TOCCOA — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office have released more information, including the names of those arrested so far, in ongoing drug raids across Northeast Georgia and into South Carolina.
The arrests were part of the dismantling of Horace Mayfield's Drug Trafficking Organization takedown operation, nicknamed "Operation Maywolf", which GBI Special Agent in Charge Mitchell Posey said has a big impact on the area's illegal drug trade.
"This has an immediate impact on Stephens County and the counties surrounding here," Posey said Wednesday evening. "There were a number of counties surrounding here that we received information back from local drug units or sheriff's offices that through this investigation has taken out what they define as their largest drug dealer in their county, which Horace was supplying. So it's a huge immediate impact on the counties here in North Georgia and South Carolina."
Asked where those involved were distributing the drugs, Posey said, "In Stephens County and surrounding counties, into South Carolina. They would purchase their narcotics in the Atlanta area and then distribute here in North Georgia ... methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana."
Mayfield "has been doing this for well over 10 years, so he was well versed in how to distribute narcotics and elude law enforcement," Posey said. "He was well organized and had a very good workforce that would distribute the narcotics for him. He essentially controlled the market," Posey said. "They bought from him, Nate Howard and Leonardo Steeple."
The arrests involved officers representing dozens of agencies.
"This investigation began July of last year," Posey said. "Today about 200 local, state and federal law enforcement agents in Georgia and South Carolina served 22 search warrants and arrested [24] people. We've seized a significant amount of methamphetamine, cocaine, firearms and U.S. Currency."
Posey said the seizure of weapons is especially important because of the impact drug-related gun violence has on communities.
"Stephens County has been plagued by it lately, so we're glad to be able to get those off the streets," Posey said.
As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, 24 of those wanted in connection with the drug trafficking organization were in custody.
Those people include:
• Rashad Beasley, 41, of 27 Maple St. Lavonia;
• Sherry Evans, 39, of 820 Mount Olivet Road, Hartwell;
• Henry Harris, 61, of 146 Sitton Mill Road, Seneca, S.C.;
• Malissa Holden, 43, of 313 Zion Hill Road, Seneca, S.C.;
• Avero Howard, 38, of 317 Skyview Lane, Toccoa;
• Nate Howard, 30, of 1995 Carithers Way, Marietta;
• Joy Hunter, 32, of 413 Butler St., Westminster, S.C.;
• Stephens Ivester, 38, of 1971 Wolfpit Road, Eastanollee;
• Quincy Jones, 33, of 118 Poplar Trail, Toccoa;
• Jack Mark, 63, of 106 Oak Ridge Circle, Seneca, S.C.;
• Horace Mayfield III, 31, of 714 Baskins Circle, Winder;
• Deltorious McClendon, 27, of 170 Hanover Place, Apt. 4, Athens;
• Gustavo Melendez, 38, of 1531 Druid Valley Drive, Apt. B, Atlanta;
• Wilfredo Otero, 24, of 317 Ard Place, Atlanta;
• Brittany Prather, 23, of 130 Persimmon St., Toccoa;
• Megan Sanders, 28, of 111 Cabin Lake Court, Athens;
• Audreona Scott, 24, of 714 Baskins Circle, Winder;
• Bobby J. Smith, 30, of 195 Forest Brook Drive, Eastanollee;
• Leonardo Steeple, 38, of 196 Tabitha Page Lane, Toccoa;
• Mario Stowers, 36, of 1725 Presidents St., Apt. A, Westminster, S.C.;
• Marvin Teasley, 38, of 269 Country Club Drive, Toccoa;
• Dwayanego Poole, 38, of 310 Pine St., Seneca, S.C.;
• Chanin Mayfield, 26, of 317 Skyview Lane, Toccoa; and
• Carlos Torres, 26, of 317 Ard Place, Atlanta.
Posey said outstanding arrest warrants remain for those who haven't been found as of Wednesday night.
Search warrants were conducted at the following locations:
• 7124 Dicks Hill Parkway, Mt. Airy;
• 729 Defoor Road, Toccoa;
• 47 Keslate Drive, Toccoa;
• 5863 Mize Road, Toccoa;
• 469 Oak Valley Road (Haddick Storage Building), Toccoa;
• 118 Poplar Trail, Toccoa;
• 317 Skyview Lane, Toccoa;
• 196 Tabitha Paige Lane, Toccoa;
• 1444 Scott Road, Eastanollee; and
• 1971 Wolfpit Road, Eastanollee;
Search warrants also were served in Athens, Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Mableton, Marietta and Winder, as well as three locations in Seneca, S.C., a location in Walhalla, S.C., and one in Westminster, S.C.
Asked what made now the time for them to be able to catch up with Mayfield's operation that they believe has been ongoing for more than 10 years, Posey said, "We just received good information that he was a viable target that we needed to look at, to investigate, to make sure that the information we were receiving that he was distributing high amounts of narcotics was accurate. We looked into it and we realized that it was accurate information and the investigation just continued until today it culminated in his arrest."
The earlier story can be found at http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/2/370747/raids-ongoing-in-dismantling-of-95-million-drug-operation.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/2/370916/officials-release-names-of-24-arrested-in-drug-takedown