18 Gang Members, Violent Fugitives Nabbed in Macon Raid

Eighteen wanted gang members and violent parole and probation fugitives were hauled off the streets of Macon in a predawn blitz known as Operation Mayhem, a coordinated strike led by the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS) and backed by federal and local law enforcement. The arrests, executed in the early hours of Thursday, May 9, 2019, targeted individuals with outstanding warrants for Violation of Parole or Violation of Probation, many of whom were linked to active gang affiliations and prior violent offenses.

The sweep was the result of precise intelligence gathered by the DCS Criminal Intelligence Unit and the DCS Macon office, which pinpointed the last-known locations of high-risk absconders. Agencies involved included the United States Marshals Task Force, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the Macon Judicial Circuit. Additional local law enforcement units provided tactical support, underscoring the scale and urgency of the operation.

“This was a tremendously successful operation led by DCS and a great service to law-abiding Macon residents,” said United States Attorney Charles “Charlie” E. Peeler, Middle District of Georgia. “In the course of just a few hours, 18 dangerous individuals wanted for violating the law were brought into custody, making our community safer.” Peeler credited interagency collaboration as the driving force behind the operation’s swift execution.

James Bergman, Special Operations Unit Director for DCS, emphasized the ongoing threat posed by gang activity. “Stopping and dismantling gang activity is an important priority as we seek to protect our communities from violent offenders,” Bergman said. “An operation of this breadth requires collaboration across many agencies—it is impossible to do alone.” DCS officials stressed that targeting fugitive probationers and parolees with violent histories is central to reducing recidivism and street-level crime.

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis called the mission a clear signal to criminals and residents alike. “I am proud that Operation Mayhem was a very effective mission, capturing 18 offenders. This collaborative effort sends a message to our citizens and to the criminals that law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting our community are united and committed to making a difference,” Davis stated.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office involvement was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s flagship violent crime reduction program. PSN uses data-driven strategies to identify and target the most violent offenders while supporting reentry and prevention initiatives. For more information, contact Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, at (478) 621-2603, or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), at (478) 765-2362.

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