New Gang Prosecution Unit Comes to Southeast Georgia
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Attorney General Chris Carr has announced the expansion of the state’s Gang Prosecution Unit to Southeast Georgia, as the unit will now have offices in Columbus and Macon.
This expansion comes two years after the unit’s creation in July 2022, when offices were opened in Atlanta, Albany, and Augusta to help law enforcement investigate and prosecute those affiliated with gangs within the state. Since its creation, the Unit has convicted more than 40 cases, and indicted almost 140 individuals from Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Bryan, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Dougherty, Fulton, Gwinnett, Laurens, Muscogee, Richmond, and Thomas counties.
“Since creating Georgia’s first statewide Gang Prosecution Unit, we have removed massive amounts of fentanyl from our streets and secured justice for families who have lost a loved one due to gang violence,” Carr commented. “With this most recent expansion, we’re able to strengthen our efforts and serve as a force multiplier by working hand-in-hand with all levels of law enforcement to combat violent crime and keep Georgians safe. We have a strong partnership with (Middle Judicial Circuit) District Attorney Tripp Fitzner, and together we will continue to send a message that gang activity of any kind will not be tolerated in our state.”
Fitzner also spoke on the new resource, as he remarked, “I would like to thank Attorney General Carr for his leadership in bringing this valuable resource to our local communities. Solving the gang problem must be a team effort between state and local law enforcement and prosecutors. I look forward to working with the Attorney General’s Office on our shared mission of keeping our streets safe and free from violent gang activity.”
Funding for the Unit’s work in the southeastern region of the state was provided in the state’s 2025 budget, which was signed by Governor Brian Kemp in May. State Senator Blake Tillery, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted that he felt the expansion was necessary to effectively combat gang-related crimes throughout the region. “It’s no secret a disproportionate amount of the crime affecting our community is gang-related,” he said. “Investigation and prosecution of these crimes takes a disproportionate share of community resources. I’m thankful to Governor Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns and the General Assembly for seeing the wisdom of placing funds to assist our hard working District Attorney and Solicitors’ Offices in this circuit, and to Attorney General Carr for its swift implementation.”
Overseeing these new regional offices will be Assistant Attorney General Brooklyn Franklin and Criminal Investigator Pete Delatorre.
Franklin previously served as the Solicitor General of Long County for two years after being appointed to the role by Governor Kemp. Prior to this appointment, Franklin was the Interim Solicitor General of Long County and an Assistant District Attorney in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit. She has extensive knowledge in judicial affairs, having also worked as a judicial assistant and law clerk to Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Joy A. Kramer. She also has a background in psychology and political science, having earned a bachelor’s degree in each from Campbellsville University.
Delatorre is a U.S. Army veteran who has over 20 years of experience in law enforcement, as he most recently served as a Richmond Hill Police Officer. While working with the police department, Delatorre played a critical role in Operation Patronus, a multi-agency investigation involving the Outcast Motorcycle Gang, which is regarded as the largest motorcycle gang indictment in state history. This investigation was overseen by the Gang Prosecution Unit in May 2023. In addition to this, Delatorre is a Georgia P.O.S.T. certified instructor and a member of the Georgia Gang Investigators Association, the National Gang Crime Research Center, and the International Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigation Association.
Franklin and Delatorre officially began working in their new roles on July 1, and will continue to investigate and prosecute gangrelated crimes throughout the Southeast region.
