Southern District of Georgia | Eleven people charged with drug trafficking in multiple counties

SAVANNAH, GA: Eleven defendants face multiple drug trafficking charges after a federal indictment was dropped alleging a regional conspiracy to distribute large quantities of several illegal drugs.

The defendants all face the primary charge of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. This charge, if convicted, carries a statutory penalty of up to life in prison, plus significant fines, followed by supervised release upon completion of any prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This drug trafficking investigation required significant coordination among multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and disrupt the conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We recognize the hard work of our law enforcement partners to protect our community.”

The recently unsealed indictment in United States v. Johnson et al. describes a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Bulloch, Chatham and Liberty counties. Multiple law enforcement agencies, coordinated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, identified key members of the conspiracy and conducted multiple searches of homes, vehicles, and “trap houses” where drugs were stored, and during these searches large quantities were discovered and seized quantities of drugs and 11 firearms.

Ten of the defendants were charged in the indictment and made their first appearance in U.S. District Court after it was unsealed. A defendant is a fugitive.

Those faced in United States v. Johnson et al. conspiracy is accused. Are:

• William Johnsonaka “G,” aka “Gansta,” 36, of Hinesville, Georgia;
• Keannon Wyckoffaka “Cuz,” aka “Lank,” aka “Link,” 41, of Statesboro;
• Thomas Blagmon40, of Hinesville;
• James Blagmonaka “G-Man,” 41, of Allenhurst, Georgia;
• Eric Collinsaka “E,” aka “Big E,” 53, of Statesboro;
• Christopher Grant“a/k/a “Crip,” a/k/a “Scrappy,” 36, of Hinesville;
• Antwuan Byrd39, of Midway, Georgia;
• Dederick Bryant45, of Ludowici, Georgia;
• Jacob Robinsonalso known as “Miles,” 48, of Hinesville; And,
• Irma Wyckoffaka “Aunt,” 60, of Hinesville.

There is also a charge Israel Grant42, of Claxton, Georgia, who is wanted by police. Anyone with information is asked to call the Drug Enforcement Administration's Savannah Resident Office at 912-210-2944.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, several defendants also face additional charges of drug possession and distribution, illegal possession of firearms and maintaining drug premises.

The indictment contains only accusations; All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-led, multi-agency approach.

This case is being prosecuted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Georgia Ports Authority Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Savannah Police Department , the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, the Hinesville Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office and the Long County Sheriff's Office and is being prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia in the Southern District of Georgia R . Jonese and Assistant U.S. Attorney and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.