The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released more details of a joint federal, state, and local law enforcement operation that resulted in 11 gang-related arrests in Northeast Georgia.
The suspects were taken into custody after law enforcement executed six search warrants simultaneously in Hart and Franklin counties. The search warrants were related to a months-long drug, gang, and violent crime investigation known as “Operation Straight to the Hart,” the GBI says.
Eight of the suspects are from Hartwell. All eleven were charged with violating the state’s Street Gang Act. In addition, two of the suspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Jaquavious Waller, 21, of Hartwell, and Len’darrius Keese, 20, of Lavonia, were charged in connection to the death of Mericus Scott of Royston whose body was discovered in Anderson, South Carolina in January of 2020.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement seized marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), and 25 firearms.
The following individuals were arrested on Thursday, October 27, after law enforcement executed six simultaneous search warrants in Franklin and Hart counties:
- Jaquavious Waller, 21, of Hartwell, GA charged with Gang Act (2 counts) and Conspiracy to Commit Murder
- Len’darrius Keese, 20, of Lavonia, GA, charged with Gang Act and Conspiracy to Commit Murder
- Ayana Curry, 23, of Hartwell, charged with Gang Act
- Deandre Watford, 26, of Hartwell, charged with Gang Act
- Trenton Shoemaker, 20, of Hartwell, charged with Gang Act
- Quentin Devon Simpson, 29, of Hartwell, charged with Gang Act
- Kenothy Brown, 22, of Lavonia, charged with Gang Act
- Tyrickus Miller, 25, of Anderson, South Carolina, charged with Gang Act
- Larjarvis Rucker, 21, of Hartwell, charged with Gang Act
- Laterrell Alexander, 33, of Hartwell, charged with Gang Act
- Jarvis Settles, 23, of Hartwell, charged with aggravated assault
The following agencies participated in this operation: Georgia Bureau of Investigation Regional Investigative Offices and Statewide Gang Task Force, Hartwell Police Department, Hart County Sheriff’s Office, Lavonia Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia State Patrol SWAT, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (North Georgia Multi Offenders Task Force), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia Department of Corrections, and Georgia National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.
The GBI says this is an ongoing investigation and more arrests are expected.
