LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WTVM) - A coordinated multi-agency investigation led by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has resulted in 22 arrests tied to a local cell of the street gang known as “Sex, Money, Murder” (SMM), officials announced at a press conference at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation known as Operation Gang Shield, included LCSO, the Mobile FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (Middle District of Alabama), the Lee County District Attorney’s Office, Auburn Police, Opelika Police, the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), the Tallapoosa Drug Task Force. Authorities say the probe uncovered links to murder, shootings, wire fraud and narcotics trafficking.
Officials say the 22 individuals arrested and are facing a total of 79 criminal charges. Authorities used Alabama’s 2023 Criminal Enterprise Prevention Act to pursue charges including compelling others to join a street gang.
Eight firearms have been recovered and investigators say some weapons are linked to crimes in other jurisdictions and states.
Most of the arrests were made in Lee County.
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One juvenile is among those charged, the remainder are adults in their 20s and 30s.
The names of the 22 arrested and their charges are as follows:
- Khalif Da’Quan Kellum, 26, Kellyton, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership
- Identity Theft x3
- Attempted Theft of Property 1st x2
- Theft of Property 3rd
- Damien Antwon Goodwin, 25, Opelika, AL
- 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, AL
- Robbery 1st
- Use of a Firearm to Further Interest a Criminal Enterprise
- Compelling Street Gang Membership
- Armod Kiante Reynolds, 29, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership
- Antonio Cordell Finley, 33, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership
- Kentavious Armoni Thomas, 26, Opelika, AL
- Robbery 1st
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x5
- Probation Violation x2
- Darrick Duran Hunter Jr, 24, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x5
- Derrion Damon Malik Brock, 25, Lanett, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership
- Ramil Emmanuel Saqaun Dickerson, 23, Phenix City, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x4
- Jawahski La’Ted Dickerson, 19, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x4
- Un-named Juvenile, 17, Opelika, AL
- Robbery 1st
- T’Harra Jarnevious Brunson, 21, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x4
- Kejuan Jermichael Gopher, 19, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x5
- Possession of Marijuana 2nd
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Petronius Javon Bailey, 18, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x2
- Possession of Marijuana 2nd
- Jayden Kamarious Buchannon, 24, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x2
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Jar’ki Recell Brooks, 24, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x4
- Ty’Shawn Durrell Wright, 23, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x7
- Devin Kyle Roberson, 20, Opelika, AL
- Robbery 1st
- Compelling Street Gang Membership
- Tamia Monae Sharnell Patrick, 27, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership
- Radrekius Tykel Smith, 26, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x2
- Damontae Martez Martin, 27, Opelika, AL
- Compelling Street Gang Membership x3
- Jer’myah Caro’linda-Irulan Wood, 22, Auburn, AL
- Identity Theft x3
- Attempted Theft of Property 1st
- Theft of Property 3rd
This investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are expected.
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