A six-month investigation in Northeast Georgia has led to the arrests of two alleged drug traffickers. Law enforcement in Jackson County took Steven Chad Pearson and Angela Nichole Patrick into custody on Friday and charged them with trafficking fentanyl, among other charges.
On June 17, agents with the GBI’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 1680 Mountain Creek Drive in Pendergrass. Following that search, they took the two suspects, who are from Pendergrass, into custody.
In addition to trafficking fentanyl, both Pearson, 39, and Patrick, 37, are charged with possession with intent to distribute schedule 3 and schedule 4 pills, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and reckless conduct. Pearson is also charged with distribution of heroin, according to ARDEO Special Agent in Charge Trent Hillsman.
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As Now Habersham previously reported, there’s been an alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths in Georgia in recent years. According to State Attorney General Chris Carr’s office, fentanyl-involved overdose deaths increased by 218.4 percent from 2019 to 2021.
Hillsman has expressed strong concern over the rise in fentanyl and heroin-related deaths in the region and says ARDEO is doing the best that it can “to limit the people who can get their hands on it.”
For more information about ARDEO or to provide tips on criminal activity, look for ARDEO@appalachiandtf on Twitter or follow @appalachianrdeo on Facebook and Instagram.
