Four men are charged and over a half-million dollars worth of illegal narcotics is off the streets following a marijuana bust in North Georgia. Authorities say their investigation disrupted a marijuana distribution ring that was operating in Habersham, White and Gwinnett Counties.
So far three of the four suspects have been arrested.
20-year-old William Ryan Crispin of Demorest, 33-year-old Steven Pruitt of Cleveland, and 25-year-old Evan Johnstone of Norcross are in jail. They’re charged under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute.
The three were arrested Friday (Feb. 2) during a multi-agency operation involving the Habersham and White County Sheriff’s Offices, Cleveland, Demorest and Norcross Police Departments, the Department of Community Supervision, and the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO).
ARDEO Special Agent in Charge Mitchell Posey says White County Authorities learned of the organization through tips from concerned citizens.
Through the use of surveillance and interviews, ARDEO Agents executed search warrants at the home of Steven Pruitt at 110 Rolling Ridge Drive in Cleveland. There, Posey says authorities found 8 pounds of marijuana and 200 grams of THC wax along with numerous firearms.
ARDEO Agents and Norcross Police also executed a search warrant at the Norcross town home of Evan Johnstone and William Blake Moore. Posey says they found 14 pounds of marijuana, 200 grams of THC wax and THC Vape Cartridges valued at $42,169.
Johnstone was arrested after a traffic stop in White County with $3,500 in cash and THC wax. William Ryan Crispin of Demorest was arrested after a traffic stop in White County with marijuana and $9,584 in cash. Another $1,000 was found at his residence at 206 Demorest Apartment Court, according to a press release.
“The investigation indicated that Crispin was coming to White County to purchase marijuana from Pruitt and that Johnstone and Moore supplied Pruitt with marijuana and the THC wax,” explains Posey. He says ARDEO agents seized a total of $56,253 in cash and over $546,000 worth of illegal narcotics.
The investigation revealed a large quantity of the marijuana was smuggled into Georgia from states that have legalized marijuana. Authorities say it also appears Johnstone and Moore were producing their own THC wax, also referred to as Butane Honey Oil or “Butter”.
Crispin, Pruitt, and Johnstone were transported to the White County Detention Center. A RICO warrant has been issued for Moore but he has not yet been arrested.
If you have information on Moore’s whereabouts, contact ARDEO at 706-348-7410 or contact your local Sheriff’s Office or Police Department.
