NEW INFORMATION: Largest Drug Bust In CNT History

SAVANNAH, GA (WSAV) -- UPDATE: It's the biggest bust in the history of CNT -- nearly three million dollars worth of cocaine taken off the streets. Nearly forty people have been indicted as a result of the 20-month investigation that authorities say dismantled three drug rings. CNT worked with more than a dozen state, federal, and local agencies in both Georgia and South Carolina during this investigation called "Operation Full Circle." Agents say what started out as an investigation of one ring, led to another and then another -- involving some of the same people who they say were major players in the Savannah drug market. CNT Director Everette Ragan explains, “The people we have arrested here are the largest ones in Chatham County. We've got intelligence and we've gotten more information and more evidence to the fact that the largest person bringing in the cocaine to Chatham County is one of these targets that we got." Bringing cocaine into Savannah from rural Georgia counties, Atlanta, and even South Carolina. 23 kilos of cocaine were seized as authorities chased an SUV carrying it through Laurens County. They wanted to stop it before it got to Savannah. Authorities say 4 of the 5 big dealers arrested don't even live in Savannah. “They were hiding themselves in Pooler, Garden City, other areas, staying under the radar, but would come to 35th Lane and Ogeechee Road, they would go to 58th Street just east of Waters Avenue, they would go to the 500 block of Park Avenue. That's where they would meet their runners, that's where they would meet their dealers, that's where they would divvy up the drugs, that's where they would start their sales out of." Those areas of the city are well known for crime. Mayor Edna Jackson says she's not surprised, and is happy to see something being done, “It lets you know that we are moving in the right direction, but we also have to get that small criminal. When you look at the ones that were arrested, they were repeat offenders. We want them out of this community." CNT Spokesman Gene Harley says, “Of the 39 persons indicted in Chatham County, Georgia, 35 had prior arrests in Chatham County." Thirty-two of those were prior CNT arrests. Now with some of those in this case likely to face federal charges, it's hoped, if convicted, they'll stay behind bars for a significant amount of time, and cocaine will be harder to come by on the streets of our city. Director Ragan says, “We do know that going into the operation that the price of a kilo of cocaine in Savannah was around 32-thousand dollars for a kilo. We do know the later stages, the guys were having to go out of town again to get it and they were paying up to 40-thousand dollars, so it was drying up. Even one of them commented, it looks like they're going to have to get real jobs. So yeah, we make an impact." Authorities say while most of those charged in this case are in custody - there are still a few arrests to be made. A list of those indicted in connection with Operation Full Circle below. ORIGINAL STORY: 39 people have been indicted as a result of this investigation called "Operation Full Circle". Authorities say 35 of those had prior arrests, 32 of those had been arrested by CNT in the past. The investigation so far, has resulted in the seizure of nearly 3 million dollars worth of cocaine and 10 firearms - all taken from convicted felons. Additional Information Released from CNT: Earlier today the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team held a press conference announcing the completion of a 20-month long joint investigation resulting in the dismantling of three drug organizations operating throughout Georgia and South Carolina. In March 2011, CNT in a working partnership with the Beaufort/Jasper Multi-Agency Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a drug organization operating in both Chatham County, Georgia and Beaufort/Jasper, South Carolina. Over the next year, numerous undercover purchases of cocaine were made. By June 2012, several pounds of marijuana were seized and two additional drug organizations were identified with most persons distributing controlled substances within Chatham County, Georgia. On July 3, 2012, CNT and DEA Agents with the assistance of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Department and Georgia State Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on Interstate I-16 resulting in the seizure of 23 kilograms of cocaine and $24,520 in cash. Immediately following the seizure, three residential search warrants were executed in Chatham County, Georgia resulting in the seizure of marijuana and $69,677 in cash. During the month of August, a total of five residential search warrants were executed throughout Georgia and South Carolina resulting in the seizure of cocaine, marijuana, guns and $47,965 in cash. On November 28, 2012 a total of 29 persons were indicted in the Superior Court of Chatham County, Georgia on Conspiracy to Violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. On the very next morning, November 29, 2012, residential search warrants along with 39 arrest warrants were executed throughout Georgia and South Carolina with the assistance of more than 14 law enforcement agencies including local, State and Federal agencies. The sweep operation resulted in the arrest of most of the 39 persons and the seizure of cocaine, marijuana, guns and $158,433 in cash. The operation resulted in the following totals: Persons Indicted: 39 Marijuana Seized: 10.9 pounds or 4,949.192 grams (Street Value up to: $48,832.00) Cocaine Seized: 23.48 kilograms or 23,486.18 grams (Street value up to: $2,760,000.00) Firearms: 10 (All firearms seized from convicted felons) Money Seized: $312,769.00 The seizure of the 23 kilograms of cocaine marks the highest in the history of CNT. The operation’s success is credited to multiple agencies sharing information, resources, manpower and coming together to obtain the same goal. CNT thanks all agencies involved! ### Arrest report (some names not shown are under investigation/awaiting arrest) 1. Telly Savalas Riley, DOB 9/19/75 2. Ernest Antonio Edwards, DOB 12/23/78 3. Grilly Holloway Jr., DOB 10/29/79 4. Rashawn Ahamd Stewart, DOB 12/22/81 5. Stephen Patrick McCoy, DOB 5/29/75 6. Jack Lee Brown, DOB 11/28/70 7. Tarrus Davon Mosley, DOB 12/30/82 8. Anthony Dether Aaron, DOB 11/1/77 9. Percy June Anderson, DOB 3/20/77 10. John Fripp Jr, DOB 12/1/79 11. James Warren Wright, DOB 11/14/74 12. Leonard Anthony Kennedy, DOB 9/5/76 13. Harold Roberson, DOB 10/23/85 14. Kimberly Monique Roberson, DOB 12/21/79 15. Anthony Heyward/Jarvis KING, DOB 1/7/71 16. 17. 18. Michael Jernard Singleton, DOB 8/6/83 19.Dyshawn Jamel Beasley, DOB 8/13/78 20. Leroy Chisholm, DOB 5/12/75 21. Onikwa Taiwan Denmark, DOB 9/23/71 22. Ron Bernard Allen, DOB 11/23/76 23. Vincent Lonon Bryant, DOB 12/25/69 24. McArthur Knight Jr, DOB 7/5/71 25. Shanitera Latrell Dukes, DOB 7/2/78 26. Naquana Shatera Fields, DOB 10/5/84 27. Donald Eugene Fennell, DOB 2/8/84 28. Ricardo Jermaine Crawford, DOB 6/24/71 29. Eric Bernard Grimes, DOB: 9/10/75 30. Marlena Mutee Golson, DOB 3/14/77 31. Jawyann Porchai Pringle, DOB 2/1/83 32. 33. Ateician Quamain Norris, DOB 9/8/82 34. Cory West, DOB 5/4/80 35. Willie Lee Jones, DOB 2/12/82 36. Joseph Lamar Medlock, DOB 4/10/83 37. James Rudolph Askew, DOB 10/3/82 38. Nathaniel Furlow, DOB 5/27/81 39. Michael Lavon Bostick, DOB 12/7/79