A multi-jurisdictional investigation conducted by the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit and other agencies has led to the arrest and subsequent indictments of nearly two dozen people from Jeff Davis and other surrounding counties.
United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver and Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson announced Tuesday that a federal indictment and numerous state indictments have been returned charging 21 South Georgia residents with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone.
The federal indictment, unsealed this week and returned by a federal Grand Jury in May, charged the following 9 defendants with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine:
Bobby James Courson, 32, of Nahunta,
Derrick Andrew Robinson, 34, of Telfair County
Michael Lamar Hysmith, 33, of Uvalda,
Anthony Stewart Thigpen, 45, of Blackshear,
Kalvin Wayne Smith, 39, of Denton,
Kevin Thomas Ellis, 45, of Hazelhurst,
Terry Jonathan Crews, 39, of Nahunta,
Jamie Jackson Crews, 41, of Nahunta, and
Timothy Bryant Smith, 46, of Denton.
If convicted of the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, the federal defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a potential $1 million fine.
In cases related to the federal indictment, the following defendants were indicted this week on state drug charges by the Jeff Davis County Grand Jury:
Kalvin Wayne Smith, 39, of Denton,
Johsua Fussell, 27, of Jeff Davis County,
Gary Brinkley, 64, of Hazlehurst,
Greg Levi Robbins, 31, of Hazlehurst,
Zackery Thomas Bowen, 29, of Jeff Davis County,
Gina Smith, 36, of Hazlehurst,
Sheryl Snow, 45, of Hazlehurst,
Angie Hand, 49, of Hazlehurst,
Randy Hand, 61, of Hazlehurst,
Julie Clements, 37, of Hazlehurst,
Amy Michelle Corey, 27, of Hazlehurst,
Melanie Hope Calhoun, 39, of Hazlehurst, and
Jade Rena Powell, 29, of Denton.
The charges resulted from a joint federal-state investigation by the DEA, GBI, the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit and the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Assistance was provided by the United States Marshal’s Service.
The majority of the federal defendants appeared in federal court earlier this week in Brunswick for their initial appearances.
Mr. Tarver and Ms. Johnson emphasized that the indictments are only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant United States Attorney Charlie Bourne is prosecuting the federal case and District Attorney Jackie Johnson is prosecuting the state cases in Jeff Davis County Superior Court. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.