SAVANNAH, GA – Roy Mobley, aka “Grind,” 37, of Savannah, Georgia, is headed to federal prison. Senior United States District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr. slapped Mobley with a 33-month sentence today, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was the last of 22 defendants brought down in a joint federal and state operation aimed at choking out violent crime and gang activity in Savannah’s Cann Park neighborhood.
Cann Park, a small neighborhood nestled near downtown Savannah and historic Beach High School, had become a hotbed for illicit activity. In 2015 and 2016, a handful of gang-affiliated individuals brazenly trafficked drugs and firearms, seeding fear and violence throughout the community. The ATF and the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD) launched a six-month undercover investigation, identifying and targeting those responsible. Every single criminal charge in the federal indictments originated within the confines of Cann Park.
The investigation revealed deep roots in local gangs – the Cann Park Goons and the Fast Lane Gang, both self-proclaimed criminal enterprises operating with impunity. Agents seized a staggering 17 firearms and significant quantities of heroin, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and MDMA. The operation wasn’t just about numbers, though. It was about restoring a semblance of peace to a neighborhood held hostage by fear.
And the results speak for themselves. Violent crime in Cann Park has plummeted since the arrests began in March 2016. A dramatic 40% drop in overall violent crime, a 75% decrease in aggravated assaults with a gun, and a 50% reduction in “shots fired” calls paint a clear picture: removing these predators makes a difference. (CORRECTION: In earlier reports, sentences for Defendants Grant and Benton were incorrect. Jesse Benton pled guilty to drug conspiracy and received 5 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release; Mario Grant pled guilty to use of a communication facility and was sentenced to 27 months in prison and 1 year of supervised release.)
Acting U.S. Attorney Jim Durham put it bluntly: “A small number of people are committing most of the violent crimes in Savannah. The Cann Park Operation is just one example of how we can work together to remove from our neighborhoods those trafficking in drugs, guns and fear. The U. S. Attorney’s Office and our federal partners will continue to partner with SCMPD and the DA’s Office as we take back our great city.” Tim Graden, ATF Resident Agent in Charge, Savannah Field Office, added, “To a citizen who lives in fear, the worst gang in America is one committing crimes in their neighborhood…When agencies work together to proactively prosecute these criminals, we make neighborhoods a safer place.”
Here’s a rundown of other Savannah residents convicted as part of the Cann Park Operation: Marquiel Bell, aka “Quelly,” aka “Julio,” 19, received 7 months in prison and 3 years supervised release for possession of a stolen firearm; Roemain R. Bennett, aka “Ratt,” 33, faces 208 months in prison and 5 years supervised release for drug and firearms offenses; Jesse Benton, 27, was sentenced to 5 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for drug conspiracy; Mario Grant, 33, received 27 months in prison and 1 year of supervised release for use of a communication facility; Benjamin Gordon, 43, is looking at 102 months in prison and 3 years supervised release for drug trafficking; Jamal Hilton, aka “Jamel Hilton,” aka “Jamaal Hilton,” aka “Mel,” aka “Tommy Henderson II,” 31, got 5 months in prison and 3 years supervised release for drug trafficking; Jeremy James, 34, was sentenced to 77 months in prison and 3 years supervised release for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon; and Kristopher Kemp, 30, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a dr
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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