Authorities arrested 20 people Tuesday in connection with a major Richmond County drug distributor.
Authorities fanned out across the area in a "mopping up" operation connected to the Nov. 21 arrest of Carlos Jermaine Hughes and the search of two homes on Walton Trail and Apple Valley Drive, according to Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. Allan Rollins.
Mr. Hughes is accused of transporting cocaine into the Augusta area from Atlanta, Sgt. Rollins said. He is accused of distributing it via a countywide network.
"He had a pretty good distribution ring, and it was all the way around town," Sgt. Rollins said. "What we did was go out and pick up the lieutenants of the operation."
According to a federal indictment issued against Mr. Hughes and several others, the operation dates back to at least 1999.
"We learned about it over a year ago, and we were working on other investigations and tying them all together," Sgt. Rollins said.
In the November raid, authorities seized more than $200,000 in cash, two kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $150,000, two trailers and seven vehicles, Sgt. Rollins said. Investigators are still looking for 10 other people.
Authorities are "following up" on information and Atlanta connections, Sgt. Rollins said.
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were involved in the arrests.
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
THE ARRESTS
Those arrested in Tuesday's raid include members of the cocaine distributing organization and their customers, according to authorities.
Facing charges are Percy L. Dorsey, 32; Kevin O. Evans; Christopher G. Mecado, 21; John M. Green, 27; Kevin M. Richmond; Derrick D. Jackson, 29; Paul Brown; Nathaniel Williams, 21; Alana Williamson, 36; Eric A. Wright, 20; Terry T. Hollimon; Octavious Hobbs, 41; Jonathan B. Maloy, 37; Carlos Jermaine Hughes, 28; Kevin Demetrius Smith; Antonio Tyrone Dicks; Curtis Gary Kerr II; Kyle Alexander Williams; Jerome Jermaine Fox; Sidney Gaines Jr.
Police are still searching for Darrell Kirkland, Timothy J. Myers, Terrance Devon Luke, Vincent H. Graham, Derrian R. Brown, Sabrina M. Kelley, Daniel M. Pasha, Ricky L. Jackson, Toi Wilson and Bruce C. Grier.
Source: Richmond County Sheriff's Office
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