Latest news with #Harralson
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
'Enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions', Atlanta man indicted on drug, firearms charges
ATLANTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The FBI indicted an Atlanta man after massive amounts of guns and drugs were found at his Georgia homes. Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, was charged Tuesday by a federal grand jury. Charges include: Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin,and Marijuana Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harralson allegedly possessed 28 firearms, including a machine gun, and hundreds of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs, the authorities said. 'This armed felon allegedly ran a massive fentanyl pill pressing operation in our community, producing enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions of people,' said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. 'Due to the quick action and seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Harralson now faces federal drug and firearms charges, his operation has been dismantled, and countless lives have almost certainly been saved.' According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On June 5th, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the suspect's Atlanta area home. Once inside, law enforcement reportedly located over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and approximately four kilograms of cocaine – all in the form of powders and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. Law enforcement allegedly located nine firearms, including one converted to function as a machine gun, $145,000 in cash, and a book titled 'How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges.' Harralson was arrested at the scene. Later that same day, law enforcement executed another federal search warrant at Harralson's Douglasville home. In that residence, law enforcement found: 2 large pill press machines capable of pressing up to 25,000 pills per hour 3 hydraulic presses used to form kilogram-sized bricks of narcotics more than 37 kilograms of fentanyl approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine just over 8 kilograms of heroin more than 6 kilograms of cocaine In addition, in a machine shop located behind the Douglasville residence, law enforcement found approximately 1,375 pounds of binding agent used to press pills, 564 punch dies to mark the pills, 19 firearms, four drum-style magazines, and a significant amount of ammunition. The FBI wants to remind the public that Bartholomew Keeton Harralson is presumed innocent until proven 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Feds release footage of largest fentanyl bust in state history
The suspect in the largest fentanyl operation bust in Georgia history showed no emotion Wednesday as he entered the courtroom with shackles. Doorbell cameras captured tense moments as local and federal law enforcement agents descended on the home of suspected drug trafficker Bartholomew Harralson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It all went down Thursday just before sunrise in a quiet South Fulton subdivision. Investigators say Harralson, a convicted felon with a violent criminal history, was running a massive drug trafficking operation. Authorities say they seized more than $9 million in drugs, guns and cash from three different properties belonging to the suspect. On Wednesday, authorities said they also arrested Omari Thwaites, a convicted felon who was found with guns and drugs at Harralson's Hall County property. At Harralson's South Fulton home, some of his neighbors described him as quiet and friendly. But investigators say he made his poison at a third home. The DEA says he was in possession of enough fentanyl to kill every resident in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. His neighbors say they're stunned but thankful he's now behind bars. 'It makes it a better place to know there's not a dealer living right up the street from me,' said Jerry Adams, a neighbor. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Over 200 kilograms of drugs, 28 weapons found in major FBI Atlanta operation
ATLANTA () — An Atlanta man was charged with several drug and weapons related crimes after an FBI drug bust uncovers an 'enormous' fentanyl pill pressing lab and weapons stash. Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, was charged on Tuesday by a federal grand jury with the following: Possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harralson allegedly possessed 28 firearms, including a machine gun, and hundreds of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs. 'This armed felon allegedly ran a massive fentanyl pill pressing operation in our community, producing enough deadly fentanyl to potentially kill millions of people,' said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. 'Due to the quick action and seamless collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Harralson now faces federal drug and firearms charges, his operation has been dismantled, and countless lives have almost certainly been saved.' According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, on June 5, 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Harralson's Atlanta-area residence. Once inside, law enforcement located over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and approximately four kilograms of cocaine – all in the form of powders and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. Law enforcement also located nine firearms, including one converted to function as a machine gun, $145,000 in cash, and a book titled 'How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges.' Harralson was arrested at the scene. Later that same day, law enforcement executed another federal search warrant at Harralson's Douglasville residence. There, law enforcement found two large pill press machines capable of pressing up to 25,000 pills per hour, three hydraulic presses used to form kilogram-sized bricks of narcotics, more than 37 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, just over eight kilograms of heroin, and more than six kilograms of cocaine. These drugs, like those recovered during the search of Harralson's other residence, were in the form of powder and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. In addition, in a machine shop located behind the Douglasville residence, law enforcement found approximately 1,375 pounds of binding agent used to press pills, 564 punch dies to mark the pills, 19 firearms, four drum-style magazines, and a significant amount of ammunition. This case is part of Operation Take Back America and is being investigated by the FBI, DEA , and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the South Fulton Police Department and Douglasville Police Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
