24 Savannah Residents Charged With Federal Firearm, Drug Trafficking and Related Offenses

SAVANNAH, GA – Federal indictments were unsealed yesterday revealing that 24 Savannah residents have been charged with federal firearms and drug-trafficking offenses.  The federal indictments are the result of joint federal and state efforts to reduce violent crime and gang activities in the Savannah area.  The focus of a joint ATF and Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD) operation was the Cann Park neighborhood, a small neighborhood near downtown Savannah that has seen a significant rise in crime.  The criminal activities charged in the federal indictments all occurred in the Cann Park neighborhood. 

The Savannah residents charged with federal crimes include:

Marquiel Bell, aka “Quelly,” aka “Julio,” 19,

Roemain R. Bennett, aka “Ratt,” 33,

Jesse Benton, 27,

Mario Grant, 33,

Benjamin Gordon, 43,

Jamal Hilton, aka “Jamel Hilton,” aka “Jamaal Hilton,” aka “Mel,” aka “Tommy Henderson II,” 31,

Jeremy James, 34,

Kristopher Kemp, 30,                                                                                                                              

Nicholas Kemp, 28,                                                                                                                              

Stephen Kemp, 25,                                                                                                                              

Jacqueline Mavity, 44,                                                                                                                              

Roy Mobley, aka “Grind,” 37,                                                                                                                              

Albert Morisette, 31,                                                                                                                              

Alekseyer X. Mungin, 37,       

Rashaun Padgett, aka “Ray Ray,” 31,

Michael Porter, 36,

Marvin Roberts, aka “Steady,” 29,

Tony Small, 20,

Kareem Savage, aka “Rashaad Roberts,” 27,

Jamaine Wallace, 35,

Simmeon Whitfield, aka “Yon,” 26,

Xavier Whitfield, aka “Kenny,” 30,                                                                                                                              

Randy Williams, 32, and,

Travis Young, 35.

U.S. Attorney Edward Tarver said, “Citizens should be able to walk down the streets of their neighborhoods without the fear of drug activity and gang violence.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work hand in hand with our federal and state law enforcement partners to remove dangerous criminals who traffick in guns, drugs and fear in the Savannah area.  Some people are dangerous and need to go to prison.  But, arresting criminals is not the only answer to Savannah’s violent crime problem.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to provide its support to a number of other anti-crime initiatives, including recidivism reduction campaigns and the City’s “Step Forward” strategy.  Working together, we can end the violent crime problems plaguing the great city of Savannah.”

“The overall impact of this investigation should be immediately realized by everyone living in the Cann Park community.  ATF's primary mission is to reduce violent crime through effective partnerships with other Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as evidenced by this investigation,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge James Deir.

“This family-oriented community has been kept on edge for far too long due the high level of drug and gang activity,” said District Attorney Meg Heap. “We hope this recent operation will allow parents to let their children play in their own yards without fear.”       

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Chief Joseph H. Lumpkin, Sr. said, “We certainly appreciate the help of the federal government and in this particular case the ATF, in building cases against these violent individuals and removing illegal guns from our street.  We are confident the U.S. Attorney on the federal level and the District Attorney on the state level will pursue justice in each of these cases. We are going to continue such efforts with our local, state and federal criminal justice partners to improve public safety throughout our community.”

U.S. Attorney Tarver emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is 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.

The operation was investigated by ATF and SCMPD, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) and the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Gilluly, Charlie Bourne and Jennifer Kirkland are prosecuting these cases for the United States.  For any questions, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.