Yearlong investigation ends with cocaine bust in Georgia

Local Georgia authorities said Friday they seized more than 20 pounds of cocaine at a Columbia County, Georgia residence


Angus Jimmerson II, 29, of the 200 block of Hillwood Street in Martinez, Georgia and Gerald Travis Mance, 29, of Aiken, Georgia were held Friday at the Columbia County jail, Georgia Richmond County, Georgia Sheriff Ronald Strength said.

Georgia sheriff Strength said a yearlong undercover investigation involving his Georgia department, the Columbia, Georgia and Aiken, Georgia county sheriff's offices and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration led to the seizure of the cocaine, which has a street value of at least $500,000.

Georgia officials also found about $22,000, a 10 mm pistol and a .357-caliber handgun, Georgia sheriff Strength said.

Columbia County, Georgia Sheriff Clay Whittle said the raid at Mr. Jimmerson's home at 2:30 p.m. Thursday happened as smoothly as possible.

Richmond County, Georgia sheriff's Lt. Robert Partain said Mr. Jimmerson and Mr. Mance were dealing the drugs wholesale and said the cocaine might have come from Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia sheriff Whittle said the two would face federal drug trafficking charges and similar Georgia charges, which Assistant District Attorney Shauna Reeves said are punishable to a maximum of at least 40 years in prison.