AG Strange Announces 13 State Indictments in Major Joint Federal-State-Local Drug Investigation

NEWS RELEASE
Luther Strange
Alabama Attorney General www.ago.alabama.gov

For More Information
Contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 August 18, 2015

AG STRANGE ANNOUNCES 13 STATE INDICTMENTS  IN MAJOR JOINT FEDERAL-STATE-LOCAL INVESTIGATION

(MONTGOMERY)--Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrests today of 13 defendants who face state drug conspiracy charges in a major joint investigation by state, federal and local law enforcement. The investigation also netted additional defendants who face federal drug charges.

A group of agencies conducted an extensive five-month investigation into an alleged drug trafficking network in Montgomery.  Evidence was gathered through wiretaps and surveillance from February to June of 2015, resulting in state and federal indictments.

“I am pleased that this operation makes our community safer for the citizens of Montgomery,” said Attorney General Strange. “These defendants are alleged to have committed dangerous drug crimes that devastate our society. I would like to thank our fellow agencies for their invaluable assistance: the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Alabama Fusion Center, the Montgomery Police Department, the Prattville Police Department, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama. The indictments announced today are an excellent example of how teamwork from across the spectrum of law enforcement can make our community safer from the scourge of illegal drugs

Attorney General Strange’s Criminal Trials Division presented evidence to a Montgomery County grand jury resulting in indictments* on August 3 charging the following individuals with conspiring to violate Alabama’s Anti-Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act:

• Reginald Bernard James, also known as “Og,” 38;
• Richard Lashalazaar Gibson, also known as “Rock,”24;
• Samuel Darell Patterson, also known as “Mook,”37;
• Shaffer Larvel Wright, 39;
• Stacy Audrice Toney, 27;
• Tyrone Demond Foxall, 36;
• Vashun Lavon Traywick, also known as “Newtown Po Show,” “Po Show” or “Po,” 36;
• Harry Peoples, also known as “Mitt” or “Mitch,”64;
• Darron Lamar Wright, 33;
• Craig Edward Johnson, also known as “Pop,”36;
• Courtland Lenard Reeves, also known as “C,” 44;
• Antonio Lydell Lewis, also known as “Thrilla Man” or “Nino,” 31;
• and Wilbert Aaron Brooks, also known as “Sugar Lump” or  “Lump,”54.

Conspiracy to violate Alabama’s Anti-Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act is a class A felony, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years to life without parole and a fine of not less than $50,000 or more than $500,000.

Additionally, Latoya Ware of Montgomery was arrested today on a warrant* for three felonies relating to this case: violating the grand jury secrecy act (one count) and lying to an Attorney General’s Agent (two counts). 

No further information about the investigation or about the defendants’ alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.

For information about the federal indictments, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.

The agencies involved in this operation are the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation, the Alabama Fusion Center, the Montgomery Police Department, the Prattville Police Department, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District.  The operation was conducted under the federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, or HITDA, which is administered by the DEA. HIDTA is designed to foster cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in sharing information of illegal drug activity and coordinating enforcement of anti-drug laws.  

Attorney General Strange commended his Criminal Trials Division, noting in particular Assistant Attorney General John Kachelman, and Special Agents of his Investigations Division. He thanked all the agencies involved in this cooperative effort, including the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office which will assist with the state prosecutions. 

*An indictment or warrant  is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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