13 Indicted in Athens-Atlanta Drug Ring Takedown

A sprawling drug trafficking network stretching from Athens to metro Atlanta has been shattered by federal authorities, with 13 individuals indicted following an FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force probe. The operation culminated in coordinated raids on November 18 in Athens, unsealing charges against a crew accused of flooding neighborhoods with cocaine, heroin, meth, and firearms—fueling violence and addiction across northeast Georgia.

Among those charged: Reginald Battle, Sr., 46, of Statham, Georgia, faces one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Quintavious Clark, aka Tre Clark, 28, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and four counts of distribution of cocaine base and cocaine. TaMichael Darden, aka T-Mike, 40, of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, three counts of distribution of cocaine base, and one count of distribution of cocaine.

Mohamed Elnour, 33, of Atlanta, faces one count each of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Daquan Faust, aka Cocaine, 29, of Athens, is charged with illegal possession of a machine gun and possession of a stolen firearm. Marqueze Johnson, 25, of Athens, is charged with one count of distribution of cocaine base. Tevondous Kinney, 29, of Athens, faces one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and two counts of distribution of cocaine base.

Corey Mitchell, aka Murda, 37, of Athens, is charged with one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine. Hendrex Nicely, aka Hen, 32, of Athens, is charged with two counts of distribution of heroin. Danny Sims, aka Danny Boy, 57, of Hull, Georgia, is charged with one count each of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Miller Sutton, 64, of Winder, Georgia, faces one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Also charged: Darren Thrasher, 45, of Athens, with three counts of distribution of cocaine base; and Gregory Wade, Sr., 53, of Athens, with one count of distribution of crack cocaine and cocaine. Initial appearances were held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle on November 18. Detention hearings were continued until November 22 in Macon federal court.

The investigation, prosecuted under the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, has seized staggering totals: 60 firearms, $1,036,172 in cash, a land mine, 13.22 kilograms of powder cocaine (Street Value: $412,000), 1.32 kilograms of fentanyl (Street Value: $150,000), 12.57 lbs. of crystal methamphetamine (Street Value: $84,000), 1.39 kilos of crack cocaine (Street Value: $71,750), 25.35 lbs. of marijuana (Street Value: $62,500), 11.25 ounces of heroin (Street Value: $28,125), 198 dosages of controlled pharmaceuticals (Street Value: $2,970), 113 THC cartridges (Street Value: $2,260), and 81 packets of THC edibles (Street Value: $405). The case reflects a deep-rooted, violent criminal enterprise rooted in distribution, intimidation, and firepower.