SPARKS, GA – A sweeping federal indictment has cracked down on a suspected drug trafficking operation in Sparks, Georgia, bringing charges against eleven individuals and a laundry list of offenses. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced today that a grand jury returned a multiple-count indictment targeting a network allegedly dealing crack cocaine and illegally possessing firearms.
Leading the list of defendants are Gregory Paige, also known as “Rudy,” aged 31, Dequaveous Lane, also known as “Quay,” aged 27, and Kevin K. Deberry, also known as “Bear,” aged 29. They, along with John W. Wilcox, also known as “John Boy,” aged 40, Marion F. Deberry, also known as “Funk,” aged 37, Tony A. Crumpton, also known as “TC,” aged 44, William Deberry, aged 54, Anthony Deberry, also known as “Flea,” aged 43, Dan Wiseman, also known as “DD,” aged 27, Shalinda Wilcox, aged 38, and Vernardo Henley, also known as “Sack,” aged 34, all of Sparks, Georgia, are accused of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. A conviction on this primary charge carries a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, or both.
The charges don’t stop there. John Wilcox and Shalinda Wilcox face two additional charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, while Dan Wiseman faces one. These carry a sentence of 5 to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Investigators piled on even more accusations: John Wilcox is facing seven additional charges for possession with intent to distribute, Gregory Paige faces three, William DeBerry faces two, Dequaveous Lane faces three, Dan Wiseman faces three, Anthony DeBerry faces three, Tony Crumpton faces one, Shalinda Wilcox faces one, Kevin DeBerry faces one, and Vernardo Henley faces two. Each of these brings a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
The indictment also alleges further criminal activity. Kevin DeBerry, Vernardo Henley, John Wilcox, Shalinda Wilcox, Dequaveous Lane and Gregory Paige are all charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises, a charge that could land them up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Anthony DeBerry faces a particularly harsh potential penalty: a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutively, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Marion DeBerry and Dan Wiseman are facing two additional charges, while Anthony DeBerry, William Deberry, and Vernardo Henley face one, all related to being convicted felons in possession of firearms—each carrying a sentence of up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine.
Dequaveous Lane is facing a barrage of gun-related charges – three counts of possession of a firearm by a person under indictment, and one charge of possession of an unregistered firearm. The former carries a 10-year sentence and a $250,000 fine, while the latter could bring another 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. ATF Special Agent in Charge Carl Walker hailed the operation as a prime example of inter-agency cooperation, stating, “Today’s enforcement action serves as a text-book example of the impact that can be achieved when we blend our investigative resources… as we continue to aggressively address violent crime.” He acknowledged, however, that “much work” remains to be done.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sparks Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert McCullers is leading the prosecution. The indictments are allegations at this stage, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey at the United States Attorney’s Office, (478) 621-2603.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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