Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) arrested three men this week in a Demorest drug operation, including one who said he had been selling methamphetamine for two decades without being caught.
Mitchell Posey, Special Agent in Charge of ARDEO, said the Demorest Police Department assisted with an investigation that lasted six months and concluded with the three arrests on Thursday, March 7.
"Authorities seized eight ounces of methamphetamine from Jasper Jerry Carlan during this investigation along with $1,300," Posey wrote in a press statement. "Carlan said he had been selling methamphetamine for 20 years and had never previously been caught."
The arrests were executed at the 78-year-old Carlan's residence on Golf Course Road in Demorest.
Posey said Robin Early May, 55, of Cornelia was arrested because he helped Carlan distribute meth to customers. Keith Lamar Pitts, 52, of Mount Airy, was one of Carlan's customers.
"Pitts brought a gram of methamphetamine to Carlan’s house as authorities were searching," Posey said.
Carlan was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, sale of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. May was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and sale of methamphetamine. Pitts was charged with methamphetamine possession. All three suspects were taken to the Habersham County Detention Center, according to Posey.
The street value of the illegal narcotics seized during the investigation was placed at $24,000.
