Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Office, FBI: Three dozen defendants indicted in ‘Operation Crippled Business’ major drug trafficking operation
DOUGLAS, Ga. – Federal authorities have indicted three dozen defendants in connection with a drug trafficking conspiracy in South Georgia.
The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the FBI, held a joint press conference to update the public on an investigation that has been underway for several months.
“This investigation has focused on individuals across Coffee County and several neighboring counties, including Atkinson, Bacon, Lowndes, and Ware. The individuals involved have been implicated in the trafficking of various illegal substances, including cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and oxycodone,” said Sheriff Fred T. Cole, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office.
Of the 29 defendants charged, 6 were already incarcerated, with much of the alleged conspiracy allegedly orchestrated from within Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones.
The 60-county indictment also includes the seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms and over $17,000 dollars. Authorities report that eight individuals are still at large.
Brian Ozden, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Atlanta office, offers more details.
“Four years ago, in 2021, the Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force conducted Operation Sandy Bottoms right here in Douglas, Georgia. And, this resulted in the indictment of 48 violent gangsters, samples for drug trafficking, conspiracy and numerous other felonies. All 48 of those defendants were convicted, and with some of them serving sentences up to 200 months in prison. However, before the final defendants in that case were even finished with their legal proceedings, individuals moved in and started dealing drugs and wreaking havoc in a community that we worked so hard to clean up and protect. We want you all to know that we will never take a break and have been relentless in investigating violent crimes and violent criminals who continue to try to infiltrate this area. That is why we’re here today announcing the results of operation crippled business, which successfully indicted 37 people,” said Brian Ozden, Assistant Special Agent In Charge, FBI Atlanta.
Assistant Special Agent Brian Ozden says that while reported violent crime dropped by 6% nationwide last year, it remains higher than law enforcement would like.
That is why agencies are emphasizing collaboration across regions, working together to protect communities and prevent further violence.
“Those collaborative efforts continue to prove that we can bring safety and security back to the communities we serve. We’re proud of the work we’ve done here today, and we’ll continue to do it. So we at the FBI want to thank our partners, especially the Coffee and Bacon County Sheriff’s departments, for their commitment to public safety. Our message is clear: if you come to this community and commit illegal activity, we will find you and you will be prosecuted,” said Ozden.
De’Andra Jacobs reporting.
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