A massive, multi-agency operation has resulted in the largest take-down in the history of the ACCPD. More than 300 law enforcement members from 23 agencies and task forces participated in “Operation Benchwarmers.”
The effort led to officers confiscating nearly one million dollars in illegal drugs and resulted in the arrest of 16 suspects on federal gun and drug charges.
Police Chief Cleveland Spruill says this is a result of the Safe Streets Task Force initiative.
“When you see incidents like a college student standing and waiting at a bus stop at 7 o’ clock in the morning getting shot in the head, and when you see the shooting involving Miss Ariel Holloway, a young mother, pregnant mother, standing with her child in from of her house, becomes a victim, is killed due to senseless gun violence," Spruill said. "My focus then was to try to increase our efforts toward identifying those people who were our most violent criminals and were trafficking in guns.”
Those captured are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and crack cocaine. They face anywhere from 10 years to life in prison.
Chief Spruill headed a press conference involving representatives from several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S Attorney’s Office, the FBI and DEA. One suspect remains at large. 43 firearms, including eight assault rifles, were also confiscated.
https://www.facebook.com/accpolice/videos/200878011083749/.
Participating 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
16 of the individuals are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and crack cocaine. The penalty is a mandatory minimum ten years in prison up to a maximum life term in prison, a $10 million dollar fine and five years supervised release:
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
10 individuals are charged with distribution of cocaine base/crack cocaine. The penalties range from a maximum 20 years in prison to a maximum 40 years in prison:
Rickshun Willigham, aka “Teddy,” 32, of Athens (15 counts)
Jaquavious T. Turner, aka “Take One” (9 counts)
Jamian Huff, aka “Dunk,” 34, of Athens
Bernard Barnett, aka “Nard,” 22, of Athens (2 counts)
Shaddrick Cox, aka “Shad,” 24, of Athens
Steven Ricole Scott, aka “Black,” aka “Unc,” 43, of Athens (3 counts)
Christopher Sanders, aka “Chris,” 33, of Athens
Robert Bolton, Jr., aka “Rob,” 31, of Athens
Antonio M. Mitchell, aka “Tonio,” 30, of Athens
Maquila Jones, aka “Qui,” 20, of Athens
8 individuals are charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The penalty is a mandatory minimum five years in prison up to a maximum life term in prison:
Rickshun Willigham, aka “Teddy,” 32, of Athens (12 counts)
Jaquavious T. Turner, aka “Take One” (7 counts)
Bernard Barnett, aka “Nard,” 22, of Athens (3 counts)
Christopher Sanders, aka “Chris,” 33, of Athens
Antonio M. Mitchell, aka “Tonio,” 30, of Athens
Marques Ward, aka “YG,” 31, of Athens
Ttajia Forney, 19, of Athens
Shaddrick Cox, aka “Shad,” 24, of Athens
3 individuals are charged with distribution of heroin. The penalty is a maximum 20 years in prison:
Rickshun Willigham, aka “Teddy,” 32, of Athens (5 counts)
Jaquavious T. Turner, aka “Take One” (3 counts)
Bernard Barnett, aka “Nard,” 22, of Athens (2 counts)
6 individuals are charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin. The penalties range from a maximum 20 years in prison to a maximum 40 years in prison:
Marques Ward, aka “YG,” 31, of Athens
Ttajia Forney, 19, of Athens
Terrell Bush, aka “T-Rock,” 45, of Athens
Nicholas Jackson, aka “Nick Bean,” 26, of Athens
Manuel Gonzalez Romero, of Athens and Mexico
Andrew Bravo Jimenez, aka “Droopy” (at-large)
2 individuals are charged with distribution of methamphetamine. The penalty is a maximum 20 years in prison:
Rickshun Willigham, aka “Teddy,” 32, of Athens
Bernard Barnett, aka “Nard,” 22, of Athens
2 individuals are charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The penalty is a maximum 20 years in prison:
Marques Ward, aka “YG,” 31, of Athens
Ttajia Forney, 19, of Athens
1 individual is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The penalty is a maximum ten years in prison:
Armand Payne, 39, of Athens
The following subjects were taken into custody during “Operation Benchwarmers” on state charges:
Luis Besave-Lagunas (Charged in Madison County with Trafficking Heroin, Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony)
Zenon Carrera-Ferrer (Charged in Athens-Clarke County with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking Heroin and Possession of Cocaine)
Dwight Moreland (Probation Violation)
Andreas Lane (Charged in Madison County with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Probation Violation)
Adian Mapp (Charged in Madison County with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon)
Leonard Jackson (Charged in Athens-Clarke County with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon)
The following firearms, cash and illegal drugs were seized:
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)