Sheriff’s Office reports a major drug bust
Business, News February 28, 2022
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office reported a major drug bust last week during which deputies seized approximately 2,000 grams of methamphetamine, 347 grams of marijuana, approximately 1,800 oxycodone pills and multiple firearms from a residence on Dublin Court.
Six people were arrested including Brandon Joshua Roberts, 31, Amanda Victoria Brannon, 24, Anthony Dustin Wenut, 34 and Angela Samantha Jett, 49, all of Lumpkin County. Christopher Gage Lee, 29, of Dawson County, and Michael Carlton Rider, 35, of Hall County into custody were also arrested.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said a Department of Corrections K9 and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) helped execute the search warrant on Dublin Court.
“I would like to thank all the employees that were involved in this investigation for the great work they do to keep our community safe,” Jarrard said on a Facebook post.
Search warrant leads to arrest for methamphetamine trafficking
Press Release August 3, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Jonathan Whitehead
LUMPKIN COUNTY Ga. — On Aug. 2, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant with the assistance of Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office and Georgia Department of Corrections K9 unit at an address off of Summerour Rd.
This Search Warrant was based upon an investigation that had been occurring over multiple months. During the search investigators located approximately 1,600 grams of methamphetamine. Jonathan Michael Whitehead a 25-year-old Lumpkin County Resident, was arrested and charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine.
Four arrested in Lumpkin County drug bust
News April 14, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — A multi-agency task force arrested four individuals and took 295 grams of methamphetamine and an undisclosed amount of heroin off the street Wednesday (Apr 13).
Following months of investigation, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, the GBI Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office served a warrant at 1085 Lewis School Road. During the service of this search warrant four individuals were arrested.
The following were arrested: 34-year-old Terri Lynn Gee of Dahlonega, 59-year-old Sandra Louise Whitlow of Dahlonega, 40-year-old Michael Troy Sexton of Oakwood and 26-year-old Austin Lamar Mote of Braselton.
All four individuals are being charged with Trafficking methamphetamine. Terri Gee is also charged with sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug related objects, and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Sandra Whitlow and Michael Sexton are also being charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug related objects.
Teri Lynn Gee
Sandra Louise Whitlow
Michael Troy Sexton
Austin Mote
Authorities serve 12 warrants in connection with major drug bust
News, Press Release December 18, 2020
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.
Dahlonega woman helps inmates smuggle drugs into Detention Center
News, Press Release October 13, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga — On Sept. 8, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office learned of contraband being brought into the Lumpkin County Detention Center. Once this information was learned, Investigators started an investigation into the Contraband. During this investigation it was determined that Methamphetamine had made its way across the Guard Line and into the Lumpkin County Detention Center Housing area.
On Sept 29, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, continued the investigation through searches, drug screens, reviews of recorded phone calls, video chats, surveillance camera footage, and interviews of inmates within the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. The results of this portion of the investigation led to the determination that a female by the name of Kimberly Biggs was bringing methamphetamine to various locations so that it could be brought into the Lumpkin County Detention Center by inmates on work detail.
On Sept. 30, to further the investigation the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the known residence of Kimberly Biggs, 108 Summerour Road. During this search warrant methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was located. Also, the investigators seized Kimberly Biggs cell phone and executed a search warrant on it.
On Oct. 1, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and GBI Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) conducted two more search warrants one in Lumpkin County and one in Hall County. Through this investigation it was determined that these two locations were linked to Calvin J Turner, who is known as being a drug supplier to Kimberly Biggs.
During the investigation into the inmates in the Lumpkin County Detention Center obtaining Contraband and the later execution of the two search warrants multiple people were arrested. These arrest with booking photos and charges are attached below by each individual location:
Dahlonega residents believed to be part of a statewide drug trafficking ring
News May 19, 2020
Justin Newell
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office and Appalachian Regional Drug Office (ARDEO) continued their fight to keep drugs off the streets with the arrest of three individuals charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
Candide Newell
Dahlonega residents Kenneth Michael Hertz, 37, 29-year-old Justin David Newell and 32-year-old Candice Leeann Newell were arrested and charged with trafficking meth.
