STATESBORO, GA – Since the beginning of 2021, officers with the joint SPD/GSU Impact Team had received reports that cocaine was being distributed by patrons, and in one case staff, of bars located near Georgia Southern University’s campus. The information specifically indicated that staff at Shenanigan’s Bar (1 University Plaza) were participating in these illegal sales. The Impact Team is tasked not only with citywide drug enforcement but also with conducting alcohol and bouncer compliance checks at licensed bars. Impact Team officers began a months-long undercover investigation to determine if the information was in fact correct.
The undercover purchases of cocaine were successful, with multiple defendants identified as having sold the substance on multiple occasions. Most of the defendants were patrons of the various establishments, however, the involvement of staff at Shenanigan’s allowed officers to develop probable cause for a search warrant at that location. On 8/20/21, that search warrant was served and Ian Liddy (30, S. Walnut St, Statesboro), Kyler Deason (22, Mistywood Dr, Waynesboro, Ga), and Elizabeth Nguyen (23, Greentree Ct., Statesboro) were taken into custody. Cocaine and firearms were recovered during the search in “staff access only” areas.
Impact Team members continued the search for the other defendants into the night, some of whom were arrested at other area bars with the cooperation of staff at those locations. Jaythan Hendrix (23, S. College St, Statesboro), Destiny Ngezem (22, White Dove Dr, McDonough), and Joseph Keith Bragg Jr. (29, Highway 80 W, Portal) were all taken into custody in this manner.
On 8/21/21, Impact officers arrested Reginal Calles (54, Westbrooke Dr, Statesboro) at his residence with the assistance of the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office. Officers were able to obtain a search warrant for that residence and found additional cocaine, firearms, and Schedule I substances inside the home.
Two defendants, Kim Hunter Jr (22, Sylvania) and Nicolas Sparacia (24, Statesboro) had not been apprehended and remain wanted. They are encouraged to surrender themselves immediately.
This operation is one of the many examples of efforts by SPD and Georgia Southern University’s Department of Public Safety to keep drug dealers from setting up shop near entertainment venues and preying on the students and residents patronizing those venues. Anyone with information regarding drug activity is encouraged to contact the Impact Team at 912-764-9911 or submit an anonymous tip to tips@statesboroga.gov.
Offenders arrested (photos to be obtained from the Bulloch County Jail)
1. Joseph Keith Bragg Jr
Charges: 4 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 4 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility, 1 count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
2. Elizabeth Xuan Nguyen
Charges: 1 count of Sale of Cocaine (Party to the Crime), 1 count of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
3. Ian Gallagher Liddy
Charges: 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine (Party to the Crime), 2 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
4. Kyler Zane Deason
Charges: 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 2 counts of Sale of Cocaine (Party to the Crime), 1 count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, 1 count of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
5. Destiny Ngezem
Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 1 count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
6. Jathan Luther Hendrix
Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility
7. Reginal Jose Calles
Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility, 1 count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, 1 count of Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute, 1 count of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime
Offenders still sought (photos attached to this release)
1. Kim Maurice Hunter Jr
Charges: 3 counts of Sale of Cocaine, 3 counts of Unlawful Use of Communications Facility
2. Nicolas Francesco Sparacia
Charges: 1 count of Sale of Cocaine, 1 count of Unlawful Use of Communication Facility