The Lee County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of federal and local partners, conducted a seven-month-long operation that led to the arrests of 22 individuals with suspected associations with the Sex, Money, Murder (SMM) street gang.
Operation Gang Shield exposed the violent street gang’s activity. Investigators said SMM is a faction of the United Blood Nation.
“The gang is known for its hierarchical structure and involvement in violent crime, narcotics offenses and organized criminal conspiracies across multiple states,” the sheriff’s office stated. “In recent years, SMM has expanded its footprint into smaller communities throughout the southeastern United States.”
The suspects arrested as part of Operation Gang Shield are facing a collective total of 79 charges ranging from fraud to violent offenses and firearms-related offenses.
The following were taken into custody:
• Khalif Da’Quan Kellum, 26, Kellyton
Compelling Street Gang Membership
Identity Theft x3
Attempted Theft of Property 1st x2
Theft of Property 3rd• Damien Antwon Goodwin, 25, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x2 (Currently being held in the Chambers County Jail pending charges of Attempted Murder and Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle• Braylon Isayah Meadows, 18, Opelika
Robbery 1st
Use of a Firearm to Further Interest a Criminal Enterprise
Compelling Street Gang Membership• Armod Kiante Reynolds, 29, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership• Antonio Cordell Finley, 33, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership• Kentavious Armoni Thomas, 26, Opelika
Robbery 1st
Compelling Street Gang Membership x5
Probation Violation x2• Darrick Duran Hunter Jr, 24, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x5• Derrion Damon Malik Brock, 25, Lanett
Compelling Street Gang Membership• Ramil Emmanuel Saqaun Dickerson, 23, Phenix City
Compelling Street Gang Membership x4• Jawahski La’Ted Dickerson, 19, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x4• Un-named Juvenile, 17, Opelika
Robbery 1st• T’Harra Jarnevious Brunson, 21, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x4• Kejuan Jermichael Gopher, 19, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x5
Possession of Marijuana 2nd
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia• Petronius Javon Bailey, 18, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x2
Possession of Marijuana 2nd• Jayden Kamarious Buchannon, 24, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x2
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia• Jar’ki Recell Brooks, 24, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x4• Ty’Shawn Durrell Wright, 23, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x7• Devin Kyle Roberson, 20, Opelika
Robbery 1st
Compelling Street Gang Membership• Tamia Monae Sharnell Patrick, 27, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership• Radrekius Tykel Smith, 26, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x2• Damontae Martez Martin, 27, Opelika
Compelling Street Gang Membership x3• Jer’myah Caro’linda-Irulan Wood, 22, Auburn
Identity Theft x3
Attempted Theft of Property 1st
Theft of Property 3rd
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
Assisting agencies included Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshal Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Valley Police Department, Lanett Police Department, Tallapoosa County Drug Task Force, Dekalb County Gang Unit, Georgia Gang Investigators Association and Alabama Gang Investigators Association.
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