ATHENS, Ga. - U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes today announced that five people have been charged in a 23-count indictment in the Middle District of Georgia as members of an alleged firearms trafficking ring operating between Athens and Chicago providing weapons to gang members, with some of the guns linked to acts of violence-including a murder in Chicago committed by a juvenile-in this Homeland Security Task Force investigation led by ATF.

The federal indictment in Case No. 3:26-cr-00006, filed on April 15 and unsealed on June 23, charges the following individuals:

Anthony Edmond, aka "Chapo," aka "Chapo Barksdale," of Athens, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit firearms offenses; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully make, transfer and possess machineguns; seven counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm; six counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon; one count of transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon; one count of possession of a machinegun; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms and machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of conspiracy to traffic in stolen motor vehicles; three counts of interstate travel with intent to engage in firearms trafficking and is facing up to a maximum of life in prison.

Rafael Enriquez, aka "Ritchie Rich," aka "Ralph," of Chicago, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit firearms offenses; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully make, transfer and possess machineguns; five counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm; four counts of possession of firearm by a convicted felon; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms and machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of conspiracy to traffic in stolen motor vehicles; and three counts of interstate travel with intent to engage in firearms trafficking and is facing up to a maximum of life in prison.

Elijah Lucena, aka "Eli," aka "GMT Eli," of Chicago, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit firearms offenses; one count of false statement during purchase of a firearm; one count of possession of firearm by a convicted felon; and one count of interstate travel with intent to engage in firearms trafficking and is facing up to a maximum of ten years in prison.

Keontice Reed, aka "Manman," aka "GMT Manman," of Chicago, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit firearms offenses; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully make, transfer and possess machineguns; one count of false statement during purchase of a firearm; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms and machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and is facing up to a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Melvin Griffin, aka "Memo600," of Snellville, Georgia, and Chicago, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit firearms offenses; one count of possession of firearm by a convicted felon; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms and machineguns in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and is facing up to a maximum of life in prison.

The defendants have had or will have their initial appearances at times determined by the Court.

According to the indictment and other statements made in court, Edmond is allegedly a member of the Chicago-based gang known as the Black Disciples (BD) and is an associate of another Chicago-based street gang known as the Conservative Vice Lords (CVL), who was directed by the other defendants to make straw purchases of firearms from gun stores in Georgia, which were transported and distributed to criminal street gang members in the Chicago area.

From at least March 27, 2020, to Nov. 10, 2021, Edmond allegedly unlawfully purchased dozens of firearms from gun shops in Georgia for members and associates of the BD and the CVL, and between Sept. 18, 2020, to July 24, 2021, he allegedly bought at least 22 firearms in Georgia, some of which were converted into fully automatic weapons and used to commit numerous crimes of violence.