Another suspect arrested in 2016 smash and grab RICO investigation
An Atlanta man is the latest to be implicated in a gangrelated series of break-ins, primarily at convenience stores across the region.
According to Floyd County Jail reports:
Larry Ronnie Johnson, 31, of 1993 Bent Creek Way, Atlanta, is charged with a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. He’s also facing two felony counts of second-degree burglary party to a crime and two counts of smash and grab burglary party to a crime for acts that occurred in September 2016.
Johnson is the latest in a string of suspects implicated in a series of smash and grab burglaries in Floyd County and other jurisdictions across Georgia at least four years ago. The RICO warrant for his arrest refers to the defendants as a criminal street gang based out of Oakland City, Atlanta.
He is alleged to have been involved in a burglary at the Southern Pride Food Mart, 3510 Martha Berry Highway, on Sept. 3, 2016, which caused damages in excess of $500 to the store.
The second incident occurred Sept. 14, 2016, at Mr. C’s Convenience Store, 6280 Martha Berry Highway in Armuchee, which also caused more than $500 damage to the store.
The Floyd County Police
Department was a lead agency investigating the case, which resulted in more than 300 arrest warrants for at least 20 individuals from over 50 jurisdictions in North Georgia and Tennessee. Officers from Hall, Gwinnett and Athensclarke County also played key roles in the investigation.
At least five of the suspects — Johnson, Jamarqua Oxtavis Cephus, 33 of Atlanta; Artis Eugene Murphy.31 of Jonesboro; Terry Lorenzo Wheeler, 36 Atlanta and Jepaul James Adams, 37 of Atlanta — are still being held in the Floyd County Jail
The entire RICO case will be tried in Rome at a later date. At this point, none of the defendants have been indicted yet.
Johnson was picked up from the Lee State Prison Tuesday and returned to Rome to answer to the local charges.
Rome woman charged with burglary
A Rome woman who was reportedly found inside a home on Elliott Drive is charged with felony burglary in the first degree.
According to Floyd County Jail reports:
Brandi Michelle Morrow, 35, whose address is listed as 616 Elliott Drive, allegedly kicked in the door to that home.
When Rome police arrived around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, they found her inside with numerous items from the home piled in a basket near the door. It was unclear if she still lived in the home.
Rome woman accused of having meth
A traffic stop on Martha Berry Highway led to felony drug charge against a Floyd County woman.
According to Floyd County Jail reports:
Natasha Amanda Terry, 37, of 44 Hatfield Road, was in a vehicle that was stopped in the 2800 block of Martha Berry Highway around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Police said the woman dropped a small clear plastic bag containing meth outside of the vehicle. An inventory of the vehicle turned up a glass pipe with meth residue inside it.
Terry is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug-related objects.
Report: Suspended license leads to drug arrest
A driver stopped by Floyd County police reportedly had a suspended license, suspected methamphetamine and digital scales.
According to Floyd County Jail reports:
Justin Cody Lee Higgins, 37, of 11 Vann Drive, was stopped near the intersection of Georgia Highway 20 and Vann Drive around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police searched Higgins and found him with suspected meth, a glass smoking device and digital scales.
He is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He’s also facing misdemeanor charges of driving on a suspended license and possession of drug-related objects. Doug Walker, associate editor
Rome man charged with using another man’s name at jail
A 45-year-old Rome man booked in September 2012 on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge earned a felony identity fraud charge after allegedly giving another man’s name as his own without that man’s knowledge or consent.
According to Floyd County Jail reports:
Alex Lamar Poole, of 23 Lovell St., was taken into custody Wednesday and charged with felony false statements or writing; concealing facts or fraudulent documents in matters of government.
He was being held without bond Wednesday night.
K.T. Mckee, staff writer