22 Suspects Arrested In Meth Ring Spread Across 9 Counties In 3 States
Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett along with the ATF and investigators from Jackson County Alabama to Loudon Tennessee and into North Georgia worked together to bring about these arrests.
The 22 suspects range in age from their mid 30’s to their mid 50’s.
Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett, Marion County,TN,"They are career criminals that we are dealing with for years, in and out of the system, this time they are going to be gone for a pretty good significant time."
The 22 face charges of intent to distribute meth, possession of the drug and ownership of firearms by prohibited people.
The suspects live in 9 counties covering a distance of more than 120 square miles.
One of the main Georgia suspects is 46 year old Robert Graham who lived just behind me and neighbors say they never expected any kind of drug activity.
8 of the suspects were already in custody or wanted on other charges.
Georgia drug investigators say meth rings are a major problem.
Patrick Doyle, Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force,"22 seems like a high number but that number could very well have been double that, most of the time these organizations are wide ranging and there are a lot of people involved."
Investigators believe the meth distribution hub was in Marion County where half the suspects were based with others supporting the network.
Patrick Doyle, Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force,"At Wildwood we had one and Walker County on Lookout Mountain but he had already been arrested on other methamphetamine charges."
Officers tell News 12 the majority of the suspects were non violent when apprehended Wednesday.
The ATF tell News 12 the bust is a major step in the State’s focused efforts to address the meth crisis.
They added that an 8 year working relationship with Marion County Sheriff’s office played a major role.
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