Operation Ghost Busted: 76 charged in massive south Georgia drug conspiracy

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV) – A new federal indictment, said to be the largest ever in the Southern District of Georgia, names 76 defendants in a massive drug investigation.

Officials said the drug investigation includes allegations of three deaths from illegal drug overdoses.

U.S. Attorney David Estes and multiple law enforcement agencies announced the indictment, dubbed Operation Ghost Busted, in Glynn County on Wednesday.

The investigation has spanned over two years and spread across south Georgia, including in Glynn, Pierce, Camden, Wayne, Treutlen, McIntosh, Toombs, Telfair, Dodge, and Ware counties.

Officials say the drug conspiracy operated in and out of state prison facilities with help from at least one corrections officer. Members of the white supremacist street gang Ghostface Gangsters and affiliates of the Aryan Brotherhood, Bloods, and Gangster Disciples were also involved, according to officials.

“Operation Ghost Busted demonstrates the focused commitment of law enforcement agencies at all levels in identifying, infiltrating and disrupting drug trafficking networks in our communities,” said Estes. “We are proud to serve with these professionals in the continuing work to make our neighborhoods safe from illegal gang activity and the violent crime it spawns.”

Each of the defendants named in Operation Ghost Busted is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a quantity of fentanyl, heroin, and alprazolam.

The defendants include:

David E. Alvarez, 24, of Townsend, Ga.;
Garrison A. Bell, 35, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Desiree M. Briley, 26, of McRae-Helena, Ga.;
Rachael P. Byrd, a/k/a “Byrd is the Word,” a/k/a “Rachael NeSmith,” 25, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Terry L. Cason II, 36, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Tonya C. Cox, a/k/a “Shuge White,” 43, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Abraham Crews, a/k/a “Abe,” 41, of Waverly, Ga.;
Hannah G. Croft, 23, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Michael S. Daniels, 39, of Waynesville, Ga;
Marissa D. Davis, 31, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Willie H. Day, 52, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Ashley Deen, 29, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Cody M. Demers, a/k/a “Bravo Seven,” 24, of Blackshear, Ga.;
Skyler T. Drawdy, 24, of Darien, Ga.;
Taylor D. Drew, 32, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Joshua A. Drury, 41, of Darien, Ga;
Jonathan R. Elrod, a/k/a “Brazy Jay,” a/k/a “Jay,” a/k/a “John Boy,” 33, of Blairsville, Ga.;
Joshua E. Enke, 33, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Juan C. Everette, a/k/a “Don Juan,” 36, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Andrew R. Flanagan, a/k/a “Drew,” 35, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Verdalee D. Flanagan, a/k/a “ Verlee,” 37, of Nahunta, Ga.;
Alexa B. Foster, a/k/a “Lexa,” 29, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Theodore Gee, a/k/a “Keno,” 44, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Chad L. Googe, 40, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Shawn S. Green, a/k/a “Polo Green,” 42, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Laura R. Harden, 49, of Brunswick, Ga.;
John E. Harrison, a/k/a “Johnny,” 25, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Priscilla Hemingway, a/k/a “Priscilla Carr,” 43, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Wyndel L. Herndon, 40, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Britnee V. Houston, 28, of Waynesville, Ga.;
Timothy W. Hutchinson, a/k/a “Tim,” 58, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Kenneth W. Lane, a/k/a “Skinny,” 43, of Hortense, Ga.;
Timothy W. Loper, 35, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Kenneth Mainor, a/k/a “Busta Bill,” 66, of White Oak, Ga.;
Kenyetta D. Mainor, a/k/a “Yatta,” 46, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Wendell McClain, 34, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Cameren A. McDonald, 26, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Justin W. McGhee, 36, of Darien, Ga.;
Charlie A. Moody, 42, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Antonio Morales, a/k/a “Silence,” a/k/a “Silent Ololade,” 29, of Vidalia, Ga.;
Aubrey NeSmith, 21, of Metter, Ga.;
James D. NeSmith, a/k/a “DG,” 25, an inmate at Telfair State Prison;
Mary NeSmith, 58, of Metter, Ga.;
Eric S. Ogden, a/k/a “Scotty,” 35, of Woodbine, Ga.;
Auston J. Proctor, 32, of Woodbine, Ga.;
Michael A. Provenzano, 34, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Jimmy A. Reynolds, a/k/a “Jim,” 54, of Brunswick, Ga.;
James C. Richardson, 35, of Brunswick, Ga.;
William W. Ringle, a/k/a “Will,” 42, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Anthony D. Ruffner, 32, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Samantha S. Russell, 34, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Jamey E. Sapp, 50, of St. Simons Island, Ga.;
Blake K. Screen, 34, of Brunswick, Ga.;
John D. Screen, 31, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Adam H. Smith, 43, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Brian T. Spell, 32, of Waynesville, Ga.;
Gregory W. Stabile, a/k/a “G,” a/k/a “Lts Be DAreason,” 37, of Brunswick, Ga.;
James L. Stephens, a/k/a “Rabbit,” 39, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Debra L. Stokes, a/k/a “Debbie,” 59, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Stephanie L. Stover, 44, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Jason A. Sweat, 35, of St. Marys, Ga.;
Clinton Taylor, 34, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Cori L. Taylor, 26, of Eastman, Ga.;
Larry B. Taylor, a/k/a “Lee Lee,” 57, of Jacksonville, Fla.;
Christopher J. Thompson, 35, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Ronald E. Thompson, a/k/a “E,” a/k/a “3D,” 39, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Jesse J. Trujillo, 30, of Swainsboro, Ga.;
Charles W. Walrath, a/k/a “Boomer,” 51, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Dayton P. Whatley, 35, of St. Simons Island, Ga.;
David Nicholas Wheeler, 52, of Waverly, Ga.;
Dakota L. White, 21, of Vidalia, Ga.;
James D. Wiggins, a/k/a “Brad Jones,” 30, of Brunswick, Ga.;
Jeremy D. Wix, 42, of Townsend, Ga.;
Heaven L. Wolfe, 32, of Blackshear, Ga.;
Joshua T. Wolfe, a/k/a “White Boy,” a/k/a “Tom Walier,” 29, of Blackshear, Ga.; and,
David D. Young, a/k/a “Khaos,” 42, of Hortense, Ga.