GBI Arrests 11 in “Operation Straight to the Hart”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced that 11 people were charged recently following an investigation called “Operation Straight to the Hart.” Officials said the months-long investigation into drug, gang and violent crime led to six search warrants being executed simultaneously on October 27 and that they seized marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy), and 25 firearms.

21-year-old Jaquavious Waller of Hartwell, GA, was charged with two counts of Gang Act and Conspiracy to Commit Murder; 20-year-old Len’darrius Keese of Lavonia, GA, was charged with Gang Act and Conspiracy to Commit Murder; 23-year-old Ayana Curry, 26-year-old Deandre Watford, 20-year-old Trenton Shoemaker, 29-year-old Quentin Devon Simpson, 21-year-old Larjarvis Rucker, and 33-year-old Laterrell Alexander, all from Hartwell, GA, as well as 22-year-old Kenothy Brown of Lavonia, GA, and 25-year-old Tyrickus Miller of Anderson, SC, were charged with one count each of Gang Act; 23-year-old Jarvis Settles of Hartwell, GA, was charged with Aggravated Assault.

Investigators said that Waller and Keese were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder in connection to the death of Mericus Scott of Royston, GA. Scott’s body was found in Anderson, SC, in January 2020.

Anyone with any information about Mericus Scott’s death is asked to call the GBI. Investigators said that even though they have made eleven arrests so far, the investigation is ongoing and they expect more arrests and charges.