Fugitive Wanted in Alleged Athens Armed Fentanyl Trafficking Ring

ATHENS, Ga. – Federal agents are searching for an Athens man charged in a 28-count, ten-defendant indictment alleging an armed fentanyl trafficking ring responsible for distributing multiple kilograms of fentanyl into the Athens-Clarke County community.

Christopher King, 34, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, King faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Anyone with information regarding King’s whereabouts are urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Macon, Georgia, office at 478-870-1017 or you can submit a tip anonymously by calling 1-877-WANTED-2.

King and nine co-defendants are facing federal drug and gun charges after a federal grand jury returned a 28-count indictment on Oct. 11, 2022; the indictment was unsealed on Dec. 22, 2022. According to the indictment, all of the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and more than 400 grams of fentanyl between Feb. 2021 and Sept. 2022. Additionally, defendants James Hill, Jasmine Jackson, Jose Camacho and Kristopher Ellison are charged with conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 500 grams of cocaine. The indictment alleges fentanyl and other drug trafficking occurred at various locations in northeast Georgia, mostly in Athens: an apartment at 120 Chateau Terrace, the Fairfield Inn and Suites and the Howard Johnson’s Motel in Athens, and 3073 Hardman Morris Road in Colbert (Madison County), Georgia.

During the course of the investigation, agents seized more than 3.6 kilograms of fentanyl, over one kilogram of heroin, more than 500 grams of cocaine and 313 grams of methamphetamine. Additionally, 21 firearms were seized, including three machine guns, sixteen pistols, one AK-47 rifle and one shotgun. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition and $116,567 in drug proceeds were also seized.

The following eight co-defendants are charged in the indictment with King; they’ve had their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle and were remanded to federal custody:

James Jerome Hill aka “Keith,” 40, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of maintaining a drug involved premises and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;

Lanel Chambers aka “LC” aka “Lanel Rankin,” 44, of Lilburn, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl;

Jose Camacho, 22, of Colbert, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises;

Michael Arnold, 50, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl;

Kristopher Ellison aka “Soldier,” 32, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;

Antonio Young, 38, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;

Hendrex Nicely aka “Hen,” 34, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and

Favian Curry aka “Favo,” 41, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of maintaining a drug involved premises.

The following defendant is charged, had her initial appearance before the Honorable Judge Weigle and was released on bond:

Jasmine Jackson, 28, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises.

Each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison up to a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshal Service (USMS), FBI Athens Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force, Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD), Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Narcotics Unit the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.