Meth Bust Yields 22 Pounds, 13 Arrests

McDOWELL COUNTY, NC — A joint investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies led to the arrest this week of 13 people and the seizure of 22 pounds of methamphetamine, according to a media report. Police also seized 43 firearms, from handguns to assault rifles, WSOC-TV Channel 9 reported.

The six-month investigation focused on drug deals in McDowell and Rutherford counties, and the meth came from the Atlanta area, the Charlotte TV station reported.

“The drugs were headed directly for our streets,” McDowell County Sheriff Dudley Greene said in a statement. “We’re glad they didn’t get there. This case underscores the impact law enforcement can have when agencies work together.”

The arrests took place Wednesday night and Thursday morning in McDowell and Rutherford counties. Two of those arrested are from South Carolina, and the rest are from North Carolina.

Some are being held on bonds as high as $5 million, Channel 9 reported. The authorities also seized an undisclosed amount of cash.

The investigation involved agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and officers from the state's Highway Patrol. It also involved deputies from the sheriff's offices of McDowell, Rutherford, Cleveland and Burke counties, as well as the Marion Police Department, the Morganton Department of Public Safety and the Prosecutorial District 29A District Attorney’s Office.

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office released a list of the people arrested, along with their charges and bonds:

• Tracey Lynn Arnold, 54, of the 3800 block of Dedmond Road in Mooresboro, one count each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and aiding and abetting continuing a criminal enterprise; $1 million bond
• Andy Darren Green, 49, of the 700 block of Andrews Mill Road in Bostic, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting continuing a criminal enterprise; $1 million bond
• Roman Guzman, 27, of Lexington, S.C., one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $500,000 bond
• Ruben Guzman, 26, of Spartanburg, S.C., two counts each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and trafficking in methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting continuing a criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
• Ashlea Nicole Hawkins, 34, of the 1000 block of High Shoals Church Road in Mooresboro, one count each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and aiding and abetting continuing a criminal enterprise; $100,000 bond
• Joshua Michael “Bubba” Lipe, 37, of the 100 block of Indian Waters Drive in Old Fort, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting continuing a criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
• Dennis Eugene Medley, 35, of the 1400 block of Beechwood Road in Mooresboro, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $1 million bond
• Tonya Chris-Ann Mullinax, 40, of the 800 block of Jack McKinney Road in Forest City, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $1 million bond
• Deidre Diane Pearson, 38, of the 3800 block of Dedmond Road in Mooresboro, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting continuing a criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
• Dustin Bo Pearson, 30, of the 100 block of Cliffside Street in Rutherfordton, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $1 million bond
• Robin Ann Rhyne, 54, of 62 Highway 70 Business East in Ellenboro, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting continuing a criminal enterprise; $1 million bond
• Allison Michelle Smith, 51, of the 100 block of Souther Road in Old Fort, one count each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and continuing a criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
• Wesley Chad Smith, 42, of the 200 block of Durham Road in Mooresboro, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $500,000 bond

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