Gang members operating out of Barrow County, Gwinnett County, Athens-Clarke County, and seven other Georgia counties, have now been indicted for crimes including murder, drug trafficking, assault and more.
On Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr, along with other law enforcement leaders, announced the indictment of 17 alleged members of the 183 Gangster Bloods following a large-scale investigation. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) Gang Task Force has been working to get dangerous criminals off the streets, charging 46 alleged gang members and associates, including the 17 announced on Thursday, over the last year.
The most recent 17 gang members indicted are supposedly part of the 183 Gangster Bloods (1-8 Trey Bloods), a set of the larger criminal street gang known as “The Bloods.” The gang is based out of New York, specifically the Bronx.
The indictment came after the evidence was presented to a Barrow County Grand Jury on Oct. 25, including evidence of conspiring together to illegally obtain money, weapons and property through of racketeering activity. They are all accused of crimes including murder, assault, armed robbery, theft, the sale and distribution of drugs, and more. The indictment includes 136 charges, all of which were said to have been committed between January 2019 and October 2022 across the ten Georgia counties of Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Bulloch, Candler, Chattooga, Fulton, Gwinnett, Laurens, Monroe and Walton. In those charges, they are accused of trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. The lengthy list of criminal acts continues with terroristic threats, arson, possession of a firearm by a felon and more.
Two of the gang’s top leaders are now in jail, according to Thursday’s announcement. Ralph Alicia (aka “MK”), age 49, is said to be the national leader of the 183 Gangster Bloods. He is being held at a state prison in New York.
Georgia’s suspected state leader of the gang, Jamar Ramsay (a.k.a. “Supreme”), age 39, is now in custody at Hays State Prison in Georgia.
Both Alicia and Ramsay are accused of directing other defendants to engage in criminal activity while they were in jail. “In addition, the defendants are alleged to have engaged in discussions regarding the packaging and shipping of contraband items into a Georgia Department of Correctional facility, as well as the sale and distribution of controlled substances in Hays State Prison,” according to the release.
The other 15 indicated are as follows:
- Nicholas Wiseman (also known as “Necco”), age 31
- Taurris Taylor (also known as “Rich”), age 30
- Nigel Harvey (also known as “Fredo”), age 22
- Maya Covert, age 31
- Brantavious Sims (also known as “Trap” or “BJ”), age 19
- Kenneth Searcy (also known as “BG”), age 31
- Akeem Lanier (also known as “Kane”), age 34
- Quintavius Render (also known as “Brazy”), age 34
- Dexcadrick Graddy (also known as “Biggz”), age 25
- Quentin Walker Jr. (also known as “Don Q”), age 34
- Ritasha Ogburn (also known as “Boots”), age 31
- Tonisha Wilson (also known as “Princess”), age 30
- Kalip Sherman (also known as “Don Man”), age 24
- Aaaron Smith (also known as “Gotti”), age 30
- Antwon Sutton (also known as “ODogg”), age 26
"We created the Gang Prosecution Unit with our partners in the legislature because we knew something had to be done to get dangerous criminals off our streets," said Governor Kemp. "The GBI's Gang Task Force has also made great strides working with law enforcement at every level to pursue those who pose a risk to our communities. Thanks to all involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case, these 17 gang members will face justice. Today is a great example of how my administration and other state partners are working with those on the local level who are fed up with gangs bringing drugs and crime into our communities and harming our children. Together, we are saying 'enough!'"
Governor Kemp signed HB 1134, legislation that provided the Office of the Attorney General with concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute criminal gang activity statewide, earlier this year. Representative Chuck Efstration and Senator John Kennedy sponsored the legislation during this past session. Georgia’s FY 2023 budget also includes $1.3 million to fund the Gang Prosecution Unit's operations.
"This case serves as a reminder that gangs are present and actively recruiting in every corner of our state, perpetrating violent crimes and terrorizing entire communities," said Attorney General Carr. "We must continue to work together across all levels of law enforcement to combat this criminal activity, put violent offenders behind bars and keep our people safe. That is exactly what we are doing with our new Gang Prosecution Unit, and we will keep fighting each day to stop those who put our children, our families and our communities at risk."
One of Governor Kemp’s early priorities in office, the GBI’s Gang Task Force has already found much success working with local, state, and federal partners to investigate and dismantle gangs. This past year, the GBI investigated 446 gang-related cases across 100 Georgia counties and charged more than 170 gang members.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2022/11/1143920/17-gang-members-operating-in-barrow-and-gwinnett-county-have-been-indicted-on-criminal-charges