Ten Charged in Alleged Peach County Armed Drug Trafficking Ring

MACON, Ga. - U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes today announced the unsealing of a 38-count federal indictment charging 10 Fort Valley, Georgia, men with alleged crimes associated with an armed drug trafficking ring resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Peach County Sheriff's Office.

The ATF, the United States Marshals Service, and Peach County deputies assisted in executing arrest warrants early this morning in Peach County, Georgia, and Miami, Florida, resulting in six arrests. As part of the ongoing investigation, law enforcement seized 68 firearms, two of which were equipped with switches that converted them into machine guns. The initial appearances for the defendants will occur at times determined by the Court.

The federal indictment in Case No. 5:26-CR-00029-MTT-CHW, filed on July 14 and unsealed on July 16, charges the following individuals, all of Fort Valley:

Kerry Ross, 52, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, six counts of distribution of cocaine base, seven counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of distribution of powder cocaine, and one count of use of a communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of a felony under the controlled substances act and faces life in prison.

Bruce Jolly, 37, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of cocaine base, and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine and faces life in prison.

Chris Jolly, 19, is charged with one count of illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces 20 years in prison.

Danny Hicks, 60, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and faces life in prison.

Paul Leslie, 38 , is charged with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and seven counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces 30 years in prison.

Darius Dassau, 37, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces 20 years in prison.

Taqwan McCrary, 32, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces 20 years in prison.

Dextric Harris, aka "Young Jefe" and "Jefe Sackright," 34, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces 20 years in prison.

Michael Joseph, 59, is charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces 20 years in prison.

Jamiei Leslie, 36, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and faces 20 years in prison.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired in an armed drug trafficking ring, distributing cocaine and methamphetamine in Middle Georgia. Sixty-eight firearms, including pistols, revolvers, rifles, and two machine guns, were seized as part of the ongoing investigation. Six defendants are in custody. Bruce Jolly, Chris Jolly, Kerry Ross, and Dextric Harris are at large. If you have information about their whereabouts, please contact the ATF or the Peach County Sheriff's Office at 478-825-8269; the USMS at 478-870-1017; or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

The collaborative effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

The ATF and the Peach County Sheriff's Office investigated this case in partnership with the USMS.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Lynes is prosecuting the case for the Government.

An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.