10 people plead guilty in massive drug trafficking case by Muscogee County Sheriff's Office
Editor's Note: The video above is part of WRBL's initial coverage of the announcement of Operation Sweet Silence.
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — Nine people arrested as part of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office's massive 'Operation Sweet Silence' drug bust have plead guilty to drug trafficking charges.
According to the United States Attorney's Office Middle District of Georgia, defendant Tommie Mullins, Jr. aka 'TJ' aka 'Bo' aka 'Mini,' 31, of Columbus, came before U.S. District Judge Clay Land and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. Mullins will serve 20 years as part of the plea agreement.
Nine co-defendant also pleaded guilty in the case.
Trenton Thomas aka Bubbles, 25, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 9 and faces a maximum of life imprisonment
Trenton Clemons, 48, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 9 and faces a maximum of life imprisonment
Adrian Palmer aka AP, 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 6 and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment
Darius Jenkins, 23, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on April 25 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment
Christopher Hill, 36, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of use of a communication facility to facilitate drug felony on April 25 and faces a maximum of four years imprisonment
Corey Turner aka 'Lito' aka 'Lito Red,' 33, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute on April 22 and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum of life imprisonment
Anthony Champion, 45, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine on April 22 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment
Javonta Paden, 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana on April 22 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment
Adrian Pleasants, 29, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana on April 22 and faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
Mullins and the co-defendants still have to face federal sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 7. There is no parole in the federal system.
These arrest represent a small portion of the total number of people taken into custody as part of 'Operation Sweet Silence.' According to the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office the multi-agency operation resulted in the arrest of more than 100 people.
According to the United States Attorney's Office Middle District of Georgia, 'Operation: Sweet Silence' is part of the larger 'Operation Take Back America.'
The United States Attorney's Office Middle District of Georgia calls '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 (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.'
WRBL's previous coverage of 'Operation Sweet Silence' here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
DC man sentenced for robbing woman, stealing car
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A D.C. man was sentenced Thursday for robbing a woman and later stealing her car, according to the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia. Donovan Adams, 31, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in April to charges of armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Uncertainty lingers over Dupont Circle's status ahead of WorldPride Parade According to court documents, on Sept. 27, 2024, a woman parked her car in the alleyway near the restaurant where she worked in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. As she got out of her car, she saw a black sedan nearby that proceeded to follow her down the alley before pulling up beside her. The USAO states that Adama got out of the car and pointed a gun at the woman before stealing her purse, cell phone, and car keys before getting back into his car and driving away. The woman then ran into her work and called the police. Meanwhile, Adams returned to the alleyway and drove off in the woman's car. Court documents state that, ten minutes later, the woman went back outside and noticed that her car had been stolen. Officers located Adams, who attempted to drive away from police in his black sedan, shortly after. Police searched his vehicle and seized a beige BB gun, the woman's car keys, and three credit cards belonging to the woman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Legal fees in city audit by Troutman Sanders cost Columbus taxpayers more than $450,000
COLUMBUS, GA. () — The Columbus city government has spent a lot of tax money to investigate claims of illegal activity and misconduct in the city's Finance Department. The legal fees paid to an Atlanta law firm to investigate the city's Finance Department cost taxpayers more than $450,000, according to information obtained by WRBL through Georgia's Open Records Act. The city has paid the money to Troutman Pepper since 2023. That is strictly funds for legal fees alone and not the cost of a forensic audit that accompanied the Troutman Pepper investigation, according to City Attorney Clifton Fay. It started in August 2023 when City Councilor JoAnne Cogle made a surprise motion at the end of a council meeting. The motion by the District 7 representative was specific, asking for a particular law firm. 'I would like to make a motion that we hire Troutman and Pepper to work alongside our internal auditor in a previously approved audit with the intention and goal of providing a detailed report of some of the concerns that have surfaced,' Cogle read. Hiring Troutman Pepper came on the heels of an internal city audit of the Finance Department. That audit suggested, without evidence, that 45 million dollars was missing from city coffers. That is a claim that has been repeated as recently as this week when Mayor Skip Henderson had to correct a citizen who regurgitated it at a public hearing Tuesday night. Troutman Pepper's detailed report found serious operational and organizational issues inside the Finance Department, but nothing rose to a criminal level.. Troutman Pepper partner Charles Peeler said when his work concluded, 'There is no evidence to support the claim that there is $45.1 million of revenue missing.' That wasn't the only investigation. The Muscogee County Sheriff's Office recently concluded a 16-month investigation that resulted in two misdemeanor arrests. Finance Director Angelica Alexander was charged with obstruction. Former Revenue Manager Yvonne Ivey was charged with two counts of simple battery. None of the charges were connnected to alleged financial misconduct. But according to one councilor, the investigations created a deeper divide between the mayor, city manager, and some city councilors. 'We brought in Troutman Pepper and Charlie Peeler to kind of protect the auditor,' District 5 Councilor Charmanine Crabb told WRBL in a May 20 interview. 'They weren't cooperating with her. They were kind of attacking her. And he was supposed to be working for council. And all of a sudden, this investigation comes into play, and he's working for Isaiah and the mayor.' In that Muscogee County Sheriff's Office investigation that Crabb referenced in an interview with WRBL last month, she called Peeler 'disloyal, lacking honor, integrity, and respect.' Peeler is a former U.S. attorney. The Troutman Pepper investigation cost taxpayers $456,221.40. Councilor Glenn Davis and Crabb contend that part of that money paid for investigative work requested by Mayor Skip Henderson and the city manager. The investigations into the Finance Department were one of the reasons given last week when the city council voted 7-3 to terminate City Manager Isaiah Hugley just seven months short of his retirement. Crabb made that motion to fire Hugley and pay him through the end of December. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man accused of American Legion shooting appears in court
COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL) — The man accused in a fatal shooting Monday in an American legion parking lot appeared in recorder's court Wednesday. Nathaniel Gordon Jr., 44, is charged with murder, possession of firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Gordon is accused of murdering Berry Benton ,37. Gordon appeared in front of chief recorders court Judge David Ranieri and pleaded not guilty to all chargers. Testimony was not heard as Gordon waived his preliminary hearing, but that did not stop the victim's father from speaking out. He says he wants the charges dropped. 'It could've have been the other way. My son could've killed him. My son go into a better place right now. I don't have any animosity about and when it comes time for the family to put money on the books I will be contributing too. I don't have anything against him.'Claude Benton, father of the victim.' Claude Benton, father of the victim Judge Ranieri bound the charges over to superior court and is being held without bond on all charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
