05/13/2026
SCSO Participates in Operation Southern Forest Trident
Between May 1 and May 6, 2026 the United States Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement and Investigations division conducted criminal interdiction operations in Berkeley and Charleston Counties in South Carolina, Stephens and Habersham Counties in Georgia, and Burke County in North Carolina. The goal of the operation was to deter and investigate criminal activities taking place on national forest lands.
Between May 3 and May 5, 2026, law enforcement officers and special agents with the USFS coordinated with Stephens County Sheriff's Office deputies and investigators, Georgia State Patrol Post 7 Troopers, Georgia DNR Game Wardens, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, and FBI North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force to conduct a joint effort in deterring and investigating crime on national forest lands inside Stephens County. During the operation, multiple safety checks were conducted on roads entering and leaving forest service lands as well as concentrated patrols in and around the same areas.
During the operation, the USFS issued 33 federal citations for offenses ranging from traffic-related offenses to possession of drug related objects and possession of illicit controlled substances. GA DNR issued four warnings and six citations related to hunting and fishing violations. GSP issued 58 warnings and 36 traffic-related citations. DHS arrested 25 individuals in Stephens County who were residing illegally in the country, 14 of whom had prior felony convictions and one confirmed cartel member.
The Stephens County Sheriff's Office also made five felony drug arrests and three warrant services during the operation:
On Sunday, May 3, Christian Villagomez, 29 of Clarkesville, was arrested during a traffic stop for an outstanding warrant for multiple fishing violations by GA DNR.
Victor Pena, 42 of Cornelia, and Kristen Sloan, 33 of Maysville, were arrested during a traffic stop and found to be in possession of approximately 3.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe. Both individuals were charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Related Objects.
On Monday, May 4, Mark Justice, 48 of Eastanollee, and Rebecca Wood, 30 of Toccoa, were arrested during a traffic stop and found to be in possession of 2.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe, and 4.2 grams of suspected ma*****na. Both individuals were arrested and federally cited for possession of ma*****na by USFS. Wood was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, and Justice was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Stephens County.
Dakoda Ponder, 29 of Toccoa, was arrested during a traffic stop and found to be in possession of 2.1 grams of suspected co***ne, as well as a suspected Oxycodone pill. Ponder was arrested and charged with Possession of Co***ne and Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance. He was also charged by GSP for Driving Under the Influence.
During the operation on Tuesday afternoon, May 5, two individuals fled on foot from a traffic stop from USFS officers on Highway 365 near Rock Road. SCSO, GA DNR, and Habersham County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) assisted USFS in searching the surrounding area for the individuals, including utilizing a USFS K-9, HCSO K-9 Bane, and SCSO K-9 Taz. That evening, one male who was determined to be the driver of the vehicle was captured on Highway 365 near Trestle Ridge Road. The male, identified as Minton Carreto, 31, was found to be wanted out of the metro-Atlanta area and illegally residing in the U.S. The other individual is believed to have fled the area entirely.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office thanks the U.S. Forest Service for their effort to curb crime in national forests, including the forests in Stephens County. Special thanks to all local, state, and national agencies who assisted in the success of this operation.
“We are proud to work with our federal and state partners to curb the flow of illegal drugs and other crime in Stephens County. Many of these areas aren’t frequently patrolled in most counties, and crime can go unnoticed. This behavior affects our families, as well as our social and physical environments. We want people to enjoy nature, but please do it responsibly,” said Sheriff Rusty Fulbright. “Again, I want to thank the U.S. Forest Service and all of the agencies involved in this operation. Positive relationships with these agencies and criminal interdiction operations are yet another way we are working to create a safer, stronger Stephens.”
