News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 08, 2009
Contact: Chuvalo J. Truesdell
PIO/AFD
Number: 404-893-7124

Fifteen Individuals Indicted in Federal Drug Conspiracy Case

JAN 08 -- AUGUSTA, GA. – Edmund A. Booth, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that a federal grand jury returned indictments against 15 defendants for violations of 21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Cocaine Base, and Marijuana, as well as other related offenses.

Booth stated that the indictment stems from a lengthy investigation into the operations of a drug trafficking organization headed by the lead defendant Carlos Jermaine Hughes. During the investigation, agents and officers seized more than two kilograms of powder and crack cocaine; more than $212,000 in United States Currency; seven automobiles and other property. Within the indictment, the Government seeks to forfeit all cash, automobiles and other property seized. A chart listing the indicted defendants along with the specific charge and maximum statutory penalty, if convicted, is attached and incorporated as part of this release.

Booth and Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the DEA Atlanta Field Division (AFD), praised the joint efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Project Safe Street Task Force and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of this case. Booth stated that “the U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigilantly pursue and prosecute major drug traffickers in the Southern District of Georgia.” Booth stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Government is being represented in these prosecutions by Assistant United States Attorney Patricia Green Johnson.

FEDERAL INDICTMENTS:

DEFENDANT

FEDERAL OFFENSE(S) CHARGED AND MAXIMUM STATUTORY PENALTY


Carlos Jermaine Hughes

28 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Darryl Ernest Kirkland, Jr.

22 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Kevin Demetrius Smith

24 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Percy Lee Dorsey

32 years of age

of Dearing, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not more than 20 years imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more $1,000,000, or both;
  • At least 3 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment.

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not more than 20 years imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more $1,000,000, or both;
  • At least 3 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment.

Antonio Tyrone Dicks

30 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

  • Maximum Penalty:
  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 5 years nor more 40 years imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $2,000,000, or both;
  • At least 4 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment.
  • (EACH COUNT)

Timothy Jeremy Myers

21 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Terrence Devon Luke

28 years of age

of Hephzibah, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

  • Maximum Penalty:
  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Kevin Ontreal Evans

20 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substances (2 Counts)

  • Maximum Penalty:
  • Not less than 5 years nor more 40 years imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $2,000,000, or both;
  • At least 4 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment.
  • (EACH COUNT)

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substances (2 Counts) and Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances ( 1 count)

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not more than 20 years imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more $1,000,000, or both;
  • At least 3 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment.
  • (EACH COUNT)

Curtis Gary Kerr, II

26 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Kyle Alexander Williams

30 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Christopher Giovani Mecado

21 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

John Michael Green

27 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Jerome Jermaine Fox

25 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

Sidney Gaines, Jr.

25 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

  1. Maximum Penalty:
  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not more than 20 years imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more $1,000,000, or both;
  • At least 3 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment.

Kevin Lee Richmond

30 years of age

of Augusta, Georgia

21 U.S.C. § 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

Maximum Penalty:

  • Not less than 10 years nor more life imprisonment;
  • A fine of not more than $4,000,000, or both;
  • At least 5 years supervised release; and
  • A $100 special assessment

SAC Benson of the DEA AFD encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com and www.dea.gov. DEA.gov takes you directly to the Diversion Control and Prescription Drugs link.

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