An Athens man was indicted on Jan. 10 by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's Gang Prosecution Unit in connection with a fatal October 2022 shooting in the county.
According to a press release from the Attorney General's Office, Jeffery Rice, 26, is an alleged member of the Red Tape Gang and was charged with multiple counts of violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act, felony murder, aggravated assault, weapons offenses and other charges.
The Red Tape Gang is a local hybrid gang with ties to major national Bloods, including Sex Money Murder and the Rollin' 20s.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department investigated the case.
“With our new Gang Prosecution Unit, we are using all resources at our disposal to disrupt the growing gang networks that are terrorizing our communities and putting people at risk,” Carr said. “This latest indictment is the result of our strong partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, as we work together to ensure that those who engage in violent crime are held accountable for their actions. All Georgians deserve to be safe, and we will continue fighting to root out gang activity wherever it occurs.”
The Gang Prosecution Unit has indicted 50 alleged gang members across Georgia, including 11 in Athens-Clarke County, since its creation on July 1, 2022.
An exact breakdown of the charges Rice is facing is as follows:
- Four counts of violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act
- Two counts of felony murder
- Two counts of aggravated assault
- One count of aggravated battery
- Three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon during a crime
- One count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- One count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
- One count of criminal damage to property in the first degree
- One count of driving while license suspended
