The sheriff’s department began picking up the first of 64 people indicted on drug charges by the grand jury last week.
The result of a three-month long investigation, the grand jury returned the indictments on Jan. 13, and the  sheriff’s department made the first arrests last Wednesday.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, his department began the operation in September, and wrapped it up in mid-December.
“On Monday January 13th, my drug detectives and I met with the DeKalb County Grand Jury for the purpose of seeking indictments on 63 drug dealers here in DeKalb County,” Ray said. “We presented a total of 112 controlled drug buys to the DeKalb County Grand Jury. There was also an additional drug indictment on another person for a methamphetamine lab, so the total number of drug defendants is 64.”
The sheriff said that some of those indicted were caught selling drugs while working at local businesses.
“There were three businesses on West Broad Street in Smithville where we were able to conduct controlled drug buys. We had been receiving citizen complaints of drug sales and drug abuse from one business in particular where we made arrests today. We were able to conduct 12 different controlled drug buys from six different employees who worked at this business," Ray said.
“As for the other two businesses on West Broad Street, we were able to conduct four different controlled drug buys from two employees at one business, and two different controlled drug buys from one employee at the other business,” the sheriff said. “In addition, we made one controlled drug buy from an employee at a business on McMinnville Highway, and lastly, we conducted three different controlled drug buy operations from an owner of a business on Holiday Haven Drive.”
While Ray did not reveal the names of the businesses, saying that in most of the arrests there was no evidence that the owners of the business knew that drug traffic was taking place.
The Review has learned however, that six of those arrested were employed at Florence and White Ford on West Broad Street.
Ray said that while the 64 indictments included charges for the sale of drugs including Dilaudid, Morphine, Opana, Roxycodone, Percocet, Hydocodone, Suboxone Strips, Suboxone Pills, Adderall, Valium, Xanax, Subutex, Ecstasy, Crack Cocaine, and Marijuana, the majority of the drugs allegedly purchased were prescription pain killers.
Ray said some of the alleged dealers stand to lose personal property as well.
“We expect to seize at least 10 vehicles that drug dealers used in the transport and sale of illegal drugs, the sheriff said.
“I want to thank my detectives and deputies for the hard work that they have done in planning and implementing this operation,” Ray said. “As a result of these efforts, DeKalb County’s citizens are safer, and these defendants now have the opportunity to face the consequences of their wrong and, hopefully, make a commitment to not making these mistakes again.
“Probably the most positive impact of this operation is the undisputed fact that, as of today, the availability of illegal drugs in DeKalb County has been drastically slashed,” Ray continued.
“I also want to thank District Attorney General Randy York, Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong, their secretary Melissa Lewis, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, DeKalb County 911 Dispatch, officers from the State of Tennessee Probation and Parole, and the DeKalb County Fire Department for allowing us to use their facility as part of this operation,” Ray concluded.
Most of the 64 people indicted have been picked up since arrests began last week. All defendants will appear in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Feb. 21 for arraignment.
Those arrested include:
•Lawrence Scott Young, 46, of Murfreesboro, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall)-bond $60,000.
•Christopher Michael Prince, 22 of Murfreesboro, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall); one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule VI drug (Marijuana)-$70,000 bond. Ray said Prince was also cited for simple possession when a deputy found a small amount of marijuana on his person at the time of his arrest.
•Ronald “Jag” Jagnandan, 30, of  Sparta, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone); one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall)-$60,000 bond.
•James “Jim” Walters, 53, of  McMinnville, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall)-$60,000 bond.
•Bradley “Buck” Luna, 45, of  Smithville, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall)-$30,000 bond.
•Kenneth “Kenny” Bain Jr., 32, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine)-$60,000 bond.
•Chad Everett Knowles, 42, one count of Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid)-$30,000 bond.
•Eulain “Poley" Shelton, 69, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid)-$30,000 bond.
•Bruce Carlon Cantrell, 25, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of drug free zone, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone), one count of drug free zone; one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Percocet), one count of drug free zone-$130,000 bond.
•Terra Elaine Locklear, 30, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Percocet), one count of drug free zone, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-$70,000 bond.
•Jessie Eugene Thomas, 35,  one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Percocet), one count of drug free zone-$50,0000 bond.
