Seven individuals have been arrested and two more have warrants out for their arrest following an investigation by the Statesboro PD/Georgia Southern Impact Team.
The Statesboro Police Department said Saturday that the agency has received reports that cocaine was being distributed by patrons, and in one case staff, of bars located near Georgia Southern University’s campus since the beginning of 2021. The information specifically indicated that staff at Shenanigan’s Bar (1 University Plaza) were participating in these illegal sales. The report prompted a monthslong undercover investigation to determine if the information was correct.
The Impact Team, which is tasked with citywide drug enforcement and with conducting alcohol and bouncer compliance checks at licensed bars, successfully purchased cocaine as part of the undercover operation with multiple defendants identified as having sold the substance on multiple occasions.
From the press release from the Statesboro Police Department:
Most of the defendants were patrons of the various establishments, however the involvement of staff at Shenanigan’s allowed officers to develop probable cause for a search warrant at that location. On 8/20/21, that search warrant was served and Ian Liddy (30, S. Walnut St, Statesboro), Kyler Deason (22, Mistywood Dr, Waynesboro, Ga), and Elizabeth Nguyen (23, Greentree Ct., Statesboro) were taken into custody. Cocaine and firearms were recovered during the search in “staff access only” areas.
Impact Team members continued the search for the other defendants into the night, some of whom were arrested at other area bars with the cooperation of staff at those locations. Jaythan Hendrix (23, S. College St, Statesboro), Destiny Ngezem (22, White Dove Dr, McDonough), and Joseph Keith Bragg Jr. (29, Highway 80 W, Portal) were all taken into custody in this manner.
On 8/21/21, Impact officers arrested Reginal Calles (54, Westbrooke Dr, Statesboro) at his residence with the assistance of the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office. Officers were able to obtain a search warrant for that residence and found additional cocaine, firearms, and Schedule I substances inside the home.
Two defendants, Kim Hunter Jr (22, Sylvania) and Nicolas Sparacia (24, Statesboro) had not been apprehended and remain wanted. They are encouraged to surrender themselves immediately.
This operation is one of the many examples of efforts by SPD and Georgia Southern University’s Department of Public Safety to keep drug dealers from setting up shop near entertainment venues and preying on the students and residents patronizing those venues.
Anyone with information regarding drug activity is encouraged to contact the Impact Team at 912-764-9911 or submit an anonymous tip to tips@statesboroga.gov
Those arrested include:
- Joseph Keith Bragg Jr
- Charges: 4 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 4 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility, 1 count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Elizabeth Xuan Nguyen
- Charges: 1 count of Sale of Cocaine (Party to the Crime), 1 count of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
- Ian Gallagher Liddy
- Charges: 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine (Party to the Crime), 2 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
- Kyler Zane Deason
- Charges: 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine (Party to the Crime), 1 count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, 1 count of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
- Destiny Ngezem
- Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 1 count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
- Jathan Luther Hendrix
- Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
- Reginal Jose Calles
- Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility, 1 count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, 1 count of Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute, 1 count of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime
The individuals still sought are:
- Kim Maurice Hunter Jr
- Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communications Facility
- Nicolas Francesco Sparacia
- Charges: 1 count of Sale of Cocaine, 1 count of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
