MACON, Georgia — A Fort Valley, Georgia resident involved in two different drug trafficking organizations and a multistate dog fighting operation based in central Georgia was sentenced today to more than 15 years in prison, the latest of 21 fellow suspects. Conspirators emerging from two investigations by the Organized Crime and Drug Control Task Force (OCDETF).
Armard Davis aka “Black Jack”, 43, of Fort Valley, Georgia, was sentenced to 190 months in prison followed by four years’ parole under the supervision of US District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III in Case #5 :21- CR-3 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute controlled substances and to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting enterprise. His sentence makes him responsible for his criminal behavior in both investigations. Davis and his co-conspirators are not eligible for parole.
“The combination of armed drug distribution and the cruel abuse of animals makes an already horrific situation worse; “The significant verdicts in this case convey the message that such behavior is undesirable in central Georgia,” said US Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The tremendous concerted effort of many law enforcement agencies helped bring these defendants to justice and shut down a dangerous criminal organization.”
“Dog fighting is a brutal crime that is often associated with drug trafficking organizations, as seen in this case,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Division of Environment and Natural Resources. “These crimes are devastating lives and placing a tremendous burden on communities.” We appreciate the concerted and extensive effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute this case.”
“These defendants posed a significant threat to the quality of life in our communities. Dismantling these criminal organizations makes our communities safer today,” said Robert J. Murphy, senior special agent in charge of the DEA’s Atlanta division.
“The barbaric practice of pitting animals against one another in a life-or-death struggle has no place in this country,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Davis of the US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General. “The outstanding work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners investigating this case, and U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors have made it possible to bring this individual from a large animal fighting company to justice.” USDA-OIG has animal fighting given a high priority to show that this inhuman animal cruelty will not be tolerated.”
investigations
According to court documents, law enforcement was investigating a criminal organization involved in distributing cocaine and methamphetamine and organizing dog fights based in Roberta, Georgia that spanned northern Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 to February 2020. In 2020, law enforcement issued 15 home search warrants and seized more than 150 dogs used in organized dogfighting.
Many of the rescued dogs had scars and visible injuries such as broken legs and open bleeding wounds, all resulting from dogfights. Officials confiscated scales, weighted collars, heavy chains, ground stakes, various pedigree charts and medical supplies used to treat injuries sustained from dog fighting. In addition, law enforcement seized firearms and illegal drugs as part of this extensive investigation. Overall, the criminal organizations are held accountable for distributing around 20 kilograms of cocaine and 179 grams of methamphetamine.
Ten co-conspirators convicted in Case 5:21-CR-3:
Lekey Davis, aka “Kee Boo”, 47, of Talbotton, Georgia, was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute it ;
Christopher Raines aka “Binky”, 52, of Talbotton, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal combat project and to possession conspiracy intended to distribute cocaine and cocaine base;
Jarvis Lockett aka “J-Rock”, 43, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting operation and distributing cocaine;
Derrick Owens, aka “Doomie”, 39, of Woodland, Georgia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal combat project and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent;
Jason Carter, 41, of Phoenix City, Alabama, was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute it;
Vernon Vegas, 51, of Suwanee, Georgia, was sentenced to a maximum of 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting project;
Shaquille Bentley, 29, of Roberta, Georgia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to using a communications device;
Shelley Johnson aka “Gold Mouth”, 41, of Macon, was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release and a $25,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting project;
Rodrick Walton aka “Rodrie Walton”, 43, of Shiloh, Georgia, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting project; And
Bryanna Holmes, 27, of Fort Valley, Georgia, was sentenced to a 36-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to using a communications device.
Eight co-conspirators also convicted in related case 5:21-CR-3:
Antoine Riley aka “Bear”, 46, of Warner Robins, was sentenced as a professional offender to 180 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, following the sentence served in a pending case in Taylor County, Georgia, Supreme Court, after pleading guilty to distributing cocaine base;
Brittany Smith, 30, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine to distribute it;
Antonio Raines, 39, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to distributing a cocaine base;
Emanuel Ivey, 37, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to 87 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to distributing a cocaine base;
Joseph Day, 50, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to distributing cocaine base;
Desmond Griffin, 30, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to distributing cocaine base;
Obie Wright, 68, of Warner Robins, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to distributing cocaine base; And
Latanya Williams, 41, of Warner Robins, has been given a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to making false statements.
Two other co-conspirators were convicted in other related cases 5:21-CR-39 and 5:21-CR-40 respectively:
Lee Anthony Benney, 56, of Reynolds, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting project; And
Reginald Crimes, 40, of Preston, Georgia, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting operation.
For more information on these cases, see: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/remaining-defendants-middle-georgia-armed-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced; https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/12th-defendant-sentenced-dog-fighting-drug-distribution-ring; and https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/doj-announces-arrests-middle-georgia-drug-conspiracy-and-dog-fighting-ring.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, dismantles and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a prosecutorial-led, intelligence-led, and multi-agency approach. For more information about the OCDETF program, visit https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The dog fighting and drug conspiracy case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the US Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the US Marshals Service (USMS), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Merriweather County Sheriff’s Office, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Byron Police Department and the Fort Valley Police Department. Assistant Chief Detective Will Keyes of the US Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia and lead trial attorney Banu Rangarajan of the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Division led the case.
The methamphetamine distribution case was investigated by the DEA, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the USMS, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Warner Robins Police Department. Assistant US Attorney Alex Kalim led the case.
