Home / Crime and Justice / Atlanta Men Guilty in Major Gang & Drug Bust
Atlanta Men Guilty in Major Gang & Drug Bust
21 Sep
Summary
- Three men pleaded guilty to gang and drug charges.
- Operation Heatwave recovered firearms, significant drug quantities.
- Sentences range from probation to 35 years imprisonment.
Three men connected to the Rollin 60s Neighborhood Crips have entered guilty pleas for gang and drug offenses in Atlanta. Chiquille Bell, Marcus Thornton, and Contrellis Brooks were apprehended during the 2023 Operation Heatwave, a yearly initiative focused on combating gangs, drugs, and firearms in the city.
Authorities reported the seizure of eight firearms, hundreds of grams of Oxycodone and amphetamines, substantial amounts of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and Xanax. Bell, identified as the ringleader of the drug distribution, pleaded guilty to gang and drug possession charges. Thornton and Brooks also admitted to various gang, firearm, and drug charges.
Bell received a sentence of 25 years, with eight to be served in prison. Thornton was given 15 years of strict probation, while Brooks faces 35 years, with the initial seven years in prison followed by strict probation. The Attorney General emphasized that these actions make Atlanta safer.
In 2023, Operation Heatwave led to 96 arrests and the confiscation of 62 guns. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum affirmed the operation's role in intelligence-led policing and inter-agency coordination to reduce crime and violence.
