DUBLIN, Ga. — The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference Friday to announce the indictment of 30 people in an alleged drug trafficking operation.
The operation, called "Monroe Doctrine," led to 56 felony charges against 30 people, and the seizure of nearly 80 guns.
Laurens County Sheriff Larry Dean said, "We do try to take a priority, and when we go off to the big guys, we like to go to the source. With the help of the DEA, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, we have been able to accomplish that goal."
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, David Estes, said the investigation started about a year and a half ago with the work of the sheriff’s office. He noted the actions of the alleged ring go back beyond that time, though.
Each person indicted is charged with conspiracy to possess and intent to distribute meth, which Estes says carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.
Sheriff Larry Dean thanked the DEA and ATF for their help in ‘Operation Monroe Doctrine.’
- David Alex Monroe, 32, currently in custody at the Laurens County Jail, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm by a User of Illegal Drugs; Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun; and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm;
- Jorge Hernandez-Pena, 45, of Atlanta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and seven counts of Use of Communication Facility, a charge that refers to the use of telephones to facilitate the conspiracy;
- Fredi Ramirez-Garcia, 42, currently in custody in the Dekalb County Jail in Decatur, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Christopher Forbes, 31, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; five counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm by a User of Illegal Drugs; Possession of an Unregistered Firearm; and eight counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Robin Eberling, 34, of Soperton, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine;
- David Kates, 45, currently incarcerated at Rogers State Prison in Reidsville, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Carl Davis, 48, currently in custody in the Laurens County Jail, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine; and Use of Communication Facility;
- Wanda Phillips, 40, of Adrian, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 or More Grams of Methamphetamine;
- Timothy Bracewell, 53, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Jordan Gooch, 35, currently in custody at the John F. Goode Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Jacksonville, Fla., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Erica Brown, 41, of Jackson, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Rosario Cortez-Locenzo, 37, of Atlanta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and three counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Brooke Skipper, 48, of Alamo, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Chris Horne, 31, of Vidalia, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Cody Argo, 33, of Glenwood, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Frederick Perry Jr., 34, of Vidalia, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Jeremi Kole Pullen, 36, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Joshua Killingsworth, 34, of Dexter, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Tommy King, 59, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Steven Larsen, 55, of Glenwood, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Gary Moore, 41, of Cadwell, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Robert Anthony Justice, 38, of Chester, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Joshua Brown, 41, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Joseph Grubbs, 45, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Use of Communication Facility;
- Howard Johnson, 31, of Jacksonville, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Desaree Midyette, 27, of Jacksonville, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine;
- Alexis Weinhold, 23, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Justin Hobbs, 27, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility;
- Maranda Stroud, 28, of Dublin, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility; and,
- Brandie Grizzard, 35, of Rentz, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Use of Communication Facility.
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