A newly unsealed federal indictment has named 37 individuals in a sprawling drug trafficking conspiracy that spanned multiple South Georgia counties. The indictment, in USA v. Brinson, et al., details the alleged involvement of defendants in Coffee, Atkinson, and Bacon Counties in a network distributing drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana. Many of those named in the indictment are incarcerated at various Georgia state prisons.
The conspiracy allegedly involved importing and distributing large quantities of illegal drugs in the Douglas, Georgia area and surrounding communities. The operation was run in part from inside Georgia state prisons, with the use of contraband cell phones to coordinate activities. The indictment includes 60 counts, with key seizures including 21 firearms and over $17,000 in cash.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Tara M. Lyons, emphasized the reach of the operation, pointing out that even rural communities are not immune to the drug trade. “This operation makes it clear that rural communities aren’t immune from the scourge of drug trafficking,” she said. “We applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners in this investigation.”
Defendants face severe penalties, including potential life sentences in federal prison. Conviction on the charges could result in significant financial penalties, in addition to a period of supervised release after serving any prison term.
Some of the individuals named in the indictment include:
Litarus Brinson, a/k/a “Ben Brokebefore,” 26, an inmate at Jenkins Correctional Center
Christopher Brockington, a/k/a “Chris Brock,” 44, of Douglas
Keevon Bussey, a/k/a “Guado Gettinguap Gomez,” 26, of Douglas
Stacey Daniels, 32, of Douglas
Anthony Gaskin Jr., 35, of Pearson, Georgia
Dacia Gaskins, a/k/a “Sheree Gaskins,” 31, of Douglas, a former Georgia state corrections officer
Jeffrey Maxwell, a/k/a “EBK Kokaine,” 28, an inmate of Wilcox State Prison
Marcus Reynolds, a/k/a “Marc Marc,” 44, an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
James Robinson, 33, an inmate at Telfair State Prison
Travis Tucker, 33, of Douglas
Assyria Watts, a/k/a “Jefe Cain,” 29, of Douglas
Additional arrests and charges are expected as the investigation progresses. Law enforcement agencies involved in the case include the FBI, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, and numerous local departments.
FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden praised the cooperation of the agencies involved: “The FBI and our law enforcement partners were able to achieve today’s arrests and seizures because all of us never stopped working together,” he said.
Coffee County Sheriff Fred T. Cole also stressed the importance of community safety in combating the illegal drug trade. “This operation highlights the importance of community safety and the lasting effects it has on our community,” he stated.
The case is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, aimed at reducing violent crime through collaborative law enforcement efforts. The investigation was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets high-level criminal organizations.
Once the investigation concludes, the case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Joshua K. Davis in the Southern District of Georgia.
