SAVANNAH, GA:  Eleven men and seven women have been charged as part of an undercover investigation targeting a multi-county drug distribution network.

The 20-count indictment charges the defendants with a wide-ranging conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and marijuana and with gun possession violations stemming from Operation Who’s Laughing Now, said Bobby L. Christine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“The scope of this operation and the number of defendants demonstrates why the Southern District of Georgia ranks No. 1 in the United States in the number of violent crime defendants charged per prosecutor,” Christine said. “Our office is committed to working with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in targeting and eradicating these criminal drug and firearms operations.”

According to court documents, the defendants were arrested during the operation conducted by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with other local law enforcement agencies in a 20-county area of eastern Georgia. In addition to quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana, investigators also seized 14 firearms – including two unregistered sawed-off shotguns – and a large amount of ammunition and magazines.

All 18 defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana. Additional charges in the indictment are:

Tina Hatterer, 39, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; four counts of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;

Deanna Parker, 35, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;

Robert Jennings, a/k/a “Tattoo,” 32, of Ludowici, Ga., charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and selling firearms without a license;

Bayleigh Laughing, 22, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;

Daniel Jeffers, a/k/a “Dirty,” 30, of Savannah, GA charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;

Michael Cronk, 28, and his brother Steven Cronk, 34, both of Savannah, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;

Toni R. Lowery, 36, of Midway, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;

Cassandra Ellis, 28, of Savannah, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Offense;

Jonathan Vollmer, a/k/a “Erik,” 43, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with selling firearms without a license; Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; and possession of a sawed-off shotgun;

Ashley Vollmer, 43, of Hinesville, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; and possession of a sawed-off shotgun;

James Blue, a/k/a “Fat Boy,” 30, of Hinesville; Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana.

Houstin Schlernitzauer, 23, of Richmond Hill, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute;

Zachary Carter, 34, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; and Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon;

Christina Moore, 33, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;

Tyler Aceto, 27, of Hinesville, charged with charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute;

Steven Teft, 30, of Hinesville, charged with Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; and,

Dejoun Thomas, a/k/a “Dae Dae,” 23 of Hinesville, charged with two counts of Possession of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.

 

The charges carry penalties upon conviction of up to life in prison.

“As prosecutors, we appreciate the hard, dangerous work of the law enforcement professionals who conduct these undercover operations,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We will honor their heroism by doing our duty, and bring justice to those who would pollute our neighborhoods with drugs and illegal weapons.”

Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, “Today we have removed dangerous criminals from the streets of south Georgia. These poly-drug traffickers will no longer be able to deliver deadly doses of poison in the community. This investigation was a success because of the great working relationship that DEA has with its federal, state, local counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

“This is another example of our law enforcement partners working together to rid our streets and communities of drugs and firearm-related violence,” said Lenwood S. Reeves, Resident Agent in Charge of the Savannah Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes stated, “This operation is the result of many long hours of work by the men and women of several law enforcement agencies, but I want to especially recognize the members of the Narcotics Unit of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.  Because of their dedication to this operation, our citizens can rest assured that their neighborhoods are safer now. I also want to express my appreciation for the assistance of the ATF and DEA during this long investigation. This type of case would be very difficult to prosecute without the cooperation of our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn Semales and Marcela Mateo.