Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018

News 12 First at Five, News 12 @ 6 o'clock / NBC 26 at 7

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Deans Bridge Road and Highway 25 is an area the Richmond County Sheriff's Office says the SMM gang is most active they are also responsible for much of the crime in South Augusta.

Back in June, a 15-year-old was shot and killed in that very area. The person charged with his death is one of the nine Sex Money Murder Gang members. But the Sheriff says this is how gangs operate.

"These are violent individuals all the way up to murder to cruelty to children to kidnapping these are not choir boys."

But since the arrest of the nine SMM gang members, neighbors say the area has been pretty quiet.

South Augusta is home for Kenneth Williams. He says in the past few months there's been less crime.

"It has slowed down, it has slowed down a lot, but there's still a lot of improvements that could be made in Augusta."

Williams also says more needs to be done. "The shootings have gone down Roundtree has made a presence but he can do better to, we as citizens can do better."

Williams says there's also been more of a police presence here, something Marlon Brisbon has noticed too.

"Right now, the cops pretty much-locking everybody up," Brisbon said.

Sheriff Roundtree said they're targeting all types of gang activity and also working to get the ones responsible for what he calls, smaller gang activity.

But Brisbon says there's more to come, which is why the Sheriff's Office isn't backing down. Williams wants to see more efforts to stop it but he says it's not all on the Sheriff's Office.

"Let's quit turning our heads if you see something say something," Williams said.

Not only does the Sheriff's Office says they will continue to track down gang members. Both the DA and the US Attorney's Office say they will be behind him to indict and prosecute the members.

The Sheriff says when it comes to putting gang members behind bars, your rank in the gang doesn't matter.

"Whatever level you are at in the gang, if we can tie you to that gang then you are culpable for everything that gang does."

All 9 people are facing charges connected to the gang, 6 of them are being held in the Richmond County Jail. Of those 6, 4 have a criminal history, 2 others are in Lincoln County Jail facing other federal charges and one of them is being held by the Department of Corrections.

News 12 at 11

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- The gang operates mainly in South Augusta under the name Sex Money Murder and Sheriff Roundtree is putting those gang members and others on notice.

This is the third big gang bust under Sheriff Roundtree's administration. He says since the nine arrests, they've already seen a big drop in violent crimes in South Augusta.

"We've had some positive success over the past few years by targeting gangs such as The Hilltop gang, and the L.O.E loyalty over everything gang," Sheriff Roundtree said.

Sheriff Roundtree is committed to taking down more street gangs and adding another one to the books.

A 10-month investigation leads to 9 arrests. Investigators say the men arrested are connected to the Sex Money Murder street gang in South Augusta. Some facing federal charges without the option of parole.

"This gives us an additional effective tool for removing violent criminals from our neighborhoods," said Tara Lynos, Assistant US Attorney for Southern District of Georgia.

The Sheriff's Office, FBI, US Attorney' sOffice and the DA's Office has been working together to stop the violence.

It started 2 years ago, L.O.E. beeing their first gang bust. DA Natalie Paine says they are using their federal partnership to make a statement.

"Build those case and Utilizing that statute to prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law," she said.

"Whatever level you're at in the gang, if we can tie you to that gang then you are culpable for everything that gang does," Sheriff Roundtree said.

This task force is highly committed to get rid of gangs in Augusta. DA Natalie Paine says they're getting good at this and they're just getting started.

Sheriff Roundtree is putting other gangs on notice, saying they are coming for them next.

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018

News 12 @ 6 o'clock/ NBC 26 at 7

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- 9 gang members are accused and facing multiple charges. The Sheriff’s Office says taking down members of the Sex Money Murder gang was a team effort.

This is the third big gang bust for Sheriff Roundtree along with DA Paine, they tell News 12 they are ready to take down more.

The Sheriff says the SMM gang started in New York. He stated national gans are now “infiltrating smaller neighborhoods and trying to consolidate certain gangs.”

The collaborative effort from the Sheriff’s Office, the DA’s Office the FBI and the US Attorney Office for the Southern District of Georgia is what played a part in taking down many gangs including the SMM gang.

Tara Lyons, Assistant US Attorney for Southern District of Georgia says they plan to continue these efforts, “He will be here to support his local law enforcement partners, he's here to clean up these neighborhoods, and make these families feel safe, he's reiterated that to all the Assistant US Attorneys in the Southern District of GA."

Both the Sheriff and the DA say these gang busts are just the beginning.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to work on their turnaround program, identifying people at risk of joining a gang. The program tries to assist people finding a job, getting an education and offering them mentors.

As gangs like this are becoming a problem across the state of Georgia the State Attorney General seeks to find a solution.

General Chris Carr recently stated he has plans to start a statewide gang unit, something the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is doing on a local level.

A survey shows there are more than 71 thousand active gang members in the state and almost every county has gang members living there.

Georgia DOE’s 2016-2017 school year totals show in more than 50 schools, Richmond County has 24 gang-related incidents and in about 30 schools, Columbia County had 3 gang-related incidents.

Attorney General Carr says for gangs, it usually boils down to money, but he says what is most concerning is how gangs are teaming up their resources to spread the violence and the drugs even further.

Law enforcement is pushing to tackle this harder.

2:30 p.m.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Several members of the "Sex, Money, Murder" (SMM) gang have been indicted or are awaiting indictment at the State and Federal level.

The indictments come as a result of an extensive investigation earlier this year.

Intelligence officers and other officials say SMM is a subset of the Bloods criminal street gang. This gang is allegedly responsible for a number of violations, federal charges, and violent incidents.

The investigation found that members of SMM, who also have connections to the SMM National Organization base in Atlanta, Georgia, have been indicted and arrested. They are as follows:

Anthony Jaquez Butler; 10 counts, Aggravated Assault, Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Crime, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (Firearm)

Christopher Cohen: aka "Ferrari Rollie"; 10 counts Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (Firearm), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Reizhjon V. Coleman; 10 counts Aggravated Assault; Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Crime.

Jamall Octavious Duke: aka 'Murda Mall"; 20 counts Murder, Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime.

Jonathan Edward Duke; 2 counts Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.

Johnny R. Franklin; 2 counts Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Phillip Edward Jackson: aka "Phil"; 2 counts Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.

Eric Leonard Wiley; 5 counts Aggravated Assault, Cruelty to Children in the First Degree, False Imprisonment, Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree.

Rashad Smith: aka "Sosa"; Possession of Firearm by 1st Offender; Possession of Marijuana, Possession of MDMA.

Additionally, Rashad Smith will be charged federally with Receipt of a Firearm while under Indictment. Christopher Cohen and Johnny Franklin will be charged federally with Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Sheriff Roundtree stated he and his team are committed to "disrupt and dismantle criminal gang organizations".

8:07 am

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Richmond County deputies along with the FBI, the District Attorney's Office, and the United States Attorney's Office will be holding a joint press conference Tuesday afternoon.

The indictments are for several members of the “Sex, Money, Murder” criminal street gang.

Deputies say this is all part of their initiatives to reduce violent crimes and gang activity in Richmond County.

The press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Richmond County Sheriff's Office administrative building.