Augusta, GA

Cops seize enough drugs to kill 48M in top Ga. fentanyl bust

Published

10 months ago

June 11, 2025

Cops seize enough drugs to kill 48M in top Ga. fentanyl bust

ATLANTA, Ga. – On Tuesday, federal authorities said they seized enough fentanyl in a recent drug bust to kill 48 million people. That’s more than four times the population of Georgia.

Authorities say it’s the largest fentanyl bust in Georgia history.

After searching three homes – one each in Atlanta, South Fulton and Douglasville – agents say they found more than 200 pounds of the fentanyl, along with hundreds of thousands of pills laced with methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

They also found machines that produced pills and “bricks” of drugs, approximately 30 firearms, bullet-proof vests, a silencer, and expensive jewelry including a Walter White diamond necklace. White is the fictional meth-making protagonist in the hit TV series “Breaking Bad.”

Authorities say the properties are all “associated” with Bartholomew Keeton Harralson, 47, of Atlanta. He’s a convicted felon who is now facing federal drug trafficking charges in the case. He was arrested at his South Fulton home.

On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted Harralson on charges of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Over the weekend, Richmond County deputies made the biggest meth bust in Richmond County...

Authorities said Harralson’s operation had the ability to produce 25,000 pills an hour.

Agents also found a book during one of the seizures titled “How to Avoid Federal Drug Conspiracy and Firearms Charges.”

“The scale of this fentanyl operation—run by a convicted felon—posed a grave threat to our community,” Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, said in a statement. “The presence of high-powered firearms alongside industrial pill-pressing equipment underscores the deadly convergence of drug trafficking and violence. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling these operations and holding dangerous individuals accountable.”

Harralson has a long and violent criminal history in Florida and Georgia, including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, drug dealing, and other crimes.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell announced the arrest of three suspects after an...

When asked if Harralson is connected to a cartel, investigators said they couldn’t comment on that aspect of the ongoing investigation. Authorities said they expect more people to be charged in the drug operation who were working with Harralson.

If convicted, Harralson will serve at least 40 years in prison, and possibly life without parole.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

2 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

Source link

Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

14 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

Source link