Federal Indictments Issued in Trafficking Ring

Multiple suspects in a multi-million dollar drug trafficking ring authorities have said was based out of Stephens County now face federal indictments.

Wednesday, a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court in Gainesville returned two federal indictments against 16 criminal defendants who were arrested during last month’s round-up of individuals allegedly involved in the ring, which stretched through Georgia and South Carolina.

Listed in the first federal indictment are Horace Mayfield, Nathan Antonio Howard, Stephens Edwin Ivester, Quincey Jones, Leonardo Steeples, Thurston Chadwick Martin, Kevin Lesanne Stowers, Malissa Denice Holden, Marvin Junior Teasley, Joy Yvette Hunter, and Avero Lacondo Howard.

That indictment lists a total of 16 counts in all, but not every individual in the indictment is listed in every count.

A majority of the allegations in the first indictment surround the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Horace Mayfield, Stephens Edwin Ivester, and Thurston Chadwick Martin are also listed in the second federal indictment.

Also listed in the second federal indictment are Audreona Nyree Scott, Gustavo Melendez, Carlos Sanchez, Wilfredo Otero, and Mario Demitric Stowers.

That indictment lists 12 counts in all, but again, not every individual in the indictment is listed in every count.

A majority of the allegations in the second indictment surround the possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian said that he appreciates the efforts of U.S. Attorney John Horn and his assistants in the Northern District of Georgia for prosecuting these individuals included in these two federal indictments.

Christian said that as a former Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Criminal Division of the Middle District of Georgia, he personally understands and appreciates that the F.B.I. and the U.S. Attorney’s Office must carefully select the cases to which they devote their resources, adding that the community is indeed fortunate to have the assistance of the federal government in these cases.