FBI director Kash Patel hails record drug bust; drugs seized could have killed nearly 50 million
FBI director Kash Patel praised his agents as well as those from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for taking down a major drug operation in Atlanta, resulting in the removal of 33 firearms and over 252 kilograms of drugs valued at over $9 million, from the streets. The FBI, alongside the DEA and state and local authorities executed three search warrants last Thursday, resulting in the arrest of 47-year-old Bartholomew Keeton Harralson. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Harralson with three drug trafficking and weapon possession crimes related to the drug trafficking operation. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said Harralson is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, he faces at least 40 years in prison and the possibility of life behind bars. Bondi Announces One Of Largest Fentanyl Seizures In Us History "I'm proud of the outstanding work by our agents and grateful for the strong partnership of the DEA in this joint effort," Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This was a major takedown – dozens of weapons, large quantities of fentanyl and meth, and key members of a sophisticated drug network taken off the streets. Together, we've dealt a serious blow to those profiting off addiction and reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to protecting American communities." Read On The Fox News App FBI Special Agent In Charge Paul Brown said the FBI and DEA executed search warrants at three locations – one in Atlanta, one in South Fulton, and another in Douglas County. On June 5, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Harralson's Atlanta-area residence, and once inside, they located over 56 kilograms of fentanyl, 84 kilograms of methamphetamine, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, and about four kilograms of cocaine, all in the form of powders and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. North Carolina Couple Nabbed After Deputies Find Enough Fentanyl To 'Potentially Kill 13,000 People': Police Law enforcement also found nine firearms at the residence, including one that was converted to operate as a machine gun, $145,000 in cash, and a book titled, "How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy & Firearms Charges." The Department of Justice said Harralson was arrested at the scene. A second search warrant was executed at Harralson's Douglasville residence, where law enforcement allegedly found two large pill press machines capable of pressing up to 25,000 pills per hour, and three hydraulic presses used to form kilogram-sized bricks of narcotics. The search also resulted in the discovery of over 37 kilograms of fentanyl, about 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, over eight kilograms of heroin and more than six kilograms of cocaine. Bondi, Patel Announce Seizure Of Over $509M In Cocaine Linked To Cartels The drugs, the DOJ alleged, were in the form of powder and hundreds of thousands of pressed pills. Additionally, law enforcement searched a machine shop behind Harralson's Douglasville residence and allegedly found about 1,375 pounds of binding agent used to press pills, 564 punch dies to mark the pills, 19 firearms, four drum-style magazines and a significant amount of ammunition. Brown told reporters that two ballistic style vests were allegedly found in one of the residences "Right now, we have an American dying every seven minutes from drug overdoses, and homicides occur twice each hour," Brown said. "Our new FBI director, Kash Patel, has given our workforce a simple mandate, crush violent crime, and this is a big step toward that end in metro Atlanta. This major operation is shut down, and it's just one example of the work the FBI and DEA agents continue to do each and every day." DEA Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung told reporters the operation resulted in the largest fentanyl seizure to date in the state of Georgia. The 97 kilograms of fentanyl that was seized has the potential to kill about 48 million Americans, Chung said "The DEA and our partners are working hard day in and day out to protect their communities from the dangers and violence associated with drug trafficking," he said. "DEA's priorities are to save American lives and to keep our communities safe. We will continue to leverage every partnership, every resource available to ensure the drug dealers who distribute poison, like fentanyl and other illicit drugs through our communities are brought to justice." The FBI and DEA conducted the take-down as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that streamlines efforts and resources within the Department of Homeland Security to not just crack down on illegal immigration but also achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the "perpetrators of violent crimes." Chung told reporters the large quantities of drugs discovered in the bust showed they were being provided by cartels in article source: FBI director Kash Patel hails record drug bust; drugs seized could have killed nearly 50 million
