Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr talks Gang Prosecution Unit expansion to Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - “Let’s work together. Let’s partner together. Let’s acknowledge the problem and then make sure we do something about it,” said Georgia’s Attorney General, Chris Carr.

This month, Carr announced two hires to his Gang Prosecution Unit in Savannah.

The goal is to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute violent criminal gang activity throughout the area.

“Keep the people of Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia safe, but also our guests that are coming to Georgia,” said AG Carr.

Carr is expanding his office’s reach across the state. Carr created the state’s first statewide gang prosecution unit 3 years ago.

“I think public safety is a nonpartisan issue, and I don’t care where you live in this state, what your race is, your gender, your religion, sexual orientation; you deserve to be safe,” said AG Carr.

Now that the unit is expanding to add an office in Savannah.

The first Chief Assistant District Attorney in Chatham County-- Brian DeBlasiis-- and Savannah Police’s Criminal Investigator with the Gang Unit, Jacob Hesting, will oversee the unit.

AG Carr says he’s looking forward to the bipartisan partnerships with his unit.

“What will serve the people of Chatham County is when they see the Democratic Mayor, the Democratic DA, the Republican AG working together to keep people safe, that’s what they want to see. But pretending there’s not a gang problem, pretending there are no gangs, that’s not going to move the ball down the field,” said Carr.

He says all Georgians should rest assured that his office will help tackle gang violence, human trafficking, and other violent crimes in the community.

Recently, Carr expanded this unit to Augusta as well and is already seeing results from that office.

“Nobody wants a gang in their backyard, but what they want to know is that somebody’s doing something about it, and not addressing the issue doesn’t help the problem. It doesn’t make it go away. What makes it go away is enforcing the law,” said Carr.

This expansion is being funded by the state’s 2026 budget, which was signed by Governor Kemp earlier this year.