminals have been removed from our streets.”

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.