An undercover drug probe focusing on alleged drug dealers in Barrow County led to the arrest and/or warrants being issued for the arrests of 43 individuals, including 19 county residents.
Chief Deputy Murray Kogod said drug agents found drugs being moved in re-sale quantities. The operation was conducted in two stages and resulted in the total seizure of $135,625 in drugs, $8,650 in U.S. currency and $46,008 in property.
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Methamphetamine Task Force, H.E.A.T Unit, and City of Auburn Narcotics Unit participated in a two-month multi-level drug operation which included the use of undercover deputies and officers making controlled purchases of drugs. Sheriff’s Office H.E.A.T deputies conducted saturated patrols of high drug areas and Sheriff’s Office Tactical Team members executing search warrants at various locations.
The undercover probe was sparked by multiple deaths within Barrow County as a result of both prescription pill overdoses and poly-drug use overdoses. Since January 1, 2008, the sheriff’s office investigated 16 deaths, 11 of which were prescription pill overdose related.
More than 52 undercover drug buys were made at rural homes, within housing projects and at locations within school zones throughout the cities of Auburn, Bethlehem, Braselton, Statham and Winder. Additionally, search warrants were executed at 428 Foxdale Road in Winder, 1909 Dooley Town Road in Statham, 831 Briscoe Mill Road in Bethlehem, 426 Northridge Lane in Winder and 2069 Highway 211 NW in Braselton.
During the first phase of the undercover operation, 18 grams of cocaine (having a street value of $2,100), 1.5 grams of crack cocaine (having a street value of $190), 46 pills of MDMA (ecstasy) (having s street value of $920), 87 prescription pills (having a street value of &1,175), 120 ounces of marijuana (having a street value of $15,730) 34 grams of methamphetamine – ICE (having a street value of $4,390), $4,421 in U.S. currency, and property valued at $27,200 were seized and resulted in warrants being taken for 24 offenders.
Using information gathered during the first phase of the operation, and further information being provided by the City of Statham Police Department and numerous concerned citizens, the undercover probe was extended into a second phase.
The second phase resulted in the seizure of 178 grams of methamphetamine (ICE), 31 grams of MDMA (ecstasy), 5 grams of marijuana, 26 ounces of powder cocaine, 3,770 prescription pills (including, but not limited to oxycontin, morphine and hydrocodone,) with a total street value of $111,120, property valued at $54,816, guns and $4,350 in U.S. Currency were seized.
Additionally, the following 19 Barrow County residents were arrested:
•Sonia Bentley, 45, Winder, four counts of sale of oxycontin and two counts of sale of hydrocodone.
•Shane Leger, 37, Statham, one count of sale of hydrocodone and one count of sale of roxycodone.
•Jason Doerr, 29, Auburn, one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycontin and one count of possession of oxycontin.
•Michael Morris, 49, Winder, one count of sale of MDMA, one count of sale of morphine and one count of sale of marijuana.
•Daniel Moon, 25, Winder, one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycontin.
•Lanny Bentley, 27, Winder, one count of sale of oxycontin and one count of sale of hydrocodone.
•Brandon Sidwell, 21, Winder, one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycontin, one count of possession of oxycontin and one count of fleeing and attempting to elude.
•Monterio Lay, 28, Bethlehem, one count of trafficking methamphetamine, one count of sale of methamphetamine and one count of sale of cocaine.
•Kristopher Moreno, 34, Jefferson, one count to conspiracy of traffic methamphetamine.
•Essa Jallouk, 32, Lawrenceville, one count of trafficking methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
•Karen Harrison, 28, Savannah, one count of trafficking methamphetamine.
•Peter Franchot, 19, Atlanta, one count of trafficking MDMA (ecstasy).
•Kelsey Armbruster, 18, Atlanta, one count of trafficking MDMA and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
•Travis Walton, 28, Athens, one count of trafficking cocaine.
•Christian Hardy, 22, Athens, one count of trafficking cocaine, one count of sale of cocaine and one count of sale of ecstasy.
•Dency Carcano, 28, Lilburn, one count of trafficking cocaine.
•William Lopez Diaz, 33, Lawrenceville, one count of trafficking cocaine.
•Roberto Martinez, 27, Bethlehem, one count of trafficking cocaine.
•Christopher Schepis, 35, Athens, one count of trafficking cocaine.
The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. Anyone with information relevant to any of the above individuals’ criminal activity is asked to contact the Barrow County Methamphetamine Task Force at www.barrowmethtaskforce.com or by phone at 770-867-4112. Anonymous tips are welcome.
“This operation is a perfect example of what can be achieved when city and county law enforcement agencies work together and share information. We must continue to break down the jurisdictional barriers that have existed for years here in Barrow County and work together to make Barrow County a safe place for our citizens and for our young people,” said Chief Deputy Murray Kogod.
