Cordele City Commissioner Arrested for Alleged Gang-Related RICO Charges
By Carol A. Gasser Moore
CRISP COUNTY, Georgia – Royce Reeves Sr. (52) of Cordele is one of 24 individuals arrested for alleged gang-related RICO Law (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) charges. The RICO law is a regulation that allows the government to punish individuals associated with criminal activity, specifically the leaders of crime organizations.
Royce Reeves Sr. has been charged with conspiracy to sell marijuana, Gang Act B, Use of a communication facility, and RICO. He is one of twenty-four people who were served 120 arrest warrants in Crisp County on Wednesday, July 31. The warrants were served by the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigations), GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Department of Community Supervision (DCS), the GBI Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the GBI Middle Georgia Gang Task Force, the GBI Special Operations Unit, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the Valdosta Police Department (VPD), the Perry Police Department (PPD), and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) who all participated in the operation as the result of Operation Shyne Down.
Operation Shyne Down targeted the criminal street gang G-Shyne Bloods and their involvement in criminal gang activities in Crisp County.
Reeves, an elected 10-year member of the Cordele City Commission was one of twenty-four (24) suspects arrested Wednesday, July 3. His first Cordele City Commission term began January 1, 2014. Between the 24 people arrested, law enforcement agencies served 120 arrest warrants. All 24 people have been allegedly involved with the G-Shyne Bloods gang.
Cordele City Commissioner Reeves is not a new person of interest to law enforcement agencies. He was arrested and indicted on two (2) counts of obstruction of an officer, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct in August 2021. Royce Reeves was charged after allegedly pushing a Georgia State Trooper to get past a police line at the scene of an accident.
Governor Brian Kemp suspended Reeves in January of 2022 through an executive order. Kemp suspended him “after a review commission found Reeves’ indictment relates to and adversely affects the administration of duties.” At the time of his suspension, Reeves was awaiting trial on multiple charges stemming from an incident in June 2021. In that occurrence, Royce Reeves attempted to enter an accident scene where a man Reeves identified as a close friend, was severely injured. He was arrested after officers said he attempted to get to the scene three separate times. On one of the attempts, Reeves allegedly pushed a state trooper in an effort to get beyond the police line surrounding the wreck scene. As a result of the incident, Reeves was indicted on two counts of Obstruction of an officer, Violation of oath by a public officer, Criminal trespass and Disorderly conduct.
After the Crisp County Grand Jury indictment, Governor Kemp appointed a board made up of Attorney General Chris Carr, Barnesville City Councilmember Christopher Hightower, and McDonough City Councilmember Benjamin Pruett, to investigate. The board was to report their findings within two weeks, but that deadline kept being placed back. The suspension continued pending the outcome of the case or until the expiration of his term. Reeves won re-election to his Ward 2 seat in November 2021 and took the oath of office, January 3, 2022.
In October 2023, the Lanier County News (LCN) has also learned that Reeves was arrested and charged with theft when he was reportedly removing campaign signs from around Cordele.
Through information obtained in a public database, that record seems to indicate that Reeves has been convicted of Simple battery at some point in the past as well.
As of July 31, Royce Reeves Sr. has been charged with conspiracy to Sell marijuana, Gang Act B, Use of a communication facility, and RICO.
