Undercover drug probe lasted 13 months

Published 1:40 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Bobby Dean Dewberry, former director of the Milledegville campus of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice System, was among 13 suspects arrested last week on charges associated with a criminal enterprise in Baldwin County.

Some of the illegal drugs involved in the 13-month undercover investigation included fentanyl, powdered cocaine and marijuana.

The arrests of the 13 suspects, along with a 14th suspect who surrendered later to authorities, occurred May 21.

A 15th suspect remains at-large, according to Klay Kilcrease, special agent in-charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Middle Georgia Gang Task Force, which covers middle and south Georgia.

The 39-year-old Dewberry, whose residential address was listed as the 300 block of Kingsby Street, Milledgeville, was terminated from his state job about six months ago, according to a law enforcement source.

Additional information on Dewberry’s tenure with DJJ was not immediately available.

Dewberry and other 14 total suspects involved in the criminal enterprise case, was initially charged with one count of Violation of the Georgia (RICO) Racketeer, Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, Kilcrease told the newspaper.

The other suspects taken into custody during a roundup included: Joseph Lee Harrison, Cedeki Latredd Harris, Tom Burgess III, Akito Lajuan Brezial, Kadarius Tra-von Marquis Wilson, Cornelius Goodman, Eric Dixon, Dominique Cannie, De’Andre Derelle Morris, Altouise Migule Harris, Stacey Lynn Spires and Nikia Eitchie Pinkston.

Tony Alfonso Wright, surrendered to deputies at the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. The 15th suspect suspect, who remains at-large, was identified as Tyree Design Havior. 

Additional charges have since been filed against the suspects by a Baldwin County grand jury.

Kilcrease said the illegal transactions reportedly took place throughout parts of Milledgeville and Baldwin County during the undercover probe.

The investigation was spearheaded by special agents with the GBI Middle Georgia Gang Task Force with assistance from the Milledgeville Police Department, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Dublin Police Department, Warner Robins Police Department, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Community Supervision and Georgia State Patrol.

Kilcrease said the case was alarming because of the amount of fentanyl found and associated with the case.

“Any amount of fentanyl is very disturbing to us because it’s so deadly,” Kilcrease said. “It’s alarming for sure.”

The investigation resulted from street information learned by drug agents, he said. 

“That’s good stuff; that’s what we want and what we need to get these kinds of drugs off the streets,” Kilcrease said. 

The case against the defendants also involves criminal enterprise and conspiracy to commit felony acts.

“We worked hand-in-hand with Wright,” Kilcrease said, referring to Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney T. Wright Barksdale. “It was daily conversations with him. It was definitely a team effort.”

Kilcrease said he was extremely happy to get the drugs off the streets.

“I hope it affected lives positively,” he said. “Obviously, we don’t always get it all off the streets, but we continue to get as much as possible off the streets.”

He pointed out that such would not be possible without the help of local law enforcement agencies.

“We can’t do it alone,” Kilcrease said. ”We’ve got to have partnerships.”

Kilcrease said the undercover investigation began in April 2024 and culminated last week with the arrests and criminal indictments against the defendants.

Anyone with information related to area drug or gang activity is asked to call the GBI Middle Georgia Gang Task Force at 478-207-1301.