Authorities say suspects sold heroin in Habersham and White Counties
Two people from Habersham County and a White County man have been arraigned on federal charges of trafficking in heroin. 28-year-old Nigel Alan Waddell of Cornelia, 45-year-old Michelle Dawn Dorsey of Demorest, and 26-year-old Tyler Josiah Matthews of Cleveland were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Clay Fuller.
Dorsey, Waddell, Matthews and another defendant, 42-year-old Derrik Omar Frazier of Stone Mountain, were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 12, 2017. Frazier, was arraigned on July 20, 2017.
“The indictment brought against these defendants is the result of a two-year, joint federal-state investigation by law enforcement to take down a significant heroin distribution network operating between communities in North Georgia and the Atlanta area,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn. “Heroin and fentanyl are poisoning our communities, and the overdoses and deaths are climbing in truly alarming numbers. Our office, along with state and local law enforcement agencies, are taking a strong stance against those who deal heroin and opiates.”
READ: Three arrested in “large scale” heroin trafficking organization
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: Dorsey, Waddell, Matthews and Frazier allegedly conspired to distribute heroin in North Georgia. Dorsey and Waddell sold quantities of heroin in White and Habersham Counties. They obtained the heroin primarily from Frazier. Matthews worked for Dorsey and was responsible for transporting heroin from Frazier’s residence in Stone Mountain to Dorsey’s residence in Demorest.
Two heroin users allegedly overdosed on heroin they obtained from Dorsey, but they were revived after being administered Naloxone by emergency medical personnel in White County in one instance and Habersham County in the other. Naloxone is used to treat narcotic overdoses as it can reverse the effects of an overdose in most cases. Both overdose victims likely would have died, but for the life saving measures taken by medical professionals.
The overdose victims in this case were transported to medical facilities by friends who were also in possession of heroin. However, those individuals have not been charged with any offense.
A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s office states, “In keeping with the spirit of Georgia’s 911 Medical Amnesty Law, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) want the public to trust that those seeking to provide aid to overdose victims will not be targeted for investigation and/or prosecution.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William L. McKinnon, Jr. and Nicholas Hartigan are prosecuting the case.
