Thread: Ga. officials: More than $1.6M seized in drug raid

Ga. officials: More than $1.6M seized in drug raid

By The Associated Press
Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 9:18 a.m.

ATLANTA— The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says a multi-agency squad has seized more than $1.6 million in a joint narcotics investigation that spanned the country.

The bureau tells WSB-TV in a story Saturday that agents arrested 12 suspects in Georgia and Louisiana in connection with the trafficking of marijuana.

Agents said they seized about 100 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $500,000, 10 vehicles, about $1 million in real estate, 50 firearms, about $120,000 cash, and about $20,000 in drug assets.

The arrests were made on Feb. 17. Agents determined that the marijuana was grown in Mendocino, Calif., and then transported to Douglasville through New Orleans.

They said mid-level dealers then distributed the marijuana into Atlanta and the surrounding areas.

More arrests and seizures are anticipated in the investigation.
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Information from: WSB-TV, http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... drug-raid/

Atlanta News 10:17 a.m. Saturday, February 27, 2010

$1.6 million in drugs, guns, property seized in multi-agency drug raid

By Kristi E. Swartz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Six Atlantans were arrested and more than $1.6 million in drugs, guns and property were seized as part of a multi-agency narcotics investigation that ran from California to Georgia.

Investigating agents tracked nationwide drug trail that started with "very high grade" marijuana being grown in Mendocino, Calif., and then transported to New Orleans and eventually reaching Douglasville, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Once the marijuana reached Douglasville, dealers distributed it to Atlanta and other areas, the GBI said.

Agents said they seized about 100 pounds of marijuana that has street value of about $500,000, the GBI said. They also seized 10 vehicles, about $1 million in real estate, 50 firearms, about $120,000 in cash and about $20,000 in drug assets, the agency said.

Investigators say more arrests and seizures are expected.

Agents have arrested: Lenard Cann, 41; Justin Cunningham, 22; Vaughn Russell, 36; Edward Smith, 32; Kent Smith, 43; Donye Willis, all of Atlanta.

They also have arrested:

Paul Cattoche, 56; Jerome Johnson, Jr., 36; Alex Middleton, 53; Renee Middleton, 48, all of Douglasville.

Also arrested was: Troy Roundtree, 42, of Woodstock; and Carolina Cattoche, of New Orleans.

All were charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana, except for Carolina Cattoche, who was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Jerome Johnson Jr. was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

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