18 Offenders Arrested In DCS-Led Operation Mayhem

MACON – Operation Mayhem, a multi-agency roundup targeting validated gang members and/or violent parolees/probationers in the Macon area, resulted in the arrest of 18 offenders, announced United States Attorney Charles “Charlie” E. Peeler. Operation Mayhem was conducted during the early hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019, and was a coordinated effort led by the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS) in partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Task Force, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the Bibb County Sherriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Macon Judicial Circuit, along with support from additional local law enforcement agencies. Operation Mayhem’s goal was to locate and arrest the most wanted parole/probation fugitives in the Macon Judicial Circuit. The DCS Criminal Intelligence Unit and the DCS Macon office identified and located these fugitive offenders.  As a result of this intelligence-driven effort, best known locations were identified for the targeted parolee/probationer absconders with outstanding warrants for Violation of Parole or Violation of Probation.

“This was a tremendously successful operation led by DCS and a great service to law-abiding Macon residents,” said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “In the course of just a few hours, 18 dangerous individuals wanted for violating the law were brought into custody, making our community safer.  I want to thank the DCS, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and our other law enforcement partners for their total commitment to improving community safety for people living in Middle Georgia.”

“Stopping and dismantling gang activity is an important priority as we seek to protect our communities from violent offenders,” said James Bergman, the Special Operations Unit Director for DCS.  “An operation of this breadth requires collaboration across many agencies--it is impossible to do alone.  DCS is grateful for the agencies and departments who have partnered with us to make this operation successful.”

“I am proud that Operation Mayhem was a very effective mission, capturing 18 offenders. This collaborative effort sends a message to our citizens and to the criminals that law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting our community are united and committed to making a difference,” said Sheriff David Davis, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

The United States Attorney’s Office support of Operation Mayhem is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.