Athens man accused of trafficking Georgia guns to Chicago gangs

ATHENS, Ga. — An Athens man is accused of buying dozens of firearms in Georgia and trafficking them to Chicago street gangs. Federal investigators say some of those guns were later used in violent crimes, including a murder.

Indictments handed down

A federal grand jury indicted five people in a 23-count indictment unsealed June 23. Prosecutors allege the group operated a firearms trafficking ring between Athens and Chicago. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as part of the Homeland Security Task Force.

Those charged are:

• Anthony Edmond, also known as “Chapo” and “Chapo Barksdale,” of Athens;
• Rafael Enriquez, also known as “Ritchie Rich” and “Ralph,” of Chicago;
• Elijah Lucena, also known as “Eli” and “GMT Eli,” of Chicago;
• Keontice Reed, also known as “Manman” and “GMT Manman,” of Chicago; and
• Melvin Griffin, also known as “Memo600,” of Snellville and Chicago.

Edmond faces numerous firearms and drug charges, including trafficking, conspiracy,
illegally making and possessing machineguns, making false statements during firearm purchases, possessing firearms as a convicted felon, and transferring a firearm to a convicted felon. He is also accused of trafficking stolen motor vehicles and interstate travel in furtherance of firearms trafficking. He faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted.

Enriquez and Griffin are charged with similar crimes and also face up to life in prison if convicted. Reed faces up to 20 years. Lucena faces up to 10 years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

Alleged Peach State pipeline

According to the indictment, Edmond bought dozens of firearms from Georgia gun stores between March 2020 and November 2021. Prosecutors say he bought the guns for members and associates of Chicago street gangs. They allege he falsely claimed on federal firearms forms that he was the actual buyer.

Prosecutors say Edmond made multiple trips from Georgia to Illinois to deliver the weapons. They also allege Enriquez and Lucena traveled to Georgia to pick up firearms purchased for them by Edmond.

Investigators say 20 guns allegedly purchased by Edmond were recovered by police in Illinois, Indiana and Georgia between 2021 and 2026.

One Glock pistol was allegedly purchased at an Athens gun store on May 15, 2021. Prosecutors say it was later recovered from a juvenile gang member in Chicago. Forensic testing allegedly linked the gun to three shootings. Those included a June 20, 2021, homicide, a shooting aboard a Chicago Transit Authority bus that wounded a rival gang member, and another shooting that damaged three vehicles. According to prosecutors, the gun was used in the homicide just 36 days after it was purchased.

The indictment also alleges some of the pistols were converted into fully automatic weapons using illegal machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as Glock switches. Prosecutors say the defendants used coded language when discussing the firearms and referred to the conversion devices as “Nintendos.”

The ATF led the investigation with assistance from the Chicago Police Department, FBI Atlanta, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the Rockford Police Department and other federal, state and local agencies.