Authorities say they seized $1.5 million worth of illegal drugs during a series of widespread drug raids in North Georgia and South Carolina on Wednesday. According to the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, agents from throughout the region confiscated 6 kilos of meth, 4 kilos of cocaine and 10 pounds of marijuana in a multi-agency sting dubbed “Operation Maywolf.”
Wednesday’s takedown of the alleged Mayfield Drug Trafficking Organization resulted in 24 arrests and the confiscation of drug paraphernalia and weapons.
White County-based ARDEO led a team of 200 local, state and federal agents in the day-long operation on February 17 in an effort to dismantle the drug ring. ARDEO Special Agent in Charge Mitchell Posey says Horace Mayfield and his associates have been operating out of Stephens County and surrounding communities for years.
The 31-year old Mayfield was among those arrested. He was picked up by the GBI Wednesday night during a drug raid in Winder and booked into the Stephens County jail. The arrest record lists his address as 317 Skyview Lane, Toccoa, GA. Mayfield and his alleged co-conspirators face federal racketeering charges.
Interagency cooperation led to arrests
Wednesday’s raids came on the heels of a 10-month long joint investigation involving numerous local police and sheriff’s offices in Georgia and South Carolina, the GBI, Georgia National Guard, Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Posey calls it an example of the value of interagency cooperation. “Because of the strong, existing relationships between the participating agencies,” he says, “agents were able to share intelligence and coordinate the dismantling of a complex drug trafficking organization.”
READ: Multi-Million Dollar Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled
Posey adds, “Over the course of this investigation, the Mayfield Drug Trafficking Organization can be attributed to 72 kilograms of cocaine, 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and 50 pounds of marijuana with a total street value of 9.5 million dollars.”
VIDEO: Raid on Suspected Drug House in Eastanollee, GA
Agents executed search warrants at 22 different locations from as far north as Walhalla, South Carolina to Atlanta. The raids landed 24 suspects in jail.
Suspects arrested:
- Deltorious McClendon (27), 170 Hanover Place Apt. 4, Athens, GA
- Megan Sanders (28), 111 Cabin Lake Court Athens, GA
- Gustavo Melendez (38), 1531 Druid Valley Drive Apt. B, Atlanta, GA
- Carlos Torres (26), 317 Ard Place, Atlanta, GA
- Wilfredo Otero (24), 317 Ard Place, Atlanta, GA
- Stephens Ivester (38), 1971 Wolfpit Road, Eastonallee, GA
- Bobby J. Smith (30), 195 Forest Brook Drive, Eastanollee, GA
- Sherry Evans (39), 820 Mount Olivet Road, Hartwell, GA
- Rashad Beasley (41), 27 Maple Street Lavonia, GA
- Nate Howard (30), 1995 Carithers Way Marietta, GA
- Henry Harris (61), 146 Sitton Mill Road, Seneca, SC
- Malissa Holden (43), 313 Zion Hill Road, Seneca, SC
- Dwayanego Poole (38), 310 Pine Street, Seneca, SC
- Jack Mark (63), 106 Oak Ridge Circle, Seneca, SC
- Avero Howard (38), 317 Skyview Lane, Toccoa, GA
- Quincy Jones (33), 118 Poplar Trail, Toccoa, GA
- Brittany Prather (23), 130 Persimmon Street, Toccoa, GA
- Leonardo Steeple (38), 196 Tabitha Page Lane, Toccoa, GA
- Marvin Teasley (38), 269 Country Club Drive, Toccoa, GA
- Chanin Mayfield (26), 317 Skyview Lane, Toccoa, GA
- Joy Hunter (32), 413 Butler Street, Westminster, SC
- Mario Stowers (36), 1725 Presidents Street Apt. A, Westminster, SC
- Audreona Scott (24), 714 Baskins Circle, Winder, GA
- Horace Mayfield III (31), 714 Baskins Circle, Winder GA
Search warrants were executed on the following addresses:
- 111 Cabin Lake Court, Athens, GA
- 317 Ard Place, Atlanta, GA
- 1531 Druid Valley Drive Apt. B, Atlanta, GA
- 1444 Scott Road, Eastanollee, GA
- 1971 Wolfpit Road, Eastanollee, GA
- 12 Shadowood Drive, Lawrenceville, GA
- 376 Vinings Vintage Circle, Mabelton, GA
- 1995 Carithers Way, Marietta, GA
- 7124 Dicks Hill Parkway, Mount Airy, GA
- 313 Zion Hill Road, Seneca, SC
- 1457 South Walnut Street, Seneca, SC
- 1140 Kilpatrick Road, Seneca, SC
- 47 Keslate Drive, Toccoa, GA
- 5863 Mize Road , Toccoa, GA
- 317 Skyview Lane, Toccoa, GA
- 729 Defoor Road, Toccoa, GA
- 118 Poplar Trail, Toccoa, GA
- 196 Tabitha Paige Lane, Toccoa, GA
- 469 Oak Valley Road (Haddick Storage Building), Toccoa, GA
- 243A Popular Spring Road, Walhalla, SC
- 1725 Presidents Street Apt. A, Westminster, SC
- 714 Baskins Circle, Winder, GA
The investigation continues and officials say more arrests are expected.
Contraband authorities say they seized in massive drug sting operation in Georgia-Carolina on February 17, 2016
(Photos/ARDEO)
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