Georgia Man Found Guilty of RICO, Murder, Armed Robbery and 17 Additional Charges Sentenced to 80 Years in Prison for Deadly Snellville Shooting
GEORGIA — A 20-year-old Grayson man has been sentenced to 80 years in prison after a Gwinnett County jury found him guilty of murder, multiple felony murder counts, gang activity, armed robbery, and violations of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act stemming from a deadly shooting that investigators say was part of a gang-coordinated robbery attempt.
The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office identified the defendant as Adrian “DrainO” Synclare Johnson, who prosecutors say conspired with fellow gang members to rob 24-year-old Gerryon Ly’Darrius Ceasor of his Draco semi-automatic pistol.
Investigators: Robbery Setup Ended in Fatal Gunfire
According to court documents, Johnson contacted Ceasor in February to arrange a meeting in Snellville under the guise of purchasing marijuana. When Ceasor arrived, six additional armed men pulled up alongside him and attempted to rob him of the drugs he had.
Gunfire erupted during the confrontation, striking Ceasor inside his vehicle. He died from his injuries at the scene. Prosecutors argued that Johnson played a central role in orchestrating the ambush, describing the group as operating in a coordinated pattern consistent with criminal gang activity.
Jury Returns Guilty Verdict on 20 Charges
After deliberations, a Gwinnett County jury found Johnson guilty of:
- Malice murder
- Four counts of felony murder
- RICO Act violation
- Five counts of unlawful criminal gang activity
- Drive-by shooting
- Armed robbery & attempted armed robbery
- Seven additional related charges
He received life without parole, a consecutive life sentence, plus an additional 20 years in confinement, amounting to what prosecutors describe as an 80-year effective sentence.
District Attorney: “Gang Behavior Will Be Prosecuted to the Fullest”
District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said the verdict sends a clear message: “Gang behavior will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law when their activities bring life-threatening situations to this community.”
Six Additional Suspects Also Charged
The six other individuals involved in the attempted robbery — Jordan Maurice Luna (19), Solomon James Bartleson (22), Martinez Tennell Lambert (17), Vachon Ray Singleton (20), Kentory Jamaal Watson Jr. (18), and Jayden Makhi Amy (18) — have been indicted and will be tried at a later date. For continuing updates on major criminal cases nationwide, follow NapervilleLocal.com.
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