4 arrested in Cherokee drug sweep

By Joel Provano

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Four people from North Georgia were arrested Thursday in a month-long drug investigation in Cherokee County.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Ollie Marchbanks, 32, of Snellville, charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. He was released from the Cherokee County Detention Center on $11,200 bond.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Graig Medon, 33, of Gainesville, charged with manufacturing marijuana; he was released on $11,200 bond.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Noah Sanders, 36, of Dawsonville, charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. He remains in the Cherokee County jail on $22,400 bond.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Madeline Stoddard, 25, of Gainesville, charged with felony possession of marijuana; she was released on $11,200 bond.

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Authorities seized approximately 12 pounds of marijuana and uncovered three indoor marijuana grow operations, including 106 marijuana plants, said Cherokee Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Jay Baker.

Arrested were:

-- Ollie Marchbanks, 32, of Snellville, charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana. He was released from the Cherokee County Detention Center on $11,200 bond.

--  Noah Sanders, 36, of Dawsonville, charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. He remains in the Cherokee County jail on $22,400 bond.

-- Graig Medon, 33, of Gainesville, charged with manufacturing marijuana; he was released on $11,200 bond.

-- Madeline Stoddard, 25, of Gainesville,  charged with felony possession of marijuana; she was released on $11,200 bond.

Two indoor marijuana grow operations were located in homes on Ernie Road in east Cherokee County, Baker said.  A third indoor grow operation was located in Hall County. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected, Baker said.

The investigation was carried out by the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad with assistance from the GBI, Hall County Sheriff's Office, Atlanta Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff's Office, Cherokee Sheriff's Office and narcotics agents from Dawson, Hall and Gwinnett counties.