Many jailed in Athens drug, firearms bust

Authorities: Joint operation nets $1M in narcotics, 43 guns.

Nearly two dozen people are behind bars fo l lowing a

monthslong drug and gun trafficking investigation in Athens, authorities announced Thursday.

The joint operation conducted by the Department of Justice, the FBI and local police netted nearly $1 million worth of narcotics, more than $84,000 in cash and 43 firearms — including eight assault rifles, authorities said.

The sting, dubbed “Operation Benchwarmers,” included 300 officers from 23 agencies and was

hailed as the largest law enforcement operation in Athens-Clarke County history.

The majority of suspects were arrested Tuesday morning, Athens-Clarke County police Chief

Cleveland Spruill said at a news conference held at Athens police headquarters.

“These suspects, with extensive criminal histories, face significantly long sentences in federal prison,” Spruill said. “It further indicates that the ACCPD (Athens-Clarke County Police

Department) does not tolerate gun violenceand drug trafficking within our community. We are grateful for the efforts of our officers who have worked countless hours on this case and acknowledge the support of the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.”

Of the two dozen people

charged in the investigation, all are in custody except for Andrew Bravo Jimenez, 25, who splits his time between Athens and Texas, authorities said.

Those charged include:

■ Rickshun Willigham, 32, charged with conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; 15 counts of distributing crack cocaine; 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; five counts of distributing heroin; and one count of distributing meth.

■ Jaquavious T. Turner, charged with conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; nine counts of distributing crack cocaine; seven counts of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and three counts of distributing heroin.

■ Bernard Barnett, 22, charges of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; two counts of distribution of crack cocaine; three counts of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; two counts of distributing heroin; and two counts of distributing meth.

■ Shaddrick Cox, 24, charged with conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; distribution of crack cocaine; and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

■ Steven Ricole Scott, 43, charged with conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; and three counts of distributing crack.

■ Christopher Sanders, 33, charged with conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; one count of distributing crack; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

■ Robert Bolton Jr., 31, one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; and distribution of crack cocaine.

■ Antonio M. Mitchell, 30, one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; distribution of crack cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

■ Maquila Jones, 20, charged with one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; and distribution of crack cocaine.

■ Marques Ward, 31, charged with one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and intent to distribute heroin.

■ Ttajia Forney, 19, one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of heroin with the intent to distribute; and possession of meth with the intent to distribute.

■ Terrell Bush, 45, faces one count of possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

■ Nicholas Jackson, 26, charged with one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

■ Manuel Gonzalez Romero, charged with one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

■ Andrew Bravo Jimenez, charged with one count of conspiracy to possess meth, heroin and crack with the intent to distribute; and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.

■ Armand Payne, 39, arrested on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

■ Luis Besave-Lagunas, arrested in Madison County on charges of trafficking heroin, trafficking meth and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

■ Zenon Carrera Ferrer, charged with trafficking meth, trafficking heroin and possession of cocaine.

■ Dwight Moreland, arrested on a probation violation.

■ Andreas Lane, charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and probation violation.

■ Adian Mapp, charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

■ Leonard Jackson, charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

AUSTIN STEELE / FOR THE AJC U.S. Attorney Charlie Peeler (center left) looks on Thursday as Athens-Clarke County police Chief Cleveland Spruill discusses the drugs and guns bust at Athens-Clarke County Police Department.