Dix: 21 suspects in large-scale narcotics investigation “methed around and found out”

STAFF REPORT :::

Seventeen people have been arrested and four additional suspects are being sought in a Griffin-Spalding County narcotics investigation involving the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations and S.T.I.N.G. units, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation West Metro Regional Drug Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Gang Task Force, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and Atlanta HIDTA-DEA.

The investigation involved the alleged trafficking of methamphetamine, GHB and ecstasy; violations of the Georgia RICO Act; and possible violations of the Georgia Criminal Street Gang Act.

“A total of 17 people have arrested, and 4 more are still being sought. A total of 10.9 pounds of methamphetamine was seized along with 21 firearms, approximately 250 prescription pills of various types, 2 pounds of marijuana, 20 ounces of GHB, and small amounts of THC products that are outside of the parameters of legality. Four vehicles were also seized along with $17,096.17 in currency (sic all),” said Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix. “When Special Operations Agents began digging, they found that this organization was tied to a source in the metro Atlanta area who was responsible for pound quantities of methamphetamine coming into Griffin and Spalding County and surrounding counties on a weekly basis. Because this target lived and operated outside of Spalding County, we reached out to the GBI West Metro Regional Drug Office for assistance. As the investigation grew, we reached out to other agencies for assistance with surveillance, and operations.”

Dix said the multi-jurisdictional cooperative investigation was necessary as this alleged narcotic operation was widespread.

“We take pride in our ability to work cooperatively with local, state, and federal agencies during investigations. In this case, there were a lot of moving parts over a broad area that led to these arrests, seizures, and the end to this organization. We are still looking at possible criminal street gang affiliations and if they meet the criteria of the Georgia statute those charges will be added,” Dix said. “We appreciate the support of Sheriff Barry Babb and Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Gary Long and the Butts County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Dan Kilgore and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Brad White and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jimmy Thomas and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force (Macon) and the Georgia State Patrol.”

Arrested and charged in this investigation are:

Bobby Kenneth Lewis Jr., age 54, has been charged with violation of the RICO Act, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, sale of methamphetamine, sale of Schedule II narcotics, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II narcotic, possession Schedule II narcotics, use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime and possession methamphetamine;
Stephen Rowell, age 49, has been charged with violation of the RICO Act, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;
William David Carter Jr., age 52, was charged with violation of the RICO Act, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and two counts of use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Miranda Chambley, age 42, has been charged with violation of the RICO Act, conspiracy traffic methamphetamine and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Joseph Gilbert, age 61, has been charged with violation of the RICO Act, sale of Schedule II narcotics, possession of Schedule II narcotics with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule II narcotics and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Melanie Tharpe, age 47, has been charged with possession of methamphetamine;

George Spratlin, age 62, has been charged with violation of the RICO Act, sale of Schedule II narcotics, possession of Schedule II narcotics with intent to distribute, possession Schedule II narcotics and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

William Jody Davenport, age 47, has been charged with violation of the RICO Act, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, possession of drug related objects, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana (misdemeanor), trafficking methamphetamine and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Daniel Shane Bright, age 53, has been charged with use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Dereak Bryant Eppinger, age 50, has been charged with possession of a Schedule II narcotic with intent to distribute and two counts of possession of a Schedule II narcotic;

Allan Rogers, age 58, has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule I narcotic, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute;

Melanie Clark, age 49, has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine;

Ryan Painter, age 43, has been charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and two counts of use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Benjamin Bass, age 53, has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of methamphetamine;

Darren Leverette, age 50, has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; trafficking methamphetamine and possession of drug related objects;
Brenda Adams, age 28, has been charged with possession of Schedule IV narcotics and possession of methamphetamine;

Gary Dean Jarrett, age 42, has been charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of crime.

Suspects currently being sought for arrest include:

James Vickers, age 34, is wanted on charges of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Jon Bottrell, age 51, is wanted on charges of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Ronald Haney Jr., age 47, is wanted on charges of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime;

Dereak Bryant Eppinger, age 50, who was previously arrested, is wanted on an additional charge of use of a telecommunications device for the commission of a crime.

“The folks we arrested are not kids; they have been around the cell block a time or two and knew exactly what they were doing. Many of them have previous convictions. They are dealers and traffickers, and none of them were dealing to provide for their families. They were dealing out of greed and for money,” Dix said. “They should have been thinking about their own families and the position their arrests have put their loved ones in. They should have been thinking about their own families while they were dealing to other people’s family members and children, but they weren’t. They methed around and found out.”

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