By Melanie Ruberti

Melanie.ruberti@lagrangenews.com

LaGrange –  Four gang members will each spend several years in state penitentiaries for their roles in various crimes around Troup County.

The men, who are part of different gangs, were sentenced earlier this month in a Troup County Superior Courtroom by Judge Emory Palmer.

Austin Key, 22, pleaded guilty to three counts of participation of criminal street gang activity, one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possession of a silencer and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Key, an alleged member of the Ghostface Gangsters criminal street gang, was sentenced to 30 years behind bars to serve 10 years.

The 22-year-old man was inside a car at the corner of Dallis Street and Park Avenue on Jan. 27 when it was stopped by the LaGrange Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit.

The SIU team discovered a firearm under the driver’s seat – where Key was sitting – a glass container carrying methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana, according to Sgt. Mark Cavender, head of SIU.

Marquavious Carr, 19, of LaGrange, entered into a negotiated plea with the Troup County District Attorney’s office.

The 19-year-old man pleaded guilty to six counts of violating the street gang and terrorism prevention act, one count of aggravated assault, one count of criminal attempt to commit armed robber and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He was sentenced to 35 years behind bars to serve 13 years – plus the teen is permanently banished from Troup County.

Carr is an alleged member of the Bloods criminal street gang, stated the D.A.’s office. He attempted to rob another person at the intersection of Murphy Avenue and Dallis Street in May, 2016, LPD investigators said.

Another reported member of the Bloods gang, Xavier Edmondson, 28, pleaded guilty for his role in an illegal drug distribution operation on Gallant Street.

The man was one of three people arrested by SIU officers in June, 2016.

Edmondson pleaded guilty to one count of violating the street gang and terrorism prevention act, one count of trafficking cocaine, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of obstruction, according to the Troup County District Attorney’s office.

The 28-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years to serve 16 years in prison. He was also banned from five other counties – including Troup County.

Investigators arrested Edmondson when they discovered 70 grams of cocaine, more than 60 Percocet pills, 50 Xanax pills, more than 6 grams of marijuana, substantial amounts of cash and drug paraphernalia inside the home on Gallant Street.

David L. Hawkins III, a reported member of the Crips criminal street gang pleaded guilty four counts of violating the street gang and prevention act, one count of possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer and one count of criminal use of an article with an altered identification mark.

Hawkins was sentenced to 20 years to serve four years in a state penitentiary, officials said.

The man was found in possession of a handgun with a scratched off serial number during a traffic stop in June, 2016, the D.A.’s office said.

Troup County Assistant District Attorney Jack Winne was the prosecutor on each of these four cases.

“These convictions and sentences demonstrate our continued commitment to prosecuting the gangs, gang members, and gang crimes in our community with zeal,” said Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Pete Skandalakis. “I wish to commend the SIU investigators and detectives with the LaGrange Police Department for their dedication and skill in investigating these cases, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance, and my assistant district attorneys for their work in prosecuting them.”

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She can be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.