From Texas to Georgia: Multi-agency Gang Investigation in DeKalb County Leads to 20 Arrests for Armed Robbery and Drug-Related Charges

A multi-agency gang investigation has led to the arrests of 20 criminal street gang (CSG) members and associates on multiple charges. The GBI’s Gang Task Force, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Cedar Park Police Department (TX), and the Texas Department of Public Safety, along with contributions from the U.S. Marshal’s Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force and the ATF, partnered in this significant investigation where charges included Violations of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Armed Robbery, weapons offenses, and drug trafficking.

The following people were arrested:

1. Brandon Lovett Thomas, age 31, of Brookhaven, Georgia, charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Robbery and 1 count of Engaging in Organized Crime on Cedar Park, TX warrants.

2. Jakai Tyere Lewis, age 18, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Robbery and 1 count of Engaging in Organized Crime on Cedar Park, TX warrants.  He is charged in Georgia with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

3. John Ben Frazier, age 19, of Decatur, Georgia, charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Robbery and 1 count of Engaging in Organized Crime on Cedar Park, TX warrants.  He is charged in Georgia with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

4. Ashton Patrick George, age 17, of Decatur, Georgia, charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Robbery and 1 count of Engaging in Organized Crime on Cedar Park, TX warrants.  He is also charged, in Georgia, with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

5. Donovan Lamar Logan, age 20, of Lithonia, Georgia charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. (DeKalb County Jail).

6. Shadae Lasha Woods, age 18, of Decatur, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. (DeKalb County Jail).

7. Joshua Demarquis Thomas, age 18, of South Fulton, charged with Possession of a sawed- off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine weapon, or silencer, Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

8. Amarion Jacoby Pitts, age 20, of Covington, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

9. Reniya Tatyana Armstead, age 23, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

10. Fratavic Travarious Goodwin, age 20, of Jonesboro, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

11. Caleb Nehemiah Dudley, age 19, of Lithonia, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

12. Calvary Jackson Ray, age 20, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

13. Tyrique Demarco Thomas, age 19, of Atlanta, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

14. Daniel Kenneth Solomon, age 23, of Ellenwood, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

15. Jammel Thomas Jones, age 19, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

16. Naseem Umar Triplett, age 20, of Buford, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

17. Jerry D. Johnson, age 25, of Lithonia, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

18. Nashan Levonta Hutton, age 24, of Lithonia, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

19. Cameron Anaya Byrd, age 23, of Lithonia, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

20. Darin Katharial Harris, age 19, of Lithonia, Georgia, charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances, Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

GBI

In March of 2024, Cedar Park P.D. (Texas) began an aggravated robbery investigation.  Detectives linked the crime to metro Atlanta suspected CSG members and partnered with the GBI Gang Task Force and the DeKalb County Police Department. Agents served search warrants and arrest warrants in the early morning hours of April 5, 2024, in Brookhaven and Lithonia, and found a cache of weapons, drugs, and money in the Lithonia home. The gang was using the home as a drug distribution hub and a launching pad for the gang’s violent crimes.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Additional charges are expected. The local (Georgia) prosecution will be handled by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.

The GBI Gang Task Force is a multi-agency unit that consists of the GBI, the Atlanta Police Department, the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision.