Agents seize $705,000 in drugs, arrest 48 in year-long, multi-jurisdictional drug bust

North GA (July 10, 2020) – After an extensive 11- month local, state, and federal joint investigation, 48 men and women have been arrested on the Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and will be charged on numerous drugs and weapons offenses, spanning the Northern District of Georgia into the metro Atlanta area.

From August 2019 to the present, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender’s Task Force in conjunction with the Hall County District Attorney’s Office has been conducting an investigation into the drug trafficking organization of Luther Troy Summerfield, age 43, Alejandro Ceja-Solano, age 40, and others. During the course of the investigation, agents in coordination with local deputies from the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, the White County Sheriff’s Office, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Cleveland Police Department, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office learned that Summerfield purchased and distributed kilograms of methamphetamine from Ceja-Solano. Information obtained from numerous hours of investigation also revealed that Summerfield traveled to Ceja-Solano’s residence to obtain drugs and traveled to the metro Atlanta area to obtain heroin and methamphetamine, either facilitated by Ceja-Solano, or another source of supply.

Throughout the investigation, police executed approximately 12 search warrants yielding the following:

• Approximately 50 kilograms of methamphetamine
• Approximately ½ kilogram of heroin
• Approximately 20 firearms
• Approximately $70,000 in cash
• Approximately 6 vehicles

The following individuals were arrested:

1. Tanya Lynn Allison, age 48-arrested
2. Katlynn Marie Beaucaire-arrested
3. Richard Daniel Burkett-arrested
4. Dulcey Burton, age 51-arrested
5. Alejandro Ceja-Solano-arrested
6. Jose Alfredo Miranda Chavez-already in custody
7. Jessica Marie Clark, age 28-arrested
8. Noah Coker-in prison
9. Mark Coker-arrested
10. Joshua Collins- already in custody
11. Kevin Cosper-arrested
12. Robyn Samantha Dost, age 27-arrested
13. Chelsea Dover, age 30-arrested
14. Shelbi Eanes, age 25-arrested
15. Juan Antonio Flores-custody in Gwinnett
16. Brandi Nicole Freeman-arrested
17. Jory Gee, age 33-arrested
18. Roger Dale Gerrin, age 62-arrested
19. Robert Green- already in custody in Lumpkin
20. Dexter Grier, age 40-arrested
21. Nucoma Grindle, age 42-arrested
22. Dustin Floyd Groves- arrested
23. Terry Harris, -arrested
24. Christy Deresia Hedden-arrested
25. Jerry Lee Helton-arrested
26. Crystal Marie Herrin-arrested
27. Brooke Barron Hicks-arrested
28. Christopher Jackson, age 33-arrested
29. Kimberly Ann Kennedy-arrested
30. Richard Jason Maddox-arrested
31. Marinela Romeiro Marquez-arrested
32. Pablo Martinez-already in custody
33. Shayna Millwood-arrested
34. Allie Murray-arrested
35. William Harrison Nicely-arrested
36. Ashley Parker- already in custody
37. Joshua Ray Phillips- custody already
38. Kirstie Purvis-arrested
39. Brianne Ross Rummell-already in custody
40. Michael Rummel-arrested
41. Coty Anthony Sanders-arrested
42. Jeffrey Shane Seabolt—arrested
43. Erin Sexton-arrested
44. Jessie Elaine Smith-arrested
45. Seantal Tiffany Smith-arrested
46. Luther Troy Summerfield-arrested
47. Delores Thomas –arrested
48. Anthony Williams-in custody

The street value associated with all the drugs seized is approximately $705,000.00.

The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office is a multi-agency unit that consists of the following agencies: White County Sheriff’s Office, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Towns County Sheriff’s Office, Banks County Sheriff’s Office, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, Rabun County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, Cleveland Police Department, Lavonia Police Department, Toccoa Police Department, the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, the Department of Public Safety, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI’S Major Offender’s Task Force consists of the Gainseville Police Department, the Georgia State Patrol, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office the Georgia Department of Corrections, the GBI, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Winder Police Department, and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.

The Alto Police Department assisted with this investigation as well.

This investigation is an example of the value of interagency cooperation.  Because of the strong, existing relationships between the participating agencies, agents were able to share intelligence and coordinate the dismantling of a complex drug trafficking organization.  Although numerous arrests have been made and evidence seized, the investigation continues, and additional arrests are expected.