Fourteen arrested in three-state meth trafficking ring

Thursday, April 18, 2013

At least 14 people have so far been arrested in an alleged methamphetamine trafficking ring in East Tennessee, North Georgia and Western North Carolina, the head federal prosecutor here said.

A release from U.S. Attorney Bill Killian's office said seven of the 14 made court appearances Tuesday as a result of an investigation by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tennessee's 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

A trial date was set by U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee for June 25.

More arrests are pending in the open investigation, according to the release.

Those arrested are listed below:

- Anthony Long, 41, of Chatsworth, Ga.

- Sarah McElhannon, 44, Corey Welch, 39, Robin Welch, 42, all of Copperhill, Tenn.

- Paula Price, 41, Jeremy Gamble, 42, Randy Greene, 48, Paul Gribble, 48, all of Turtletown, Tenn.

- Tracy Mason, 48, of McCaysville, Ga.

- Jose Manuel Juarez-Gonzalez, 37, of Ellenwood, Ga.

Hector De La Torre, 50, of Atlanta, Ga.

- Dennis Glover, 60, of Ranger, Ga.

- Melinda Adams, 24, of McCaysville, Ga.

- Mitchell Hughes, 38, of Farner, Tenn.

For more see tomorrow's Times Free Press.