Eight month long investigation leads to dismantling of alleged drug trafficking network in Stephens, Habersham, and surrounding counties
Twenty-eight people have been arrested and charged in connection with the operation of an alleged drug trafficking organization based in Toccoa. Over the weekend, authorities from multiple agencies served 10 search warrants and 30 arrest warrants for alleged members, suppliers and customers of a drug trafficking organization authorities say was being run by Toccoa residents Donna Beard and Amber Null.
Two of the suspects, 35-year-old Lisa Smith of Toccoa and 28-year-old Luke Norton of Alto, remain at large.
The weekend roundup was coordinated among officers with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, the Toccoa Police Department and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO).
Special Agent in Charge of ARDEO, Mitchell Posey, says the execution of the search and arrest warrants were preceded by a traffic stop of alleged suppliers, Brandon Davidson of Cornelia and Jody Higgins of Toccoa. The stop was made “prior to their delivery of methamphetamine to Beard and Null,” he says.
The search warrants resulted in the seizure of 1 pound of methamphetamine, numerous firearms and $38,600. Over the course of this investigation, Posey says the Drug Trafficking Organization distributed multiple kilograms of methamphetamine in North Georgia.
The investigation developed as a result of intelligence that was gathered after the previous arrests of other suspects including Luke Norton, Tonya Loundermilk and Melenie Brock. Loudermilk was arrested June 30 in Baldwin, two weeks after a raid on her home in Gwinnett County resulted in the seizure of more than $110,000 in methamphetamine and cash.
“Over the course of an eight month investigation, ARDEO, with the cooperation of the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, used all available investigative techniques at its disposal to bring down a drug trafficking network that plagued Stephens, Habersham and surrounding counties,” Posey says. “This particular investigation is an example of the value of interagency cooperation. Because of the strong, existing relationships between the participating agencies, agents were able to share intelligence and coordinate the dismantling of a complex drug trafficking organization. The hard work of these law enforcement officers and prosecutors has dismantled this destructive organization.”
Posey says the investigation continues and additional arrests are expected.
Search warrants were served at:
Brandon Davidson’s residence, 1155 Creasy Patch Road, Cornelia, GA
Jody Higgins’ residence, 193 South Pine Street, Toccoa, GA
Amber Null’s residence, 319 Bobby Street, Toccoa, GA
Donna Beard’s residence, 212 Pinetree Road, Toccoa, GA
Timmy Thompson’s residence, 3268 Ridgeland Road, Toccoa, GA
Health Garland’s residence, 458 Brookdale Road, Toccoa, GA
Juan Tellez’s residence, 2131 Mize Road, Toccoa, GA
Tammy William’s residence, 272 Letorneau Drive, Toccoa, GA
Cindy Mooney’s residence, 1626 Falls Road, Toccoa, GA
Brandy Holland’s residence, 55 Circle view, Toccoa, GA
Arrest Warrants:
Luke Norton, 28 of Alto, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Brandon Davidson, 33 of Cornelia, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Jody Higgins, 27 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Amber Null, 26 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Thomas Devin Wade Jarrell, 27 – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Donna Beard, 44 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Tammy Williams, 51 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Cindy Mooney, 42 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Lisa “Buttefly” Smith, 35 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Colby Null, 49 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Health Garland, 41 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Timmy Thompson, 58 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Seth Scroggs, 27 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Marvin Hayes, 39 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Bo Gunn, 24 of Demorest, GA – Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Doug Dodd, 52 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Juan Tellez, 24 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Amanda Mae Collins, 36 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
James Wooten, 33 of Clarkesville, GA – Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Jennifer Chambers, 44 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Kimberly Smith, 43 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Brandy Holland, 38 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Thomas Clifford Burnette, 53 of Toccoa, GA- Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and use of a communication device to distribute illegal narcotics
Robert Nathan, 39 of Toccoa, GA – Distribution of methamphetamine
Mason Durham, 28 of Toccoa, GA – Possession of methamphetamine
Melissa Ivester Burnette, 48 of Toccoa, GA – Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
Raymond Mooney, 45 of Toccoa, GA-Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
Tony Mooney, 20 of Toccoa, GA- Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug related objects
Steven Walker, 26 of Toccoa, GA- Obstruction of law enforcement
Kim York, 51 of Toccoa, GA- Possession of drug related objects
Those arrested were transported to the Stephens County Detention Center.
UPDATE: This article has been updated to reflect that two of the suspects – Luke Norton and Lisa Smith – remain at large
