24 POUNDS OF METH SEIZED
On December 27, 2017 officers with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, McDowell County Sheriff's Office and the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office conducted numerous search warrants and arrest warrants stemming from a six month investigation of a methamphetamine drug trafficking case. Also assisting in the investigation were the Marion Police Department, Burke County Sheriff's Office, Morganton Public Safety and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
During the course of the search warrants beginning on December 27, 2017, approximately twenty four pounds of methamphetamine was seized and a substantial amount of United States Currency along with a cache of 43 firearms.
During the operation the following people were arrested:
1) Alison Michelle Smith, 51, 76 Souther Road Old Fort NC: Charged with Conspire Traffic Methamphetamine and Continuing Criminal Enterprise. Smith is under a $5,000,000 bond.
2) Ashlea Hawkins , 34, of 1048 High Shoals Church Road Mooresboro NC: Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Hawkins is under a $1,000,000 bond.
3) Robin Ann Rhyne,54, of 639 Hwy. 74 Business East Ellenboro : Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Rhyne is under a $1,000,000 bond.
4) Tonya Chris-Ann Mullinax , 40, of 840 Jack McKinney Road Rutherfordton: Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Mullinax is under a $1,000,000 bond.
5) Ruben Guzman, 26, of Spartanburg SC: Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and two counts of Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine and two counts trafficking methamphetamine. Guzman is under a $5,000,000 bond.
6) Wesley Chad Smith, 42, of 122 Durham Road Mooresboro NC: Charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Smith is under a $500,000 bond.
7) Andy Darren Green, 49, of 722 Andrews Mill Road Bostic NC: Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and two counts of Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Green is under a $1,000,000 bond.
8) Deidre Diane Pearson, 38, of 3815 Dedmond Road Mooresboro NC: Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and two counts of Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Pearson is under a $5,000,000 bond.
9) Joshua Michael "Bubba" Lipe,37, of 70 Indian Waters Drive Old Fort NC : Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and two counts of Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Lipe is Under a $5,000,000 bond.
10) Tracey Lynn Arnold, 54, of 3815 Dedmond Road Mooresboro NC: Charged with Aid and Abet Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Arnold is under a $1,000,000 bond.
11) Dustin Bo Pearson,30, of Brooklyn Road Forest City NC : Charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Pearson is under a $1,000,000 bond.
12) Dennis Eugene Medley, 35, of 1458 Beachwood Road Mooresboro NC: Charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine.
13) Roman Guzman, 27, of Lexington SC: Charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine. Guzman is under a $500,000 bond.
14) Cody Lee Migala , 27,of 685 High Shoals Church Road Mooresboro NC: Charged with Harboring a Fugitive. Migala is under a $1,000 unsecured bond.
" The nature of a drug investigation this complex, is to dismantle and disrupt the drug dealers and will have a local impact reducing the drug flow in our communities. The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office will continue to be constantly vigilant in seeking out the next drug dealers who try to feel their shoes. Our goal is to prove that crime does not pay! We have great working relationships with our neighboring agencies and I would like to thank each of these for their support and assistance in this case", Sheriff Chris Francis.
This case is still an ongoing investigation and further arrest are forthcoming.
Address/Location
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office
198 N Washington St
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 828-287-6247
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