CLASSIC CITY NEWS

Robinson The United States Department of Justice has released the following: ATHENS, Ga. – A federal jury convicted two Georgia residents for their roles in an armed drug trafficking network linked to a cartel that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances throughout the Athens community, with the Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by FBI resulting in the seizure of more than two dozen firearms. Serda “This verdict holds these defenda

The United States Department of Justice today released the following: Two Georgians Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl from China Prison-Directed Organization Moved 2,610 Fentanyl Pills and 5,502 Grams of Synthetic Cannabinoid ATHENS, Ga. – A Georgia inmate and a co-conspirator were sentenced to federal prison today for trafficking fentanyl and a synthetic designer drug from China into the state resulting from a Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by FBI and the

The following has been released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation The GBI has arrested and charged four people in Gainesville, GA, and Commerce, GA, with Trafficking and Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine following a multi-agency operation in Jackson County and Hall County, GA. The operation targeted a drug trafficking organization (DTO) allegedly responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine throughout North Georgia. The following subjects wer

By Joe Johnson A police officer this week saved the life of a 75-year-old man who overdosed on drugs in a westside Athens hotel room. It happened on the morning of June 15th at Microtel Inn on Ultimate Drive, where Officer Tyler Vaughn found the victim lying on the bed, unresponsive and not breathing. After carefully moving the man to the floor the officer administered the Narcan opioid overdose reversal agent then saw that his chest began to rise. “I performed a few sternum

By Joe Johnson A 34-year-old woman died last weekend from apparently using the drug fentanyl. She was found unresponsive in the bathroom of her Highland Park Drive home Saturday morning and attempts by roommates to revive her with the opioid overdose reversal agent Narcan failed. The woman had reportedly been trying to overcome addiction and had relapsed in recent weeks. The roommates told police that she likely overdosed on fentanyl. At least 14 people are known to have die

By Joe Johnson George Anderson, 58, of Norwood Court, was arrested early in the morning of June 3rd because a woman who was driving hiim failed to dim her car’s bright lights for oncoming traffic. During a traffic stop on Barnett Shoals Road police searched the car because of a glass pipe with residue that was observed in the center console and Anderson having an arrest warrant for failing to appear in court. A bag allegedly belonging to Anderson was found to contain 174 gram

By Joe Johnson A 54-year-old Athens auto shop worker will spend the rest of his life in federal prison after using his employment as a front to distribute hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine across northeast Georgia, federal officials announced on Friday. James Len Ramey of Comer received two concurrent life sentences in federal prison Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Tilman E. "Tripp" Self III presi

Released by the United States Department of Justice MACON, Ga. – The man who distributed hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine from the Rapid Lube in Athens where he worked, covertly stashing boxes in the shop, was sentenced to life in prison today as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation into a cross-border drug ring moving thousands of kilograms of drugs from Mexico in boxes of jalapeños to a conversion lab in Monroe, Georgia. James Len Ramey, 54, of Comer

By Joe Johnson Izalee Tasha Cooper, 32, of Vine Street, has been sentenced to five years in prison for a car crash last year in which her teenage niece was seriously injured. She pleaded guilty in Superior Court last week to driving under the influence of a controlled substance and causing serious injury with a motor vehicle . Judge H. Patrick Haggard gave Cooper a total sentence of 15 years, with the first five to be served in prison and the balance on probation, The crash o

By Joe Johnson Will Crawford Dean, 68, of Westchester Drive, was sentenced to prison this week after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine. He had been arrested in April 2025 during an investigation by the Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force In which a search of his home yielded in excess of 227 grams of prepackaged powder and crack cocaine, oxycodone, and 74 grams of marijuana in designer packaging, according to court records. Dean was subsequently indicted by a gra

By Joe Johnson A former nurse has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from her alleged theft of drugs from the infirmary at the county jail in Athens. Jasmine Turquoise Wheeler was arrested last year on multiple theft and drug possession charges that resulted from an investigation into several fentanyl related deaths of jailed inmates. At her arraignment in Superior Court this month Wheeler pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance and seven c

By Joe Johnson David was arrested last month after he stole hundreds of dollars worth of an herbal supplement on two different occasions from an tlanta Highway convenience store. Police charged the 55-year-old Athens man with theft by shoplifting for one of the incidents and robbery for the other because he physically pushed past the clerk to get to the supplement that was kept behind the counter. David was desperate to obtain the supplement that contains 7-hydroxymitragynine

By Joe Johnson Karla Attaway Allison, 44, of Boulevard, was arrested on the afternoon of April 26th when she was found to have drugs by police investigating a shoplifting complaint, Officers were responding to Half-Moon Outfitters on Prince Avenue on a report that Allison had stolen merchandise from the store. When the officers detained Allison on the sidewalk outside the store, they searched a her bag and found she had and a pair of sandals valued at $55, along with some met

By Joe Johnson Athens police recently saved the life of a teenager who tried to kill himself by intentionally overdosing on fentanyl. The 19-year-old male from Winder had checked into Howard Johnson on West Broad Street after expressing suicidal ideations on social media. Police were called at around 2:30 am on April 22nd after unsuccessful attempts by others to reach him by phone. When officers entered his room the teen was lying unconscious on the bed, with fentanyl and bu

Ask By Joe Johnson Tia Benson-Brown, 34, of East Broad Street, was arrested on April 20th following an argument with employees at Chipotle Mexican Grilll in downtown Athens. Police responded to the restaurant after an employee reported that Benson-Brown was making a scene by complaining about having been served the wrong order the day before. Management wanted to have her barred from the restaurant. Benson-Brown had already left the scene but was quickly located when police

By Joe Johnson Charley Onofre Valdes-Torres, 25, of Herbert Road, was arrested on the night of April 8th by police who were following up on complaints of drug activity at Hallmark Estates. An officer stopped the suspect’s car upon seeing it being driven without headlights in the trailer park off Spring Valley Road and during a search he found oxycodone and various other pills, along with multiple scales. Valdes-Torres was arrested on charges of possession with intent to dist

By Joe Johnson Crystal Jean Bloodworth, 38, of Jackson, Mississippi, was arrested last month after a high-speed police chase with a child in her car. The child was unrestrained while lying on a pile of clothing and Bloodworth was under the influence of drugs at the time, according to arrest warrants on file at Superior Court. Athens-Clarke County police said they are prevented by law from releasing the incident report because it involves a charge of first-degree cruelty to a

By Joe Johnson An Athens man has been found guilty of shooting his marijuana supplier and was sentenced to 25 years with the first 15 years to be served in prison. Following a trial in Superior Court, a jury last month convicted 52-year-old David Ray Wilhelm of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Judge Eric Norris sentenced him to 15 years in prison and 10 on probation. The crime occurred in January 2025 when Wilhelm shot 54-year-old

By Joe Johnson A man and his passenger were both arrested Wednesday night after a police officer stopped their car for failing to obey a stop sign on Nellie B Avenue. Charles Justin Walls and his passenger, Ronald Junior Malcom, were both found by the officer to be wanted on felony warrants. Walls was wanted for a burglary in Athens and Malcom had an outstanding felony probation violation warrant. Walls was additionally charged with possession of cocaine after he was searche

Childers-Queen By Joe Johnson Two homeless people were indicted this week in connection with the burglary of a home on Beverly Drive in which hundreds of dollars worth of property were stolen. One of the defendants is on probation for a devastating arson fire that destroyed a homeless camp a decade ago. Carole Rayeanne Childers-Queen, 56, and James Anthony Hill, 48, were each charged with first-degree burglary, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Tuesday.