Authorities say a meth trafficking ring with operations in Georgia, North and South Carolina has been dismantled. Special Agent in Charge of the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office Mitchell Posey credits shared intelligence and inter-agency cooperation with the arrests of four alleged ring members Friday.
Posey says agents from ARDEO, the Rabun County and Macon County Sheriff’s Offices and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation. In a statement released Monday he said:
“Because of the strong, existing relationships between the participating agencies, which is encouraged by the Sheriffs and Prosecutors of both Rabun County, Georgia and Macon County, North Carolina agents were able to share intelligence and coordinate the dismantling of a complex methamphetamine trafficking network.”
According to Posey, agents executed three search warrants in North Carolina which resulted in the seizure of approximately 11 ½ ounces of crystal methamphetamine. The drugs have a street value of $32,890.00.
The suspects are identified as 48-year old Rona Stone, 35-year old Denise Andrews, 33-year old Karrie Varner and 26-year old Joseph Persicketti, all of Franklin, NC.
Stone and Andrews were arrested in Franklin. Varner and Persicketti were picked up in Clayton, GA.
All four are charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
Posey says the investigation continues.
