Final prison sentences wrap up cocaine trafficking investigation

SAVANNAH, GA: Two sentencings in federal court represent the final defendants from a dismantled major cocaine trafficking conspiracy that spanned the country and transported significant amounts of drugs into the Savannah area.

 

Michael Dean Hubbard, 39, of Garden City, Ga., was sentenced to 115 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, and Domminick Sentell Robbins, 39, of Guyton, Ga., was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system.

 

“The sentencing for these two criminals slams the door on a major conspiracy to peddle poison in our communities,” Christine said. “With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to tracking down and bringing to justice those who would pollute our neighborhoods with illegal drugs – and Operation Lazarus is a great example of our success.”

 

Operation Lazarus, a joint federal, state and local investigation, began in 2012 through 2017 in the Savannah area under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and initiated by the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The investigation uncovered a major conspiracy that transported significant amounts of cocaine and other narcotics to Savannah, Atlanta and Florida via tractor-trailer from Texas and California.

 

During the operation, investigators seized more than 10 kilograms of powder and crack cocaine, 16 pounds of marijuana and large amounts of heroin, Ecstasy and prescription pills, along with 50 firearms and more than $700,000 in cash. A total of 54 defendants – 21 prosecuted in federal court, and 33 prosecuted in state court – have been sentenced after convictions or guilty pleas. A full list of defendants is included below.

 

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented on the sentencings, “The mission of DEA is unwavering – we relentlessly pursue drug traffickers who distribute dangerous drugs in our communities. These drugs cause immeasurable damage, but DEA, its law enforcement partners and the U. S. Attorney’s Office are committed to protecting and serving the citizens of those communities. These defendants will spend well-deserved time in prison.”

 

 “This case recognizes how important it is for local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to unite in order to dismantle this organization,” said CNT Director Everett Ragan. “It is a joint effort and we must hold those responsible for the illegal acts accountable for their actions.”

 

In addition to DEA and CNT, agencies cooperating for Operation Lazarus included the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Garden City Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. The OCDETF program is the premier U.S. Department of Justice program utilized to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations.

 

The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr.

 

Defendants in Operation Lazarus include:

Federal defendants:

Christopher Shawn Crimley, 44, Port Wentworth, Ga.;

Nakiea Javon Hampton, 38, Savannah;

Sherone Kenya McBride, 41, Garden City, Ga.;

Shamone Moquis McBride, 39, Garden City, Ga.;

Traviel Lamar Perkins, 45, Savannah;

Kevin Lamar Speaks, 37, Savannah;

Michael Dean Hubbard, 39, Garden City, Ga.;

Cedric Jermaine Manior, 46, Rincon, Ga.;

Travis Terrell Godwin, 28, Garden City, Ga.;

Kendrick Carnell Doomes, 36, Ludowici, Ga.;

Steve Gordon, 40, Register, Ga.;

Ronnie Cope, 39, Guyton, Ga.;

Domminick Sentell Robbins, 39, Guyton, Ga.;

Anderson Holmes III, 51, Savannah;

Trevor Wendell Walker, 47, Savannah;

Eric Donnell Washington, 39, Savannah;

Jonathan Turner, 40, Savannah;

Latonya Maria Shannon, 32, Morrow, Ga.;

Omar Guevara, 39, Roswell, Ga.;

Jerrod Baugh, 41, Atlanta; and,

Jameel Lawton, 40, Savannah.

 

State court defendants:

Deandre Antonio Singleton, 38, Garden City, Ga.;

Donald Lee Oliver, 33, Garden City, Ga.;

Bobby Terrell Alexander, 50, Savannah;

David Renaldo Scarver, 35, Garden City, Ga.;

Christopher Delmont Jones, 45, Savannah;

Ellison Robert Burns Jr., 43, Garden City, Ga.;

Adam Gershon Palmer, 34, Savannah;

Ebony Jabriea Harley, 34, Garden City, Ga.;

Curtis Keith Knowles, 64, Savannah;

Robert Edward Singleton Jr., 52, Garden City, Ga.;

Willie James Grant, 27, Savannah;

Taurus Eugene Holloway, 43, Savannah;

Michael Bernard Jenks, 33, Savannah;

Ramone Williams, 50, Savannah;

Dennis Lee Morris 29, Garden City, Ga.;

Deatra Babaham 39, Garden City, Ga.;

Michael Andrea Wilson, 51, Hardeeville, S.C.;

Antonio Daywan Newton, 38, Savannah;

Edward Callahan, 48, Atlanta;

John Terrell Nelson, 41, Savannah;

Javonne Washington, 40, Savannah;

George Michael Muller, 41, Atlanta;

Steven Chad McCoy, 48, Savannah;

Richard Glen Valeiko, 43, Rincon, Ga.;

Sabrina Morell 42, Rincon, Ga.;

Bonnie Wayne Romine, 66, Garden City, Ga.;

George Bernard Lilly, 49, Rincon, Ga.;

Destiney Kawandra Clifton, 30, Lyons, Ga.;

Samuel Ashley Bartley, 43, Guyton, Ga.;

Melveric Jamelle Ford, 37, Garden City, Ga.;

Phillip Anthony Edwards, 34, Garden City, Ga.;

Edwin Gary Burroughs, 35, Garden City, Ga.; and,

Michael Anthony Green, 35, Savannah.