The Jan. 8 murder of eight-year-old Arbrie Anthony in a drive-by shooting was the impetus for a 90-day operation to undermine drug and gang activity in Richmond County, which came to a head recently in more than 100 arrests and the confiscation of considerable volumes of drugs and firearms, according to authorities.
“Out of this tragedy, the FBI’s Street Safe Task Force and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office focused a three-month initiative to target the most violent offenders and dangerous drug gang organizations,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office welcomed media to its south Augusta precinct Wednesday to announce the success of Operation Grace, an effort coordinated between the Sheriff’s Office, FBI Atlanta and several other state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Seven other agencies were involved besides the Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, ATF and the U.S. Marshals.
“This operation targeted and disrupted and dismantled criminal and gang offenders from all across the CSRA,” said Sheriff Richard Roundtree.
Through a series of various investigative means, including dozens of traffic stops, law enforcement officials made 119 felony arrests, 35 of which are being referred to for potential federal prosecution, the FBI said Wednesday.
Connecting the investigation and its results with recent gun violence incidents in Augusta, Roundtree underscored that many recent victims of such violence were allegedly tied to gang or illegal drug activity.
“With very few exceptions, you will find that, sadly, many of the victims were engaged in activities that greatly increase their likelihood of being a suspect, or a victim of gun violence,” Roundtree said.
Over the course of the operation, law enforcement also confiscated 176 firearms and seized more than $200,000 in cash, and recovered more than half a pound of Fentanyl, over 600 grams of cocaine, a pound and a half of meth, 45 grams of heroin, 33 pounds of marijuana and 483 pills total of oxycodone, hydrocodone, MDMA and others.
Suspects are alleged to be involved in several affiliated gangs with which sheriff’s office is already familiar and still currently investigating, Roundtree said, including the Gangster Disciples, the Sex Money Murda Bloods and the Rollin’ 60’s.
Authorities also claimed that Operation yielded discovery of a weapon that tests proved was used in an unsolved alleged gang murder, and that enforcement officers found drugs and weapons in the home of a unnamed local high school coach. The sheriff’s office, FBI nor any other agency involved in the operation revealed the identity of the coach.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
