Cedar Park investigation leads to 20 gang arrests in Georgia

Cedar Park investigation leads to 20 arrests

An investigation into the armed robbery of a Cedar Park vape store has led to 20 gang arrests in Georgia.

CEDAR PARK, Texas - Twenty gang members in Georgia were arrested after an investigation that started in Cedar Park.

On March 14, Cedar Park police responded to an aggravated robbery call at Black Rock Vape.

The victim told police he had been attending an event in Austin when several men approached him and asked about buying "exotic flowers".

Guns and items seized from a home in Georgia where 20 gang members were arrested. (Cedar Park Police Department)

The victim explained he had agreed to take the men to his store. When they arrived, the victim reported the men pulled out guns and robbed him, taking his phone, money from the safe and register, and numerous vape products from the store.

An investigation tracked the suspects to a location in Georgia and revealed they were affiliated with a gang there.

"We quickly obtained surveillance video from inside the vape store. We learned through the clothing that they were wearing that they were actually in town for a South by Southwest event. We were able to look up different concerts on social media pages and find pictures of our suspects on social media," Sgt. Michele Langham with Cedar Park Police said.

Items seized from a home in Georgia where 20 gang members were arrested. (Cedar Park Police Department)

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On April 5, Cedar Park detectives, alongside Georgia law enforcement officials, served search and arrest warrants on a home on Cleethropes Drive in Lithonia, Georgia. CPPD says that the gang had been using the home as a drug distribution hub and a launching pad for violent crimes.

The DeKalb County Police Department says that law enforcement seized 20 firearms, eight of which were classified as machine guns, with six illegal mechanical switches. Approximately 60 pounds of mushrooms, 70 grams of mushroom gummies, 212 grams of marijuana gummies, three pounds of marijuana, two bottles of promethazine, eight Xanax pills and one oxycodone pill were also seized.

20 gang members and associates were arrested. Four of the suspects were also wanted for the murder of 27-year-old Nicholas Grierson who had been killed at a nearby gas station just a few hours before the arrests.

The four facing Cedar Park charges have been identified as:

Ashton George

Ashton George (Cedar Park Police Department)

17-year-old Ashton George of Decatur, Georgia has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime in Cedar Park.

He is also facing the following charges in Georgia:

Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances
Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

Jakai Tyere Lewis

Jakai Lewis (Cedar Park Police Department)

18-year-old Jakai Tyere Lewis of Brookhaven, Georgia has been charged in Cedar Park with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime.

He is also facing the following charges in Georgia:

Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances
Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

John Ben Frazier

John Frazier (Cedar Park Police Department)

19-year-old John Ben Frazier of Decatur, Georgia has been charged in Cedar Park with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime.

He is also facing the following charges in Georgia:

Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
Unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances
Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

Brandon Lovett Thomas

Brandon Thomas (Cedar Park Police Department)

31-year-old Brandon Lovett Thomas has been charged in Cedar Park with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of engaging in organized crime.

Police say they are still working on tracking down one more Cedar Park suspect.

The other 16 people facing charges in Georgia are:

20-year-old Donovan Lamar Logan of Lithonia: charged with violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
18-year-old Shadae Lasha Woods of Decatur: charged with violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
18-year-old Joshua Demarquis Thomas of South Fulton: charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine weapon, or silencer; Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
20-year-old Amarion Jacoby Pitts of Covington: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
23-year-old Reniya Tatyana Armstead of Stone Mountain: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
20-year-old Fratavic Travarious Goodwin of Jonesboro: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
19-year-old Caleb Nehemiah Dudley of Lithonia: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
20-year-old Calvary Jackson Ray of Stone Mountain: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
19-year-old Tyrique Demarco Thomas of Atlanta: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
23-year-old Daniel Kenneth Solomon of Ellenwood: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
19-year-old Jammel Thomas Jones of Stone Mountain: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
20-year-old Naseem Umar Triplett of Buford: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
25-year-old Jerry D. Johnson of Lithonia: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
24-year-old Nashan Levonta Hutton of Lithonia: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
23-year-old Cameron Anaya Byrd of Lithonia: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
19-year-old Darin Katharial Harris of Lithonia: charged with Violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; unlawful manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of controlled substances; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony