AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office announced arrests Friday from a two-year undercover gang investigation.
The investigation is a cooperation between local, state and federal agencies from Georgia and South Carolina into the gang known as “O.S.” or “Old Savannah.” A total of 34 search warrants were executed Friday at locations used by O.S. for the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.
Authorities seized $27,937, 28 firearms, four grams of cocaine, around 18 pounds of marijuana, 26 grams of MDMA and other assets.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the long hours of hard work deputies along with our law enforcement partners and support agencies have put in to make this entire metro community a safer place to live,” Sheriff Richard Roundtree said. “As I’ve said before and will continue to say, if you continue to sell narcotics and illegal guns in this community, your turn is coming.”
According to the sheriff’s office, a total of 25 people have been identified as defendants in the investigation. The defendants arrested as part of the investigation or still being pursued are:
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- Rico Jamal Burnett: age 29; Augusta
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- Dennis Rodriquez Stephen: age 34; Augusta,
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- Reginald Dejon Porter: age 38; Augusta
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- Lorenzo Dexter Lindsey Jr: age 23; Hephzibah
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- Charles Edward Jordan: age 32; Augusta
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- Cedrekus Antoine Gillette: age 37; Augusta
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- Tobias Akeem Ardis: age 26; Augusta
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- Malik Freeman: age 24; Augusta
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- Larry Tarver Jr: age 34; Augusta
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- Robert Lee Whitehead: age 33; Augusta
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- Diamone Eugene Armstead: age 31; Augusta
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- Johnnie Sims: age 26; Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Felony) Possession of Cocaine, and (Felony) Possession of Oxycodone (Arrested)
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- Latrevius Dequan Jennings: age 25; Grovetown
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- Andreas Jennings: age 19; Grovetown
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- Ricco Marcel Wright: age 38; Augusta
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- Torrence Holmes: age 42; Augusta
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- Jordan Jamal Lovett: age 25; Augusta
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- Donquez Rodriquez Morris: age 25; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Misdemeanor) Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Handgun License Required. (Arrested)
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- Robert Levette Nelson: age 37; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Felony) Possession of MDMA and Possession of Oxycodone. (Arrested)
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- Connie Yvonne Kennedy: age 42; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Felony) Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime. (Arrested)
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- Germaine Tyrone Royals: age 46; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Felony) Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Article with Altered ID. (Arrested)
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- Ashely Nicole Brooks: age 29; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Felony) Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, and Possession of Article with Altered ID. (Arrested)
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- Curtis Edward Lewis; age 52; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Felony) Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, Possession of Article with Altered ID. (Arrested)
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- Jonathan Keith William; age 39; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges (Misdemeanor) Possession of Marijuana. (Arrested)
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- Berrien, Dennis: age 65; of Augusta, Georgia; Charges: (Felony) Possession of MDMA, (Felony) Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (Arrested)
The gang primarily operated in downtown Augusta and centered in the area of the 1600 block of Old Savannah Road. Roundtree said the gang has trafficked narcotics and firearms for years and been responsible for numerous violent crimes in Augusta.
Roundtree said authorities felt confident they have the primary leadership of the gang in custody. He said the goal is to dismantle the gang, and as more evidence is processed, more suspects might come to light.
“I think a 23-person arrest and subsequent indictment is a very good start,” he said. “As we process the evidence from today, that list is going to grow. I do not wish any young individuals to get involved in a life of crime.”
Agencies involved in the operation were: the District Attorney’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Statesboro Police Department, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Community Supervision (DCS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), United States Marshal Service, Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Georgia State Patrol (GSP), Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) and Georgia National Guard Counterdrug Taskforce. The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University also participated in the investigation.
Roundtree noted that he used to be a patrol officer on the same block the gang operated on in the 1990s. He hopes this sends a message to communities around Augusta that they are not being forgotten.
“That particular block of Old Savannah Road was still a trouble area back in the ’90s when I was a patrol officer,” he said. “I can attest to the pain some individuals feel when these individuals come in and take over into their neighborhood.”
