18 people arrested in drug trafficking raid in southwest Georgia – WSB-TV Channel 2

GEORGIA – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said nearly 20 people have been arrested following a multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking in southwest Georgia.

The GBI worked with multiple police departments and sheriff's offices and said people were arrested in several counties for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy in the area.

In total, according to the GBI, the investigation lasted about nine months and thousands of grams of narcotics were seized, including methamphetamine and marijuana.

While 18 people were arrested during the investigation, ten of them on Tuesday alone, three people are still wanted in connection with the investigation.

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Here's who was arrested on Tuesday, September 24th and what charges they're facing, according to the GBI:

• Austin Ray Johns, 43, of Colquitt, Georgia, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
• Brandy Leigh Temples, 45, of Donalsonville, Georgia, is charged with use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance crime, trafficking in methamphetamine and three counts of conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine.
• Brittany Shanay Richardson, 33, of Camilla, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication facility in the commission of a methamphetamine-related crime.
• Craig Willingham, 34, of Pelham, Georgia, is charged with use of a communications facility in the commission of a methamphetamine-related offense and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
• James David Gowan, 41, of Colquitt, Georgia, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
• Michael Dupree, 43, of Donalsonville, Georgia, was charged with use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance felony.
• Phillip Charles Scott, 39, of Donalsonville, Georgia, is charged with use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance offense.
• Savannah Morgan Nelson, 25, of Donalsonville, Georgia, was charged with use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance crime.
• Stephen Wayne Gould, 52, of Brinson, Georgia, is charged with use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance offense.
• Matthew Barrentine, of Pelham, GA, is charged with use of a communications facility in the commission of a methamphetamine-related crime. Barrentine is incarcerated at the Berrien County Jail.

At the start of the months-long investigation, the following people were arrested:

• Corena Austin, age 29, of Albany, Georgia, was charged with possession of a Schedule III, IV or V controlled substance with intent to distribute, use of a communication facility to commit a controlled substance offense and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, Marijuana and other illegal drugs.
• Marquez Antron Marcus, 37, of Baconton, Georgia, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana or methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine.
• Mary Elizabeth Phillips, 40, of Donalsonville, GA, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
• Roderick Brandon Haire, 38, of Donalsonville, GA, was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and two counts of trafficking methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
• Jeffery Brian Richardson, 40, of Pelham, GA, was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, six counts of trafficking methamphetamine, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, and use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance crime.
• Marquez Antron Marcus, 37, of Baconton, Georgia, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance crime, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
• Timothy Dewayne Littlefield, 45, of Donalsonville, Georgia, was charged with five counts of trafficking methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
• Kervin Bernard Harrison, 35, of Thomasville, Georgia, is charged with use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance offense and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Here's who else the GBI is looking for and what charges they're facing:

• Kervin Bernard Harrison, 35, of Thomasville, Georgia, is charged with use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance offense, trafficking in marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
• Jody Benton, 49, of Ochlocknee, Georgia, is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
• David Lee Bentley, 47, of Pelham, Georgia, is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and using a communication facility in the commission of a controlled substance offense.

During the investigation, the GBI worked with the Albany Dougherty County Drug Unit (ADDU), Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Camilla Police Department, Mitchell County Sheriff's Office, Thomas County Sheriff's Office and Miller County Sheriff's Office.

The GBI said the investigation is ongoing and that they have seized about 778 grams of suspected meth and 9,000 grams of suspected marijuana so far.

Anyone with information about where Harrison, Benton or Bentley are is asked to call the Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office at 229-420-1254.

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