Bury them in prison if they're guilty.
Federal, state and local authorities made arrests throughout Augusta on Monday, culminating a months-long investigation into illegal drug sales in Dogwood Terrace housing project off 15th Street.
Anthony Russo, the supervisory senior resident agent of the FBI's Augusta field office, said seven people were in custody on charges related to drug and weapons possession.
Agent Russo said the FBI's Central Savannah River Area Safe Streets Task Force began the investigation last summer into a group called Small World, which he described as "guys all working together to control the drug distribution trade in that housing project."
"Over the course of the investigation we purchased, on a number of occasions, both drugs and a firearm from members of the organization," Agent Russo said. "Controlled purchases using confidential sources."
Authorities served seven federal and one state search warrant leading them to seize more than $50,000 in cash, about nine guns, several automobiles, and powdered and crack cocaine, Agent Russo said.
"It transcended the boundaries of Dogwood Terrace," Agent Russo said.
Federal authorities would not release the names of those arrested Monday, but Richmond County Jail committals list several individuals taken into custody in the Dogwood Terrace area during the hours of Monday's raid.
They include: Sylvester Rubbies Lewis, 33, of the 2200 block of Vernon Drive, disorderly conduct; Mark Jones, 52, of 1900 block of Third Avenue, on a state court bench warrant; Marsigner Cornelius White, 29, of 3200 block of Deans Bridge Road, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; Derrick Deshown King, 31, of 1900 block of Third Avenue, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Bury them in prison if they're guilty.
The law enforcement group could make a career of "stinging" each housing project in Augusta. By the time they'd busted the last project, the first one would be back in full swing. These places are a breeding ground for more than just Dem voters. Nice job guys, how's that war on drugs coming?
I am glad these guys were caught, but those hand shakes you see down town, well its a cuffed hand shake! What about giving the Sherrif's department more money and training in busting the hard drugs. Forget about the maryjane, get the crack, meth... the drugs that cause the real problems. Maybe GA state Patrol should look at NC state Patrol. They have K9 units on just about every major highway and interstate that is nears its borders. Trust me I know for some reason they like the color of my SUV. Been stop 4 times in 2 years searched once. Of course no drugs were found, and 2 hours watching someone look at my underwear wasn't funny, but I will go through it again if it means getting drugs off the streets. Oh yea I see more drug bust on NC interstates than I do in GA and SC put together.
PT the war on drugs stopped after the first Bush. For some reason our leaders wont go after the South Americans Like Reagan and G.H. Bush did. Oh yea they didn't run their mouths either. Chavez would have cowered to Reagan and Bush SR.
The big guys running the drugs through the borders and all over the country are imposable to catch. I have worked with 1000's of Illegals over the past several years since I used to be involved with at least 12 major construction projects a year across the SE. I know a little bit about how it works, and it amazes me. As these young men come back and forth for work, they bring allot more than tools with them Drugs, Prostitutes.... I see the big shots pull up in their multiple cars hummers, 80,000 sports cars. They are not just in the construction business. Why does the feds let them get by with this? They are smart and there are so many its of little cost for them to ship their drugs any where they want a kilo at a time. The money transactions are not by hand but electronically back to Mexico. The little guys that get caught, you think they want their families killed?
None of those arrested actually lived in Dogwood. If they find that any resident aided in the sells of drugs and guns, they should immediately be evicted from housing and permanently barred from receiving any public assistance.
I agree Hypo, but would go a step farther. Anyone allowing them to share their housing or benefits or having dealings with them in any way, should also be permanently barred.
my solution is for augusta and every other town or city would be to get out of the public housing business...valuable and scarce dollars go into these areas and very little if any tangable results or benefits are realized by society
This report is USELESS without PICTURES !!
It is the culture of the "utes." Especially justus4's peeps!
get out of the public housing business? While it "sounds easy," that would definitely be a violation of the Fed. Housing Act, so Augusta nor any other city could do it. Nor should it b/c obv. not everyone that lives in public housing is a druggie. Unfortunately, drugs and crime are so prevalent at these projects. I am all for drug testing for people to get units here, but unfortunately THAT will definitely never happen, either. Oh well, until something drastic changes, the rest of us will continue to work and pay for these operations to be set up to fail.