Michael Hertz
Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said the arrests are part of an extensive drug investigation of a major drug trafficking organization that operates throughout the state. The latest arrests are connected to a March drug bust that took 265 grams of meth valued at approximately $260,000 off the streets. ARDEO agents and Sheriff’s Office deputies seized about $6,000 in drugs and a weapon during the latest bust.
Sheriff Jarrard said more arrests are anticipated.
Dahlonega man charged with trafficking heroin
News May 15, 2020HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. – A Lumpkin County man was arrested Wednesday (May 13) on charges of trafficking heroin and possession of methamphetamine
Tyler Lee Gibson, 23, of Dahlonega was arrested when the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop that led to the discovery of a trafficking amount of heroin, methamphetamine, and other related items. Arrested along with Gibson were Eric Lee Martin, 27, of Mt. Airy and Brianne Marie Ross-Rummel, 21, of Gillsville.
Martin is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, trafficking heroin and failure to stop for stop sign. Ross-Rummel is charged with possession of methamphetamine and trafficking heroin.
Habersham County Sheriff’s Office called the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office to assist in the investigation.
All of the arrestees were booked in the Habersham County Jail where they were being held without bail as of Thursday (May 14). Trent Hillsman, special agent in charge of ARDEO task force, said this is still an active investigation.
ARDEO encourages citizens to report any suspicious drug activity via Facebook IM or at 706-348-7410 or contact your local Sheriff’s Office or Police Department. The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office is a multi-agency unit that consists of the following Sheriff’s Offices: White County, Lumpkin County, Towns County, Banks County, Jackson County, Habersham County, Stephens County, Rabun County ,Gilmer County, Fannin County, and Franklin County, along with the Cleveland Police Department, Lavonia Police Department, the Toccoa Police Department, the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, the Department of Public Safety, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
2 More Meth Labs Discovered in Lumpkin County
News September 21, 2017
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Law enforcement officials discovered two more methamphetamine labs in Lumpkin County Tuesday capable of producing millions of dollars in crystal meth. The discovery dismantled a major criminal organization and has sent at least one member of the organization on the run.
Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said it all started with a drug bust last Friday that uncovered a huge meth lab in Suches and led to the arrest of five Hispanic males.
That investigation led agents with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, GBI and FBI to 289 Iberian Road in Dahlonega where they located a suspected meth lab that had been completely consumed by fire. The fire is being investigated by the Fire Marshall’s Office as a case of arson.
Agents then executed a second search warrant the same day at 126 Antique Way where they discovered another suspected meth lab. Lab equipment found at that location was consistent with the one found last week in Suches. They also located seven empty 55-gallon drums, three of which tested positive for methamphetamine, along with two AR-15 rifles, a pistol grip shotgun and a handgun.
Clara Catarino Mendoza
Both the Lumpkin County properties are linked to Clara Catarino Mendoza, 32, an Hispanic female, 5’1” tall, weighing 125 pounds. Agents believe that Mendoza fled with her two juvenile children. Arrest warrants have been issued on Mendoza for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine. She is believed to be driving either a 2006 yellow H2 hummer, Georgia tag PYX 5020, a 2003 gray Ford Superduty Truck, Georgia tag PKM 9409 or a White BMW 4 door sedan (exact model and tag unknown). If anybody sees Mendoza or has any information on her please call the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office at 706-864- 3633, the GBI at 1-800- 597-8477, the FBI at 1-800- 225-5324 or your local police department or sheriff’s office.
“I want to thank all the agencies involved in this endeavor to get this dangerous organization dismantled in our community,” Jarrard said. “As always, we are proud to have such good working relations with the FBI, GBI, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, as well as our hard working Lumpkin County Sheriff Deputies.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
ARDEO Shuts Down Multi-Million Dollar Meth Lab
News September 17, 2017
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) and the FBI’s North Georgia Major Offender Squad shut down a massive methamphetamine conversion lab in Suches Friday, capable of producing more than $3.2 million worth of crystal meth and arrested five suspected drug traffickers.
