Kellyton man one of 22 arrested in Lee County investigation
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A Kellyton man was among 22 individuals arrested by Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigators as part of a seven-month multi-agency investigation.
Called Operation Gang Shield, the investigation specifically targeted criminal activity associated with a street gang known as “Sex, Money, Murder,” or SMM.
SMM is a faction of the United Blood Nation, originally founded in the late 1980s in New York City. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the gang is known “for its hierarchical structure and involvement in violent crime, narcotics offenses and organized criminal conspiracies across multiple states.”
Lee County also reported SMM has expanded its footprint into smaller communities throughout the southeast in recent years.
In May, investigators with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into SMM. Working with state and federal agencies, Lee County investigators worked to “identify key participants, disrupt criminal networks and restore safety to affected neighborhoods,” according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
In total, the 22 suspects arrested through Lee County’s Operation Gang Shield are collectively facing 79 criminal charges, including violations under the Alabama Criminal Enterprise Prevention Act, violent, firearms-related and narcotics-related charges.
Search warrants that were carried out as part of the operation led to the seizure of eight firearms, some of which have reportedly been connected to various shootings in Alabama, and other evidence of ongoing organized criminal activity.
The majority of those arrested were charged with compelling streetgang membership, outlined in Section 13A-6-26 of the Code of Alabama, with “streetgang” meaning “any combination, confederation, alliance, network, conspiracy, understanding, or other similar arrangement in law or in fact, of three or more persons that, through its membership or through the agency of any member, engages in a course or pattern of criminal activity.”
According to the Code, the charge of compelling streetgang membership means using force, threats, or criminal means to solicit or make someone join or remain in a streetgang.
Compelling streetgang membership is a Class C felony in Alabama. However, if the defendant is more than 18 years old and the one being compelled to join or stay in a gang is less than 18 years old, then it is a Class A felony.
On December 11, Lee County Sheriff’s Office reported that 26-year-old Khalif Da’Quan Kellum of Kellyton had been arrested and charged with compelling streetgang membership, three counts of identity theft, two counts of first-degree attempted theft of property, and one count of third-degree theft of property.
Unrelated to this recent investigation, Kellum has a history of criminal activity.
In 2019, at 20 years old and reportedly a resident of Opelika, Kellum was arrested by the Alexander City Police Department and charged with first-degree assault following the non-fatal shooting of an individual in the area of Hillabee and Coley streets. The shooting occurred after the two individuals got into an altercation at a residence in the area, and the victim was transported to Russell Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Also, in August of 2021, Kellum surrendered himself to the Auburn Police Department on warrants issued in connection to a shooting that fatally injured 19-year-old Ca’Darius Deshun Whatley. While not charged with the actual shooting, Kellum, still listed as an Opelika resident at the time, had warrants issued for his arrest on charges of first-degree hindering prosection and tampering with physical evidence.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also arrested the following 21 individuals, including a juvenile, as part of the recent seven-month multi-agency operation:
- Damien Antwon Goodwin, 25, Opelika: Charged with two counts of compelling streetgang membership (currently being held in the Chambers County Jail pending charges of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle).
- Braylon Isayah Meadows, 18, Opelika: Charged with first-degree robbery, use of a firearm to further interest a criminal enterprise and compelling streetgang membership.
- Armod Kiante Reynolds, 29, Opelika: Charged with compelling streetgang membership.
- Antonio Cordell Finley, 33, Opelika: Charged with compelling streetgang membership.
- Kentavious Armoni Thomas, 26, Opelika: Charged with first-degree robbery, five counts of compelling streetgang membership and two counts of probation violation.
- Darrick Duran Hunter Jr, 24, Opelika: Charged with five counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Derrion Damon Malik Brock, 25, Lanett: Charged with compelling streetgang membership.
- Ramil Emmanuel Saqaun Dickerson, 23, Phenix City: Charged with four counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Jawahski La’Ted Dickerson, 19, Opelika: Charged with four counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Un-named Juvenile, 17, Opelika: Charged with first-degree robbery.
- T’Harra Jarnevious Brunson, 21, Opelika: Charged with four counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Kejuan Jermichael Gopher, 19, Opelika: Charged with five counts of compelling streetgang membership, second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Petronius Javon Bailey, 18, Opelika: Charged with two counts of compelling streetgang membershop and second-degree possession of marijuana.
- Jayden Kamarious Buchannon, 24, Opelika: Charged with two counts of compelling streetgang membership and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Jar’ki Recell Brooks, 24, Opelika: Charged with four counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Ty’Shawn Durrell Wright, 23, Opelika: Charged with seven counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Devin Kyle Roberson, 20, Opelika: Charged with first-degree robbery and compelling streetgang membership.
- Tamia Monae Sharnell Patrick, 27, Opelika: Charged with compelling streetgang membership.
- Radrekius Tykel Smith, 26, Opelika: Charged with two counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Damontae Martez Martin, 27, Opelika: Charged with three counts of compelling streetgang membership.
- Jer’myah Caro’linda-Irulan Wood, 22, Auburn: Charged with three counts of identity theft, first-degree attempted theft of property and third-degree theft of property.
Thee Lee County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are expected.
According to reports, Kellum pleaded not guilty to his charges in court on November 17, and a jury trial has been set for May 18.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also extends its appreciation to the numerous agencies whose assistance made Operation Gang Shield possible. Agencies that assisted in the investigation were the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Auburn Police Department, Opelika Police Department, Valley Police Department, Lanett Police Department, Tallapoosa County Drug Task Force, Dekalb County Gang Unit, Georgia Gang Investigators Association, and Alabama Gang Investigators Association.
