Local man pleads to federal charges

Mar. 7—MACON, Ga. — Several defendants from Milledgeville and Baldwin County, including the reported leader of a major drug distribution ring, recently pleaded guilty to drug charges in U.S. Middle District of Georgia Federal Court.

The methamphetamine drug ring was reportedly led by a 31-year-old Jarvis "J Bo" Havior of Milledgeville, according to law enforcement authorities.

Havior pleaded guilty on Feb. 16 to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His plea was made in front of U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell.

Sentencing in his case was deferred to May 3.

Havior faces from a minimum of 10 years in prison to a maximum of life imprisonment to be followed by at least five years of supervised release. He could also be fined up to $10 million.

Several defendants were connected to the drug ring, which was centered in Milledgeville. Federal authorities said the ring was responsible for distributing a total of five kilograms of methamphetamine.

The arrests and subsequent indictments against the defendants in the case was the result of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

"Through the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, law enforcement agents coordinated a successful takedown of a drug trafficking network pushing high volumes of methamphetamine into the Milledgeville area," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary in a press release. "Local, state and federal law enforcement are helping us hold those distributing large quantities of the most deadly and addictive illegal drugs accountable at the federal level."

Robert J. Murphy, special agent in-charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division also weighed in with comments.

"Those who distribute methamphetamine pose a grave danger to the community," Murphy said. "These traffickers can no longer deliver dangerous drugs on the streets and must now face the consequences of their actions."

Two other law enforcement officials also made statements.

One of them was Keri Farley, special agent in-charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Atlanta.

"The dangers associated with meth remain one of the most significant drug threats facing our community," Farley said. "With the help of our federal, state and local partners, this is a significant amount of poison that will not make in into our communities, driving crime and violence."

Mike Register, the new director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agreed with other law enforcement officials that such illegal drugs are dangerous and pose threats to the overall safety of communities across Georgia.

"The GBI is committed to getting these drugs off the streets by bringing to justice all those that take part in the illegal drug trade from the supplier down to the dealer," Register said.

Agents with the DEA, along with GBI agents and agents with the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force (OCDETF) received what the federal prosecutor called credible information in June 2020 that Havior was leading a multi-kilogram methamphetamine distribution ring that was operating out of Milledgeville.

"A subsequent investigation determined the location of distribution trap houses and stash houses for bull narcotics, and cash that Havior and his criminal associates maintained," according to the press release.

Law enforcement officers learned that Havior planned to replenish his methamphetamine supply at a location in Stone Mountain, Ga. on April 5, 2021.

It was the same place he had gone to on previous occasions, according to the prosecutor.

"Agents observed Havior meet a man at a Publix Supermarket parking lot in Stone Mountain and receive a fully laden green Publix bag," according to the press release. "Havior traveled to a restaurant in Covington, Ga. and gave the bag to co-defendant Anrico Taylor. Both defendants departed the restaurant in their respective vehicles and traffic stops were conducted on them in Baldwin County."

Agents said Taylor attempted to flee with the Publix bag, which ripped apart several smaller bags of methamphetamine as he ran away from officers.

Approximately a kilogram of the drug was spread over the ground.

Another four kilograms were discovered still inside the bag.

The drug trafficking ring was responsible for distributing at least five kilograms of methamphetamine.

Aside from Havior, the following co-defendants also pleaded guilty to various charges:

* Dawn Carey, 47, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substance. She faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

* Nicholas Cuevas-Flores, 37, of Lawrenceville, Ga., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He faces a possible maximum of life in prison.

* Bruce Harrison, 39, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He faces a maximum of life in prison.

* Paul Collins, 59, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

* Arturo Marshall, also known as Turo, 41, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

* Annie Collins, 21, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

* Tyrone Hitchcock, also known as "Ty," 48, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

* Alicia Nugent, 38, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

* Anrico Taylor, also known as Rico, 34, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

* Amber Vanclief, 32, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

* Matthew Cameron, 47, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

* Paris Binion, 30, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility. He faces a maximum of four years in prison.

* Lamont Jackson, 48, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful used of a communication facility. He faces a maximum of four years in prison.

* Perry Miller, 27, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility. He faces a maximum of four years in prison.

* Macarthur Reeves, also known as "Mac," 67, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful use of a communications facility. He faces a maximum of four years in prison.

* Ryan Rickard, 49, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility. He faces a maximum of four years in prison.

Three other co-defendants remain at-large. They include:

* Dwight Turner, also known as "Wight," 57, of Milledgeville. He is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and two counts of of distribution of methamphetamine. He faces a maximum of life in prison.

* Paul Bentley, also known as "Old School," 56, of Milledgeville. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He faces a maximum of life in prison.

* Noe Canela, 34, of Liburn, Ga. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He faces a maximum of life in prison.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of either of those individuals is asked to call the FBI's Atlanta Field Office at 770-216-3000 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The case was investigated by DEA, FBI, GBI, Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, Laurens County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Eatonton Police Department, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Community of Supervision Milledgeville Office, Wilkinson County Sheriff's Office, Jones County Sheriff's Office, Atlanta0Carolina's HIDTA Office, and the Gwinnett County Metro Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim.