Earlier Reported Arrest of Roger Neal Part of Multi-Agency Sting That Nets 7 Arrests

As previously reported by WNEG News, Roger Laquarius Neal, 34, of Toccoa, was arrested earlier this month by Habersham County Deputies  and booked into the Habersham County Jail on multiple drug and gang-related felony charges.

In the earlier WNEG article, multiple previous arrests of Neal were noted, with the majority of those also being for drug and gang-related crimes. In the following days, several charges were added to the original list of 10 felony charges, with the latest roster of charges including three counts violation of The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act, one count terroristic threats and acts, twelve counts violation of the Street Gang Terrorism Act, four counts of possession with intent to distribute, one simple assault charge and one obstruction of an officer charge. WNEG News was advised that the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office only handled the arrest warrants for Neal, and that the charges were levied from a Georgia Bureau of Investigation case. 

WNEG Requested further details on the case from the GBI, and yesterday, the case summary was released, stating that Neal’s arrest was part of a multi-agency gang investigation that resulted in the arrest of seven criminal street gang members and associates, including Neal.

According to the GBI press release, Agents in Georgia and North Carolina served search warrants and arrest warrants for Neal, along with Quillan Leshun Samuels, 25, of Gainesville, Andrew Nelson Dover, 47, of Habersham County, and Tyler Dallas Cagle, 33, Sarah Smathers, 31, Terry Ray Williams Jr., 20, Shelby Page Stephens, 63, all of Waynesville, NC,  on April 18, with many being arrested that day, and the rest arrested in the following days. 

The investigation began in October of 2023, when the GBI Gang Task Force initiated an investigation into a Habersham cell of criminal street gang members/associates of the Gangster Disciples, or GD, street gang.

According to the US Department of Justice, GD formed in 1974 as a 60-man operation and has matured into a centralized criminal organization with nearly 30,000 members in Chicago and has spread into at least 35 other States with several thousand more members and an estimated annual revenue in excess of $100 million from Chicagoland narcotics sales and street tax.

The GBI’s Gang Task Force, the GBI Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department, the Toccoa Police Department, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force partnered in this high-level investigation. 

This investigation is active and ongoing. Additional charges are expected. The local prosecution will be handled by the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. 

WNEG Radio will continue to monitor this story and provide updates as they become available. 

PER GBI:
Roger Laquerrius Neal, age 34, of Toccoa, GA, charged with Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and Possession of Schedule III Drug with Intent to Distribute. 

Tyler Dallas Cagle, age 33, of Waynesville, NC, charged with Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Possession of Schedule III Drug with Intent to Distribute, Simple Assault, and Terroristic Threats. 

Sarah Smathers, age 31, of Waynesville, NC, charged with Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and Possession of Schedule III Drug with Intent to Distribute. 

Terry Ray Williams Jr., age 20, of Waynesville, NC, charged with Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and Possession of Schedule III Drug with Intent to Distribute.  

Shelby Page Stephens, age 63, of Waynesville, NC, charged with Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and Possession of Schedule III Drug with Intent to Distribute.  

Quillan Leshun Samuels, age 25, of Gainesville, GA, charged with Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Terroristic Threats, and Possession of Schedule III Drug with Intent to Distribute. 

Andrew Nelson Dover, age 47, of Habersham County, GA, charged with Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and Possession of Schedule III drug with Intent to Distribute.