Operation Thunderbolt
89 Defendants Charged on Gun, Drug Trafficking or Related Offenses Following 9-Month Undercover Investigation
BRUNSWICK, GA — 34 federal indictments, today unsealed in federal court, have charged 57 defendants with federal firearm, drug trafficking or other federal offenses. 32 additional defendants were charged by Glynn County authorities on related state firearm and drug charges. The federal and state charges follow a 9-month undercover investigation dubbed Operation Thunderbolt.
The United States Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Glynn County Police Department and the Glynn County-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team (GBNET) initiated Operation Thunderbolt in the fall of 2009. Undercover ATF agents posed as members of the Brunswick community interested in purchasing guns and drugs from the criminal element. During the operation, undercover agents purchased 245 firearms, including handguns, rifles, assault rifles and sawed-off shotguns; and, approximately $200,000 worth of illegal drugs, including more than 3 pounds of cocaine, over 1,500 ecstasy pills, over 800 oxycodone pills and a quantity of methadone. Many of the individuals who sold firearms and drugs to the undercover agents are allegedly convicted felons. In addition, a number of the guns purchased by undercover agents were allegedly stolen.
United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, Protecting the public safety is the number one priority of the Department of Justice. Operation Thunderbolt was a bold effort to protect public safety by removing violent criminals who sell guns and drugs within our communities. This undercover operation serves as notice to the criminal element that if you traffic in firearms or drugs in this district, you will be found and you will be prosecuted.
