STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. — The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) partnered with federal, state and local agencies May 1-6 for a coordinated criminal interdiction effort across national forest lands in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The operation, called Operation Southern Forest Trident, was led by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement and Investigations division and focused on deterring and investigating criminal activity on federal forest property in Berkeley and Charleston counties in South Carolina, Stephens and Habersham counties in Georgia and Burke County in North Carolina.
From May 3-5, USFS law enforcement officers and special agents worked alongside SCSO deputies and investigators, Georgia State Patrol Post 7 troopers, Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force in Stephens County. Agencies conducted coordinated patrols and safety checkpoints on roads leading into and out of national forest lands.
According to authorities, the U.S. Forest Service issued 33 federal citations during the operation, ranging from traffic violations to possession of drug-related objects and illicit controlled substances. The Georgia DNR issued four warnings and six citations related to hunting and fishing violations. Georgia State Patrol issued 58 warnings and 36 traffic citations.
The Department of Homeland Security arrested 25 individuals in Stephens County for immigration violations. Authorities said 14 of those arrested had prior felony convictions, and one was identified as a confirmed cartel member.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office reported five felony drug arrests and three warrant services during the operation.
On May 3, Christian Villagomez, 29, of Clarkesville, was arrested during a traffic stop on an outstanding warrant for multiple fishing violations issued by Georgia DNR.
Later that day, Victor Pena, 42, of Cornelia, and Kristen Sloan, 33, of Maysville, were arrested during a traffic stop after deputies said they were found in possession of about 3.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe. Both were charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug-related objects.
On May 4, Mark Justice, 48, of Eastanollee, and Rebecca Wood, 30, of Toccoa, were arrested during a traffic stop after deputies reported finding about 2.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe and 4.2 grams of suspected marijuana. Both were federally cited by the U.S. Forest Service for marijuana possession. Wood was additionally charged with possession of methamphetamine, and Justice was taken into custody on an outstanding Stephens County warrant.
Also on May 4, Dakoda Ponder, 29, of Toccoa, was arrested during a traffic stop after deputies said he was found with about 2.1 grams of suspected cocaine and a suspected oxycodone pill. He was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. The Georgia State Patrol also charged him with driving under the influence.
On May 5, two individuals fled on foot from a traffic stop conducted by USFS officers on Highway 365 near Rock Road. SCSO, Georgia DNR and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search, deploying K-9 units including USFS K-9s, HCSO K-9 Bane and SCSO K-9 Taz.
One of the suspects, identified as Minton Carreto, 31, was captured later that evening on Highway 365 near Trestle Ridge Road. Authorities said he was wanted out of the metro Atlanta area and was illegally residing in the United States. The second suspect reportedly escaped and remains at large.
Stephens County Sheriff Rusty Fulbright said the operation highlights the importance of interagency cooperation in addressing crime in less-patrolled public lands.
“We are proud to work with our federal and state partners to curb the flow of illegal drugs and other crime in Stephens County,” Fulbright said. “Many of these areas aren’t frequently patrolled in most counties, and crime can go unnoticed. This behavior affects our families, as well as our social and physical environments. We want people to enjoy nature, but please do it responsibly.”
Fulbright thanked the U.S. Forest Service and all assisting agencies, calling the coordinated effort a step toward creating a safer community.
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