A drug trafficking organization operating in three states has been broken up with the arrest of two individuals.
Leigh-Cheri Cruz, 38, of 101 Stevenson Street, Copperhill, and William Dwayne Bell, 52, of 14 Long Street, McCaysville, both face multiple charges including drug trafficking.
Investigators received information of a drug trafficking organization operating in the North Georgia, Southeastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina areas.
The information led to a joint investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, McCaysville Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Tenth Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Tennessee Narcotics Unit, and the Cherokee County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit.
Search warrants were served simultaneously at Bell’s address in McCaysville and Cruz’s address in Copperhill.
Agents seized approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, three pistols, five rifles, and $10,000 in U.S. currency.
Bell was originally arrested November 15 on 11 felony charges and a single misdemeanor.
He has now been charged with two additional felony counts of Trafficking in Methamphetamine or Amphetamine.
As a result of the investigation into drug trafficking, Cruz is charged with two felony counts of Trafficking in Methamphetamine or Amphetamine.
Additional charges against Cruz were filed by McCaysville Assistant Police Chief Cory Collogan.
Collogan said he had been alerted to warrants against Cruz by an agent of the ARDEO. He spotted her in a vehicle in McCaysville and performed a traffic stop, taking her into custody on the warrants.
During a search of the car, Collogan said he found suspected methamphetamine, a powder testing positive for fentanyl and drug related objects.
Collogan charged Cruz with two felonies, Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, along with a misdemeanor count of Possession of Drug Related Objects.
Both subjects remained in the Fannin County Jail last week after bond had been denied.