PT and Hypo, while putting people out of public housing for crimes is a good idea, a zero tolerance rule would not be fair. I happen to know a lady who lived in a housing project in a different state. Her boyfriend committed a crime and gave her address as his residence to the cops when he was arrested. He did not live with her. She didn't know he was going to rob someone. She and her children were evicted just after she had found a job to help get off welfare. The job didn't pay enough to cover rent, utilities, clothes, and food for her family. All of her children ended up in foster care for a while until she was able to find work and a new place to live. That happened years ago. Her children are adults now, but they still have issues with being split up when they were young. I would agree that if there is evidence that a resident helped committ a crime, then that resident should be evicted.
BTW, Adam Folk needs a map. Isn't Dogwood Terrace off of Old Savannah Road, and covers several blocks of 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and 15th Avenues, but not 15th Street? 15th Ave runs into 15th Street at MLK, but well after you pass Dogwood.
the heck with the fed housing project. it should NOT be government nor citizen responsiblity to support the stupid choices that stupid people make. Take care of our elderly? YES but not the low lifes that breed like rabbits with every thing that comes along. Many people agree if you have a second kid on welfare then automatic sterilization should be done. Put an end to the welfare generations, this might slow them down a bit and give these people a chance at life.
For those of you who have your heads in the ground.....These drugs are not only in Public Housing. There are plenty of other apartment complexes in Augusta and North Augusta that have the same problems. The problem is only the Public housing seems to get all the attention.
In response to Puppy:... I agree with you 100%... AMEN............ There are still some good and honest people who lives in housing project..Like me... I am full-time college student with a 3.53 gpa, my major is nursing (RN), I'm (3) classes away from a ADN AND (5) classes away from a BSN, NO KIDS, I have never, never been in trouble with the law, I do not get any food stamps, Also, I pay rent..$382.00 monthly, I do own a car, that I pay monthly notes on and car insurance... I work in a local hospital as Phlebotomist, and a nursing aid.... I live here because after my mother died, I decided to keep the apartment and finish high school.. and now I'm in COLLEGE..... AND GUESS WHAT..I AM NOT A DRUD DEALER, I AM HARD, HARD, HARD WORKING BLACK WOMAN WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE A WAY OUT OF THE PROJECT, SO THAT I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF... WITHOUT THE HELP OF A MAN................... I thank God that I have a roof over my head, reguardless of where I live.. just because I may NOT live in a FANCY house, I am still a good person.. home is only what you make it....there are bad apples everywhere..... THANKS............
The problem is puppy, the people in the apartments are not on the government end of a hand-out. As I said yesterday, the Augusta Housing Authority is not taking care of OUR business. Periodically, they should conduct a sweep, after sealing the exits, and anything that is found illegal or improper, should be "taken care" of. Drugs = JAIL. People who are in units that are not on the lease agreement = everyone is evicted out of the unit. The Sheriff's Office should be more than happy to assist. Public Housing is a priviledge (sp), not a right. The elderly, and those that cannot help themselves, deserve to be safe.
then the section of the fair housing act should be rewritten to give cities the option to "get out of the public housing business" no where in the constitution is anyone afforded the right of free or cheap housing...it is my dollars along with every other taxpaying law abiding citizens to be given a choice to decide if our tax dollars are to be used for public housing....millions, if not billions of taxpayer dollars are poured into housing project and someone tell me what is the benefit, there are more who don't want anything out of life living in the projects than they are those who want something out of life
Good luck to you bree. I have a feeling you will do just fine.
bree026, good for you! Too bad there are not many more like you in pubic housing, but I doubt it.
Bree026 - Be very proud that you are the exception, rather than the rule. I have no problem helping someone who wants better for themselves -- legally !! You are a fitting example of the kind of welfare and/or assistance reform that I truly hope and pray that President Obama embraces, rather than just giving another hand-out, like so many in the public housing expect from the Democratic Party. Good luck in all that you do, now and in the future. I'm proud of you wanting to break the cycle.
Bree, good luck to ya. Hope everything works out. I wonder why justus hasn't chimed in? Is it maybe cause we're slamming druggies in the projects & praising the only decent person we've heard from? Don't worry about the pics, they'll be out when the SO releases the names. Probably another article tomorrow.
Good luck Bree026, I have worked with many students like you that have done well, and a lot of students that come from fine homes in the best areas of town that are just lazy and want someone to give them everything because of who they are. It is not where you come from ,but where you are going..
bree congrats! i know you are sick and tired of people talking about where "their tax dollars are going." Where does it say on any paystub that your tax dollars are funding the projects. Take care of you, dont worry about what people say.
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