Federal gang bust brings 30 arrests across Georgia, including in Augusta

SAVANNAH, Ga. – An eight-count indictment was unsealed Thursday in the Southern District of Georgia charging 30 defendants – all alleged Sex Money Murder gang and associates.

Arrests were made in Hinesville, Savannah, Augusta and Atlanta. Officials also mentioned investigations across the country in seven other states.

Charges include racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and related firearm and drug trafficking crimes.

According to court documents and statements in court, gang and associates engaged in extreme violence to retaliate against fellow for perceived violations of gang rules.

For example, killed one member who wanted to leave the gang and attempted to kill another by repeatedly stabbing him for alleged homosexual activities while in jail, according to federal prosecutors.

Gang profited from trafficking large amounts of deadly drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, throughout the Savannah area, according to prosecutors.

They also made money participating in sophisticated fraud schemes targeting federal COVID relief and unemployment benefit programs that resulted in intended losses of over $850,000, according to prosecutors.

According to court documents, on February 24, 2020, Byron Hopkins and other gang intercepted a young victim a few hours after he stepped off his school bus. They drove him to a rural residential neighborhood where Hopkins shot him to death, according to prosecutors.

The victim had reportedly expressed a desire to leave the gang after accusing Hopkins of having sexual relations with a minor female who became pregnant.

To lure the victim, his, “big brother” in the gang – a person he trusted – sent him a text message claiming there was an important gang meeting he needed to attend, according to prosecutors.

Believing this, the victim willingly got into the vehicle, unaware he was being taken to the site of his execution, according to proscutors.

According to court documents and statements made in court, SMM is a subset of the Bloods gang. The SMM subset has spread from the Bronx and New York to areas across the East Coast, including Georgia, where it operates inside and outside prisons and jails.

The indictment alleges an extensive criminal enterprise in which , including inmates within the Georgia Department of Corrections, orchestrated numerous crimes, including murders, attempted murders, attempted robberies, drug trafficking within and outside prison facilities, and wire and bank fraud. Seven of the defendants allegedly committed or ordered the charged crimes from prison.

If convicted, the defendants face penalties including up to life in prison or death for the murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm in the commission of a murder; up to life in prison for the racketeering conspiracy and drug conspiracy; up to 30 years for the wire fraud conspiracy; and up to 20 years for the conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.

The indictment lists the following people who have been charged by a grand jury:

• Antwoine Allen
• Ryan Brandt
• Calvin Chege
• Antonia Clark
• Hakeem Curry
• Amir Douglas
• Latoya Edwards
• Brandon Gilbert
• Imani Gordon
• Hassan Harris
• Byron Hopkins
• Brian Horne
• Quinn Howard
• Anthony Jernigan
• Brandon Jones
• Leroy Jones
• Terrell King
• Robinson Lazala
• Alexander Locklear
• Kyle Oree
• Timeca Park Bishop
• Raven Symone Roberts
• Kieshaun Snead
• Calvin Stokes
• Rekora Thompson
• James Thorne
• Antwon Wade
• Travarius Walker
• Joseph Washington
• Michael Anthony Williams

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