Operation Results in More than 20 Charged with Gang Offenses, RICO, and more

Top left: Reeves Top right: Cross & Spivey/Westbrook & Ward Bottom Left: Johnson & Williams/Savage & Saliford Bottom right: KingPhoto byCrisp County S.O./GDC

On Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of 24 individuals following Operation Shyne Down. The GBI and other agencies served a total of 120 warrants on the suspects involved in the investigation, which targeted the criminal street gang G-Shyne Bloods and their involvement in criminal activities in Crisp County, Georgia.

According to the GBI, participating agencies included their Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Department of Community Supervision (DCS), the GBI Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the GBI Middle Georgia Gang Task Force, the GBI Special Operations Unit, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Valdosta Police Department, the Perry Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol.

GBI officials stated,

The arrests are a continuation of the efforts of a combined local, state, and federal law enforcement network whose goal is to dismantle drug trafficking and criminal street gangs throughout the State of Georgia. This nine-month investigation involved extensive intelligence gathering, undercover investigations, and a collaborative effort amongst the GBI, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Cordele District Attorney’s Office, Department of Community Supervision, and ATF to identify the leadership structure of the G-Shyne Blood Gang in Crisp County.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of 23 individuals from Cordele, including a Cordele City Commissioner, Royce Reeves.

Reeves, who was elected in 2014, has been charged twice prior to his most recent arrest. Court documents reveal that he was suspended from his position in January 2022 following an indictment in August 2021 on charges including obstruction of a law enforcement officer, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. These charges stemmed from an incident where he allegedly pushed a Georgia State Trooper at the scene of a wreck. In October 2023, Reeves was arrested on one count of theft by taking.

In the recent Operation Shyne Down, he faces additional charges including conspiracy to sell marijuana, violations under the Gang Act, use of a communication facility, and RICO.

The majority of the individuals involved are from Cordele, but two men are residents of other counties, including 30-year-old Jaquavis King from Douglas. Daily Coffee Press could not find any charges in Coffee County against King; however, he was booked in the Coffee County Jail in May 2023 on a hold related to charges from Ben Hill County.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections website, King served over four and a half years in Georgia State Prison following convictions in Ben Hill County for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a knife during the commission of a crime, and two counts of aggravated assault. He was released from prison on August 15, 2019.

King now faces charges including conspiracy to sell marijuana, violations under the Gang Act, use of a communication facility, and RICO.

Other individuals charged include the following:

• Chad Davis, of Cordele, GA, charged with Conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act A, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Felix Lawton, age 32, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Garstacfeus Dean, age 47, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Gerard Towns, age 32, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Gang Act D, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Ja’niah Ward, age 24, of Cordele, GA. Charged with sale of Marijuana, Gang Act A, Gang Act B, and RICO.
• Keith Spivey, age 46, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Xavier Cross, age 22, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Jaelon Blakey, age 23, Valdosta, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Walter Johnson, age 32, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Kevonta Jackson, age 31, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Christopher Westbrook, age 36, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Gang Act D, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Dontae Saliford, 27, of Cordele, GA. Charged with giving false statements and writings, Gang Act A, and Gang Act B.
• Shaquill Savage, age 31, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Gang Act D, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Lee Savage, age 21, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to sell marijuana, Gang Act A, Gang Act B, and RICO.
• Vantavious Williams, age 31, of Cordele, GA. Charged with sale of marijuana, Conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine, Gang Act A, Gang Act B, Gang Act D, Use of a Communications Facility, and RICO.
• Dontavious Colson, age 30, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.

Top: Davis and Dean Bottom: Towns and BlakeyPhoto byCrisp County Sheriff's Office

Several other suspects are also wanted in the case, including:

• Derek Grady Jr., age 19, of Cordele, GA. Charged with Conspiracy to sell Marijuana, Gang Act A, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Frederick Jackson, age 25, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Jy’nickalys Mainor, age 22, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Marqurion Walker, age 32, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
• Kelvin Ross, age 31, of Cordele, GA. Charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.

GBI Director Chris Hosey stated,

“Criminal street gangs and their senseless acts of violence wreak havoc in our communities and place the citizens of Georgia in danger. The GBI and our partners work relentlessly to stand between this threat and the innocent citizens we are sworn to protect. Operation Shyne Down is a testament to this commitment. We will not tolerate acts that put our communities and law enforcement in danger, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those who commit these violent acts to keep Georgia and its citizens safe.”

Crisp County Sheriff Billy Hancock followed,

"Today marks a significant victory for our community. Over a year ago, this agency stood on the courthouse steps in Crisp County, surrounded by state and local partners, pledging to work together to address the alarming rise in gang-related criminal activities and youth violence. Operation Shyne Down is a testament to the promise made. This operation is the culmination of nine months of meticulous investigation, planning, and coordination. I extend my deepest gratitude to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Department of Community Supervision (DCS), Cordele Police Department, and all other law enforcement personnel involved. Your unwavering commitment and courage exemplify the oath we took. While today's success is a significant milestone, we recognize that our work is far from over. To the families and residents of Crisp County: know that we remain steadfast in our mission to protect and serve.”

Last, ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka stated,

"Operation Shyne Down in Crisp County, Georgia serves as a text-book example of the impact that can be achieved when we blend our investigative resources with our State and local partners, as we continue to aggressively address violent crime that plagues our communities."

The GBI encourages anyone who may know the location of the wanted suspects, or who has any information regarding the case to contact them. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the GBI by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

At this time, the investigation remains ongoing.

Mugshots were not avaliable for Felix Lawton, Kevonta Jackson, or Lee Savage. The Crisp County Sheriff's Office also did not provide a mugshot for Jaquavis King. The mugshot shown above for King was obtained from the GDC and was taken in 2019.

Attributions: Georgia Bureau of Investigation, court documents filed in Crisp County, and the Georgia Department of Corrections