More than a dozen people are facing drug charges — and officials are looking for 33 more — after an investigation uncovered a cocaine trafficking operation with arms in at least seven counties, authorities said.
The 14 suspects were arrested in connection with a drug trafficking organization operating in Griffin, the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Officials first arrested 41-year-old Kyle Duffey, who investigators believed to be the leader of the organization. They said Duffey was running the operation out of a location on Hammock Street.
He was taken into custody after a traffic stop March 28, hours after he had met with a cocaine supplier in Meriwether County, the sheriff’s office said.
Credit: Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Investigators said drugs from the supplier were still in the vehicle when a Spalding deputy initiated the traffic stop, but Duffey tossed them out of the car window before pulling over. Deputies recovered the cocaine from the side of the road, and Duffey was taken to the Spalding jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Shortly after the investigation began, it was determined that several other jurisdictions were being affected by Duffey and his cocaine suppliers,” the sheriff’s office said in the post.
The GBI, LaGrange police and sheriff’s offices from Henry, Butts, Meriwether, Troup, Coweta and Upson counties became involved in the investigation. It culminated with multiple arrests between the nine agencies over the span of two weeks, the Spalding sheriff’s office said.
Husband and wife Clarence and Felicia Murray, both of Henry County, were arrested by Spalding investigators after a traffic stop April 17, officials said. Spalding investigators had previously obtained an arrest warrant charging Clarence Murray with sale and possession of cocaine. When authorities searched the couple’s car, they found “a trafficking amount of cocaine” inside, the sheriff’s office said. A search of the couple’s home yielded more cocaine, cash and a gun, officials said.
Clarence and Felicia Murray were both taken to the Spalding jail.
RELATED: GBI: 3 Middle Georgia men arrested after trafficking meth, cocaine
Less than a week later, the GBI arrested three men on drug trafficking charges, one of whom is believed to be connected to Duffey. Jerald Noel Bolen, 35, was taken into custody during a drug bust, the GBI said in a news release. Bolen, who Spalding investigators contended had ties to Duffey’s operation, was charged with conspiracy to traffic meth.
Search warrants were executed at Woodbury addresses off Bray Road, Country Club Road and Ga. 85, AJC.com previously reported. In total, agents seized about $10,000 worth of methamphetamine, $5,000 worth of cocaine, three firearms, an undisclosed amount of marijuana and about $40,000 in cash, the release said.
On April 30, law enforcement executed at least 10 more search warrants and found methamphetamine and cocaine, 11 vehicles and $69,874 in cash, Sheriff Darrell Dix said.
The other 10 people arrested in connection with the case are: Warren Horton, 57; Barbara Goodrum, 62; Brent Jones, 43; Willie Foster, 61; Mary Harris, 60; Matthew Goins, 31; Larisma Milner, 28; Paula Parker, 52; Vincent Jones, 50; and Zachary Van Edwards, 60.
In other news:
About the Author