ARDEO special agent in charge Mitchell Posey said in a press release that a traffic stop of Angel Luis Rivera-Santiago and Victor Rafael Aponte yielded the seizure of 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. During the subsequent investigation, Lumpkin County authorities and FBI agents executed a search warrant at 990 Flanders Road in Dahlonega. Valentine Duarte-Vejar ran from the residence but was captured and was in possession of a handgun.
This search warrant yielded a few grams of cocaine and $166,000 in cash. Agents continued to follow investigative leads until a conversion lab was located at 843 Cooper Creek Road in Suches. A conversion lab is used to convert liquid methamphetamine to its crystal form. Agents located a handgun and 15 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine at the lab.
ARDEO agents processed approximately 300 pounds of environmental waste largely containing methamphetamine oil. Agents on scene estimated the lab was capable of producing a minimum of 25-50 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine at a time. The Union County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and Fire Department assisted with safely processing the lab.
This short but effective investigation was a federal, state, and local partnership that disrupted and dismantled a drug distribution network’s attempt to flood our communities with this destructive drug for their own financial gain. The street value of the 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine is $3,234,000.
“This was a surprise find for us,” Posey said. “It was something that fell in our lap and we realized that it could turn into something bigger, all it required was just some good old-fashioned hard work.”
Angel Luis Rivera- Santiago, 42, of Norcross, Victor Rafael Aponte, 30, of Dahlonega and Valentine Duarte-Vejar, 25, of Dahlonega were charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
Eleoncio Perez-Pineda, 29, of Dahlonega, and Jose Mario Duarte-Vejar, 25, of Dahlonega were later arrested in Dahlonega and charged with conspiracy to manufactory methamphetamine. The five men were transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center. Their immigration status is pending. Additional charges are pending in Union County.
“Shuttind down something of this magnitude is huge for North Georgia,” Posey said.
This investigation continues. ARDEO encourages citizens to report any suspicious drug activity via Instant Message or by calling 706-348-7410 or your local sheriff’s office or police department.
The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office is a multi-agency unit that consists of the following Sheriff’s Offices: White County, Lumpkin County, Towns County, Banks County, Habersham County, Stephens County, Rabun County and Franklin County, along with the Cleveland Police Department, Lavonia Police Department, the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, the Department of Public Safety, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The operation was a joint effort of the ARDEO, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s North Georgia Major Offender Squad.
NOTE: The names on the mugshots do not always match the names in this article because some suspects gave a fictitious name.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Angel Luis
Ruben Herrera
Eloncio Perez-Pineda
Javier Duarte-Vejar
Jose Duarte-Vejar
Several law enforcement agencies combine in drug bust
News November 15, 2019
CLERMONT, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Multi Agency Narcotics Squad (MANS), and Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) combined forces in a drug investigation and arrest that took more than $61,000 worth of methamphetamine off the street Wednesday.
Justin Pacer Smith, 44, was arrested at his home on Fieldstone Court in Clermont.
Lt. Don Scalia with the Hall said in a press release, “This person had been on and off our radar – in fact, this location had – for a pretty good while now. “Then, we got recent information that there was some increased activity there.”
With that information, Scalia said agents obtained search warrants for the house in Clermont.
In addition, agents confiscated digital scales, packaging materials and drug paraphernalia. They also found $1,100 in cash at the residence. Scalia said Smith was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of methamphetamine.
No other arrests are anticipated.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Indoor pot grow discovered on Camp Wahsega Road
News July 6, 2018
Robert Cartee
Tracey Cartee
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — An investigation started by anonymous tip to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office led authorities to a major indoor marijuana grow Thursday and the arrest of Robert Cartee, 53, and his wife Tracey Diamond Cartee, 50.
Acting on the tip, investigators with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), executed a search warrant at 2585 Camp Wahsega Road.
Confiscated in the search: 174- Marijuana plants, 24-firearms, 7- grow lights, 5- power inverters, a dehydrator, a vacuum Bag sealer, and over three pounds of marijuana ready for distribution. The marijuana and equipment are valued at $360,000.
Both have been charged with trafficking in marijuana and further charges are pending.
