10 defendants in Operation Sweet Silence plead guilty, U.S. Attorney’s Office for Middle District of Georgia announces
A Columbus man at the center of a sweeping federal drug trafficking investigation has pleaded guilty and agreed to serve 20 years in prison, bringing a major breakthrough in the multi-agency operation known as Operation Sweet Silence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced this week.
31-year-old Tommie Mullins Jr. known by aliases including “TJ,” “Bo,” and “Mini,” pleaded guilty on May 6 to one count of conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. His plea deal includes a binding agreement to serve 20 years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release. Mullins admitted to organizing and directing a widespread drug distribution network operating in Columbus and supplied by contacts as far away as Seattle.
Nine of Mullins’ co-defendants also pleaded guilty in federal court, marking the collapse of a criminal conspiracy investigated over a nearly two-year period. The co-defendants and their potential sentences include:
25-year-old Trenton Thomas aka “Bubbles,”, could face life in prison. 48-year-old Trenton Clemons could face life in prison. 24-year-old Adrian Palmer aka “AP,” could face a mandatory minimum of 10 years. 23-year-old Darius Jenkins, 23 could face up to 20 years. 36-year-old Christopher Hill could face up to 4 years. 33-year-old Corey Turner aka “Lito Red,” could face up to 10 years to life. 45-year-old Anthony Champion could face up to 20 years. 24-year-old Javonta Paden could face up to 20 years. 29-year-old Adrian Pleasants could face up to 20 years.
All defendants will be sentenced on August 7. There is no parole in the federal system.
Organized Network Dismantled
According to federal authorities, Mullins coordinated shipments of methamphetamine and marijuana from the West Coast, using addresses in Columbus as distribution hubs. Wiretaps and surveillance revealed the use of residences, Instagram messages, and even commercial airlines to move drugs and cash. His residence on Cove Circle, shared with co-defendant Turner, was identified as a primary drug distribution location.
In one instance, four co-conspirators, including Thomas and Palmer, flew to Seattle in March 2023 to purchase marijuana. The group was arrested two days later at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with 232 pounds of marijuana in eight suitcases. The seizure triggered a flurry of panicked calls among the group, captured by court-authorized wiretaps and jail communications.
Another key bust came in April 2024, when agents caught Clemons with nearly 4 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a blue suitcase after tracking him back from a studio meeting in Atlanta.
High-Stakes Surveillance and Seizures
Law enforcement intercepted conversations that detailed bulk drug orders. Mullins and Palmer frequently used coded language like “squares” to refer to kilograms of methamphetamine. A search of Mullins’ Instagram revealed conversations arranging marijuana shipments and payments tied to the Sacramento seizure of $29,000 in suspected drug proceeds in 2022.
Palmer, arrested in September 2023, was found in possession of a kilo of methamphetamine and over 50 pouches of marijuana. Turner, arrested earlier that month, was caught throwing a stolen loaded 9mm pistol** from a vehicle and found with marijuana and cocaine.
Champion was intercepted in a transaction involving a half-kilogram of cocaine, complaining over the phone about being shorted on a delivery, prompting a return to a trap house used by the group.
Operation Sweet Silence & Take Back America
The case stems from Operation Sweet Silence, a long-term investigation that began in August 2022, targeting the Zohannon criminal street gang and associated drug operations. The initiative was part of the Department of Justice’s broader Operation Take Back America, which aims to dismantle violent drug trafficking organizations and protect communities from organized crime.
“This is a huge victory for the citizens we serve,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers, and convicted felons.”
Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker echoed the sentiment, calling methamphetamine trafficking “a serious threat to public safety.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple regional law enforcement partners across Georgia, Alabama, and California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis and Trial Attorney Matthew P. Mattis of the DOJ’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
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