An Appling couple has been arrested in connection with a steroid trafficking operation tied to James Blake Montgomery, the man who killed a Columbia County deputy and injured another in a violent April ambush on Interstate 20.
Keil Whitaker Harrison, 33, and Alyssa O’Neill, 29, were taken into custody last week after Columbia County deputies raided their home on Cobbham Road, just down the street from Montgomery’s former residence. The arrests mark a significant development in the investigation that followed the deadly April 26 shooting that claimed the life of Deputy Brandon Sikes and seriously wounded Deputy Gavin White.
According to arrest warrants, Harrison and O’Neill were directly linked to Montgomery’s illegal steroid ring. “Keil Whitaker Harrison conspired with James Blake Montgomery to manufacture Testosterone, a Schedule III Drug,” one warrant states.
Investigators recovered a significant cache of drugs and firearms during the search. Among the seized items were 24 vials of testosterone, dozens of tablets of anabolic steroids including Methandienone and Oxandrolone, and five firearms: two 9mm pistols, two rifles, and a 12-gauge shotgun.
Deputies say the couple used the encrypted messaging platform Telegram to coordinate steroid production and distribution. Telegram is an increasingly common tool for criminal networks due to its anonymity and lack of moderation.
The arrests stem from the broader fallout of the April 26 incident in which Montgomery opened fire on deputies during a traffic stop on I-20. Law enforcement had been attempting to serve a domestic violence protective order when Montgomery– armed with a fully automatic AR-style pistol – killed Deputy Sikes and shot Deputy White in the head. White survived but sustained critical injuries.
Montgomery was killed during the exchange, which involved return fire from Deputies Andrew Brown and Jared Mason. A later search of his motorhome uncovered pipe bombs, illegal firearms, ammunition, and suspected drug paraphernalia, confirming earlier intelligence that Montgomery had been manufacturing steroids and possibly explosives.
Montgomery’s operation now appears to have extended beyond his own activities, with Harrison and O’Neill as suspected co-conspirators. Both now face multiple felony charges related to drug manufacturing, possession of steroids with intent to distribute, and illegal possession of firearms.