No bond has been set at this time.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Drug bust at Warwick St. Apartments nets more than $7,600 in drugs
News March 6, 2019
Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office
News Release
Contact: Mitchell Posey (706) 348-7410
For Immediate Release
DAHLONEGA, Ga. –On March 5th, 2019, the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit provided valuable information to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office that lead to the arrest of Anthony Fleshman. Fleshman was arrested after Lumpkin County Deputies found 1 gram of ecstasy and 3 THC oil vape sticks during a traffic stop. A search warrant was executed at Fleshman and Carly Harrison’s apartment on Warwick Street in Dahlonega, GA. Authorities found four grams of ecstasy, 12 ounces of marijuana, and 31 THC oil vape sticks along with $703. The total street value of the illegal narcotics was $7,600.
Fleshman, 18, was arrested for possession of MDMA (ecstasy), possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, and possession of THC Oil. Harrison, 22, was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Fleshman and Harrison were transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center.
ARDEO encourages citizens to report any suspicious drug activity via IM or at 706-348-7410 or contact your local Sheriff’s Office or Police Department.
The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office is a multi-agency unit that consists of the following Sheriff’s Offices: White County, Lumpkin County, Towns County, Banks County, Jackson County, Habersham County, Stephens County, Rabun County and Franklin County, along with the Cleveland Police Department, Lavonia Police Department, the Toccoa Police Department, the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, the Department of Public Safety, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Deputies make multiple arrests at Silverwood Drive home
News July 26, 2019
Justin Brister
DAHLONEGA, GA. – An attempt by Lumpkin County Sheriff’s deputies, Hall County deputies and agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office to serve warrants on Justin Brister at 44 Silverwood Drive Wednesday ended in the arrest of Brister and six other individuals.
Brister had multiple warrants out of Hall and Lumpkin counties. When officers arrived at the residence, one subject was immediately detained, and another male subject released an aggressive dog on law enforcement and the male ran back inside.
Neither the dog nor the officers were injured. Once the occupants saw the number of law enforcement officers present and that no escape was possible, a total of four occupants came out and surrendered.
While checking the residence for other occupants, officers located two more individuals hiding inside. The following individuals were arrested:
- Donald Nalley, 34, of Dahlonega, for Hindering Apprehension of a Criminal;
- Wesley Martin, 27, of Dahlonega, for Hindering Apprehension of a Criminal and Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer;
- Jessica Brown,39, of Dawsonville, for Hindering Apprehension of a Criminal;
- Tamera Brown,30, of Jasper, for Hindering Apprehension of a Criminal;
- Christopher Strickland, 39, of Cumming, for Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer;
- Quinton Bailey, 41, of Dawsonville, for Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer;
- Justin Brister, 29, of Dahlonega for Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer, Possession of Methamphetamine, Fleeing Attempting to Elude Police, Reckless Driving, Operating of Vehicle with Improper License Plate, Tire Requirement, No Passing Zone, Failure to Maintain Lane, Stop Sign, and multiple charges pending in Hall County.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Donald Nalley
Jessica Brown
Wesley Martin
Tamera Brown
Christopher Strickland
Inmate Back in Jail After Escape During Storm
News September 14, 2017
Steven Smith
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – An escaped inmate is back in the Lumpkin County jail today after he escaped from custody just as Tropical Storm Irma was wreaking havoc on much of north Georgia.
Steven Smith, 27, of Habersham County was arrested Aug. 28 and charged with possession of dangerous drugs. He was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville on August 12 where it is believed he was suffering from appendicitis.
Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said Smith walked away from the hospital and was seen on video tape calling someone from a nearby convenience to come pick him up. Authorities were able to trace the call and located Smith at a campground north of Helen.
Jarrard credited the U.S. Marshall’s Service Fugitive Task Force, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and K-9 unit and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office for their quick apprehension of the fugitive.
In additional to the original drug charge, which is a felony, Smith could face an additional five years if convicted of felony escape.
Jarrard said Smith offered no resistance when he was recaptured Wednesday.
Asked if Smith was considered dangerous, Jarrard said, “Anytime someone escapes, I consider them dangerous because of their determination to remain free even though his background doesn’t show any violent crimes.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
