PRESS RELEASE

LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, along with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), The Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Streets Task Force, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations conducted a multi-location service of 12 arrest warrants involving a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO).

Two additional arrest were made during the service of the original 12 arrest warrants. The investigation led to all 12 persons being affiliated and connected with this DTO and they were charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). All 12 suspects were previously charged with drug violations in Lumpkin County in the past year.

This was the culmination of a year-long investigation conducted by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.

Throughout the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of methamphetamine, multiple kilograms of heroin, and a large amount of U.S. Currency along with other assets. The primary suspect of the investigation, Jeremy Ball 34, is currently incarcerated in the Georgia Department of Corrections, charged with violating the RICO Act.

Also Arrested were the following Lumpkin County residents who were charged with violating the RICO Act: Lisa Andrews 35, Justin Walker 33, Casey Daughtry 41, Kimberly Biggs 26, Justin Newell 30, Candice Newell 32, Morgan Lee 35, Cedric Bearden 41, Shannon Perry Major 49, Carrie Stephens 38 and Sandra Sullens 30, both of whom were already in jail and were also charged with a RICO Violation as a result of this investigation, James Graham, 57, is being charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug-Related Objects, Gary Dowdle, 34, was also arrested during this operation for outstanding warrants for previous crimes in Habersham County, The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.