Cocaine conspiracy suspects arrested in Tift County

TIFTON — Thirteen suspects were arrested earlier in the week on federal indictments for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, law enforcement officials say.

According to a release by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the warrants were issued for Maurice Carter, 34, Andrew Carter, 37, Lataris Waters, 25, Diamond Carter, 19, Sarah Carter, 59, Jose Martinez, 39, Jessica Tellez, 31, Kayla Carter, 26, all of Omega.

Warrants were also issued for Juan Sanchez Hildalgo, 46, James Waters, 51, Chris Waters, 47, and Keynatta Mitchell, 31, all of Tifton, and Pablo Cauves Sanchez, 53, of Dunwoody.

In addition, warrants are issued on James Waters and Chris Waters who are being sought by officers, officials say, with Andrew Carter, Jose Martinez, Juan Hildalgo, Pablo Sanchez and Todd Carter already in custody when the federal warrants were issued.

Officials say additional arrests and charges are expected.

According to the release, the 15-count indictment is a result of a lengthy criminal investigation initiated by the GBI, Sylvester office, the Macon office of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Mid-South Narcotics Task Force.

The release states that the eight-month investigation resulted in the execution of eight search warrants in Tift, Cook and Colquitt Counties, which resulted in the seizure of three kilograms of cocaine, the recovery of ten firearms and $300,000 in cash, as well as seizure documents being filed on four properties in Cook and Tift counties.

Officials say the investigation was conducted in cooperation with several state and federal agencies as well as well as with the Tift, Colquitt, Cook and Crisp County Sheriff’s Offices.