Operation Vanilla Gorilla Nabs Former Resident

A former Jeff Davis County resident was among 43 individuals indicted on federal charges related to drug trafficking and firearms possession through six Georgia counties.
Meagan Cooke James, 35, of Savannah grew up in Hazlehurst and graduated from Jeff Davis High School. Calls to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Savannah to determine the charge(s) against James were not returned.
According to The Savannah Morning News, the 83-count federal grand jury indictment primarily includes charges of trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, as well as gun charges, said Bobby Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Members of the drug distribution group associated with the Ghost Face Gangsters, a violent white supremacist street gang which is mostly operated from inside prisons, Christine said.
According to the release, the narcotics-trafficking conspiracy began as early as 2015, operating in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Emmanuel, Evans, and Tattnall counties.
Christine said the Ghost Face Gangsters cooperated with other criminal street gangs to aid in the distribution of controlled substances and for protection.
The sweep was dubbed Operation Vanilla Gorilla.
“Vanilla Gorilla is a title that many of the Ghost Face Gangsters wear proudly. In fact, one of the lead defendants in this case has Vanilla Gorilla tattooed right on his chest,” Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gilluly Jr. said. “It’s a sign of pride to be a Ghost Face Gangster and to be included as a Vanilla Gorilla.”
The case was investigated as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, Savannah Police, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond Hill Police, Pooler Police, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and Bloomingdale Police, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
At a press conference last Monday, Christine thanked the officers of assisting agencies for their hard work. Christine said the charges brought on by Operation Vanilla Gorilla were an example of him keeping his promise.
“When I was sworn in as the United States Attorney, I pledged that we would make neighborhoods safer and work hard to dismantle criminal street gangs,” Christine said “As this indictment demonstrates, we will coordinate with federal, state and local law enforcement to identify criminal organizations. We will target them, and we will dismantle them.”
Charges for the arrests included 25 counts alleging the possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and 18 counts alleging the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, 10 counts alleging the possession of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and prescription pills and two counts alleging the possession of counterfeit currency.
Gun-related charges included 25 counts of possession of firearms and ammunition by prohibited persons. A sawed-off rifle was seized as well as gun with the serial number destroyed.
In total, 23 firearms were seized during the operation.
“The 43 defendants in this case have been arrested a total of 561 times,” Christine said. “Four of these defendants have more than 10 felony convictions each. But now, all 43 defendants are facing potential sentences of up to life in prison, and in federal prison, there is no parole.”
Christine said there are currently over 2,000 members of the Ghost Face Gangsters in Georgia’s prison system.
Savannah’s Director of Police Roy Minter thanked the involved law enforcement agencies for their assistance.
“Each one of these indictments represents one or several crime victims, so we sincerely hope that this has brought some resolution to these victims, and will prevent them from becoming victims again,” Minter said. “And so, on behalf of the men and women of the Savannah Police Department, I thank our state, local and federal partners for all their assistance and hard work in bringing this investigation to a conclusion.”
Of the 43 defendants charged, 41 are now in custody awaiting further court proceedings.
“We will continue to take the fight to those who wrongfully believe that they can willfully disrupt our communities without consequence,” Christine said.