Richmond County deputies share details on multi-day gang bust

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit is sharing the results of a multi-day gang crackdown.

Dubbed Operation Red Recoil, the effort took place from May 12-16, and involved coordinated enforcement efforts led by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit, with assistance from multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.

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The initiative focused on areas identified through crime analysis and intelligence as having elevated levels of gang activity, firearm-related offenses, narcotics trafficking and violent crime.

Law enforcement served warrants on gang members and associates, stepped up patrols in hard-hit areas, conducted traffic enforcement and suspicious person investigations and carried out intelligence-driven enforcement.

The objectives of Operation Red Recoil included:

• Reducing gang-related violence and retaliatory criminal activity.
• Recovering illegally possessed firearms.
• Disrupting narcotics trafficking operations.
• Identifying and apprehending violent offenders.
• Developing intelligence supporting ongoing state and federal investigations targeting organized criminal enterprises.

“The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that all enforcement actions conducted during this initiative were carried out in accordance with state and federal law,” the agency said.

Participating agencies and support resources included the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division, Traffic Division, Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the United States Marshals Service and the Georgia Attorney General’s Office.

Sheriff Eugene Brantley stated:

“Violent crime, illegal drugs, and gang activity within our community will not be tolerated. I want to personally thank all of the agencies that partnered with us during this operation for their dedication and assistance in helping remove violent offenders from the streets of Augusta.”

By the numbers

• Suspected gang members arrested: 24
• Guns recovered: 29
• Cash seized: $33,520
• Marijuana seized: 5,124 grams (11.18 pounds)
• Cocaine: 40 grams
• Fentanyl: 676 grams (1.49 pounds)
• Methamphetamine: 3.3 grams
• Oxycodone: 75 pills
• Residential search warrants: 8
• Stolen vehicles recovered: 2
• Total arrests: 74
• DUI arrests: 21
• Citations: 81
• Warnings: 126

Arrests

Excluding traffic citations, arrests an offenses included:

Joseph Green of Hephzibah, GA

• Order To Show Cause Warrant (Felony)

Clarence Rich Jr. of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the commission of a Crime
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Cocaine
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana

Devin Sheppard of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Cocaine
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana 

Freddie Lee Jones Jr. of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Aggravated Assault Warrants (2 Counts)
• O.C.G.A. Armed Robbery Warrant
• O.C.G.A. Cruelty to Children 1st Degree Warrant (3 Counts)
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime Warrant
• Superior Court Bench Warrant

Travoris Davis of Midville, GA

• State Court Bench Warrant

Guy Foreman of Augusta, GA

• Felony Order To Show Cause Warrant
• Other Authority Warrants
• Federal Arrest Warrant
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

James Davis of Augusta, GA

• Felony Order to Arrest Warrant
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
• O.C.G.A. Violation of the Street Gang & Terrorism Act
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime

Chase Russaw of Augusta, GA

• Felony Order to Arrest Warrant

Demetriauna Harris of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

Oyanna Ottley of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

Dziko Walton of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Giving False Name and Date of Birth
• O.C.G.A. Arson in the 1^st Degree Warrant (2 Counts)
• Criminal Damage to Property in the 2^nd Degree Warrant

Letrone L. Tyler of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Aggravated Assault Warrant
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime Warrant

Michael A. Walker III of Grovetown, GA

• O.C.G.A. Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony
• O.C.G.A. Reckless Driving
• O.C.G.A. Fleeing or Attempting to Elude

Demarcus V. Wesby of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Aggravated Assault Warrant
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime Warrant

Rodney Crane of Augusta, GA

• Superior Court Bench Warrant (3 Counts)

Jevon R. Dority of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon (2 Counts)

Rico R. Ready of Augusta, GA

• Superior Court Warrant (Felony)

Erwin Cochran of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

Alexis Mitchell of Augusta, GA

• Felony Other Authorities Warrant
• Misdemeanor Other Authorities Warrant

Thomas Jimperson of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime
• O.C.G.A. Distribution of Marijuana within 1000 Feet of Public Housing
• O.C.G.A. Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, Misdemeanor

Anwar Green of Harlem, GA

• Felony Order to Show Cause Warrant

Darius Willis of Riverdale, GA

• Other Authorities Warrant

Christopher Ciechan of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Cocaine

Julius L. Staples of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Criminal Attempt – Armed Robbery
• O.C.G.A. Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, Misdemeanor

O.C.G.A. Giving False Name and Date of Birth

Richard L. Manders III of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Methamphetamine

Tira Johnson of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Theft by Receiving – Motor Vehicle
• Other Authorities Warrant

KeSean L. Hillary of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime

Zion A. Walker of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime
• O.C.G.A. Violation of the Street Gang & Terrorism Act

Gracy Walker of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime

Naquan Reid of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Trafficking Fentanyl
• O.C.G.A. Trafficking Cocaine

Travis Peterson of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Oxycodone with Intent to Distribute
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon

Tavarus Peterson of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Trafficking Fentanyl
• O.C.G.A. Trafficking Cocaine
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime
• O.C.G.A. Possession Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

Zack Gordon of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Fentanyl

Raphiel L. Harris of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Trafficking Fentanyl

Zeon K. Burke of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

Daniel J. Chisolm of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

Travale D. Sloans of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Crime

Quantrez Tanksley of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Giving False Name and Date of Birth

John Turner of Augusta, GA

• Felony Order to Show Cause Warrant

Antonio D. Williams (Augusta)

• O.C.G.A. Reckless Conduct Warrant

Candice Pearson of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of MDMA
• O.C.G.A. Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, Misdemeanor

Derrick Walden (Augusta)

• Felony Order to Show Cause Warrant

Michael Scott of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Methamphetamine
• O.C.G.A. Giving False Name and Date of Birth

Michael Dillion of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Methamphetamine

Cleveland Greene of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana, Felony Warrant

Rico Jackson of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon
• O.C.G.A. Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, Misdemeanor

Chrishawn Grimes of Graniteville, SC

• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon
• O.C.G.A. Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, Misdemeanor

Fred Carswell of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana, Felony

Loyalty Autry of Conyers, GA

• Other Authorities Warrant

Chancey Albritton of Midville, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Cocaine
• Other Authorities Warrant

Rodriqus Griffin of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

Deangelo McClinton of McCormick, SC

• O.C.G.A. Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Fentanyl
• O.C.G.A. Possession of Marijuana, Felony
• O.C.G.A. Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime

Taray Moore of Augusta, GA

• O.C.G.A. Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, Misdemeanor