•Kenneth Lee Bain Sr., two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine)-$60,000 bond.
•Mark Denver Young, 32, two counts of Sale and Delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone)-$60,000 bond.
•Amanda Alice Atnip, 28, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Opana)-$60,000 bond.
•Michael Shone Saylors, 35, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-$40,000 bond.
•Christopher Trent Barnes, 30, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of drug free zone, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule drug II (Opana), one count of drug free zone-$100,000 bond.
•Christopher Eudean Pack, 32, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone)-$60,000 bond
•Jermaine Derperise McCoy, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Crack Cocaine), two counts of drug free zone-$100,000 bond.
•Brandon Edward Smith, 33, four counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Crack Cocaine), two counts of drug free zone-$160,000 bond.
•Donald “Ricky” Atnip Jr., 29, of McMinnville, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Opana)-$60,000 bond.
•Emily Claire Anderson, 29, of McMinnville, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Suboxone Strips)- $20,000 bond.
•Richard Scott Adams, 43, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Crack Cocaine)-$30,000 bond.
•Victor Locklear, 50, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-$40,000 bond.
•Jackie Blake Sanders, 30, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Percocet), two counts of drug free zone-$100,000 bond.
•David “D.J.” Stewart, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Suboxone)-$70,000 bond.
•Scott Alan Ferrell, 49, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine), one count of drug free zone-$80,000 bond.
•John Miller Alsup, 34, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-$40,000 bond.
•Clent Lee Shehane, 28, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine), one count of drug free zone, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule IV drug (Valium)-$70,000 bond.
•Carl Edward Martin, 51, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid), two counts of drug free zone-$100,000 bond.
•Billie Jean Sanders, 63, one count of sale and delivery of a counterfeit drug, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall), one count of drug free zone-$60,000 bond.
•Sammy Gene Taylor, 53, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall)-$60,000 bond.
•Charles Ronnie Evans, 61, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid)-$60,000 bond.
•Auston Corley Wood, 26, of  Gassaway, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone) one count of drug free zone-$80,000 bond.
•Russell Shannon Estes, 34, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Suboxone Strips), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid)-$50,000 bond.
•Nikita Dawn Clark, 27, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone)-bond $60,000.
•Savanah Brooke Arnold, 19, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Suboxone Strips), one count of drug free zone-bond $50,000.
•Amanda Michelle Certain, 29, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrodone)-bond $50,000.
•Lisa Lue Ray, 41, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Percocet), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-bond $50,000.
•Tommye Lou Bell, 52, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid)-bond $60,000.
•Ricky Shannon Pollard, 32, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine)-bond $60,000.
•Anthony Glen Johnson, 35, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine), one count of drug free zone, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-bond $70,000.
•Jonathan Kyle McCormick, 31, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid), one count of drug free zone, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of drug free zone-bond $100,000.
•Christopher Shannon Mooneyham, 34, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of drug free zone-bond $50,000.
•Tommy Redmon, 56, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Dilaudid)-bond $30,000
•Jimmy Joel Farris, 31, one count of sale and delivery of a counterfeit drug-bond $10,000.
•Steven Ray Keen Jr., 34, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Opana), one count of drug free zone-bond $50,000.
George O. Divine, 56, of Sparta, three counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Adderall)-bond $90,000.
•Brandy Faye Batey, 28, two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II drug (Opana), two counts of drug free zone-bond $100,000
•Howard Robert Mayo Jr., 47, of Gassaway, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-bond $20,000
•Evelyn Darlene Cantrell, 48, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Opana)-bond $60,000
•James Todd Qualls, 31, of  Sparta, initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a Schedule I drug (Mushroom)-bond $75,000.
•Garth Cantrell, 32, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Crack Cocaine)-bond $50,000
Eric Dewayne Judkins, 22, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Opana), one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Hydrocodone)-bond $50,000.
•Robert Jeffery League, 50, two counts of sale and delivery of a Schedule I drug (MDMA Ecstasy), two counts of a drug free zone-bond $50,000.
•Brandon Scott Kidd, 28, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule IV drug (Xanax)-bond $20,000.
•Terrance Ladale Martin, one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Roxycodone), one count of drug free zone-bond $50,000.
Of the 64 indictments, 56 people have been reported arrested as of press time.