Seven men have been arrested for their involvement in an organized meth ring in Etowah County, according to Sheriff Todd Entrekin.
“The arrests of these subjects are the conclusion of the second phase of a methamphetamine trafficking and distribution investigation that has been ongoing for the past fifteen months,” Commander Randal Johnson said.
The following individuals have been arrested during the last three months:
-Harold Dewayne Deal, Jr., 37, of Attalla, was arrested on April 28th, and charged with drug trafficking (meth). At the time of his arrest, 252 grams of meth were seized along with a stolen handgun from DeKalb County and $3,730 cash. His bond is set at $50,000 cash.
-Billy Donald Deal, Jr., 43, of Gadsden, was also arrested on April 28th with his cousin, Harold. He is charged with drug trafficking (meth) and has a $50,000 cash bond.
-Thomas Edgar Ramey, 65, of Attalla, was arrested on April 15th, and charged with drug trafficking (meth), violent felon in possession of a pistol, one count of first degree unlawful possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, 29 grams of meth were seized along with two long guns and one handgun. His bond is set at $86,000.
-Richard Wendell Edmondson, II, 33, of Gadsden, was arrested on April 14th, and charged with drug trafficking (meth). At the time of his arrest, 104 grams of meth were seized; he was out on bond for pending trafficking charges in Calhoun County. His bond is set at $75,000 cash.
-Nathan Michael McMahan, 26, of Gadsden, was arrested on April 8th, and charged with two counts of drug trafficking (meth), unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed pistol without a permit. The pistol was seized at the time of his arrest. His bond is set at $102,000.
-Roy Claude Farlow, Jr., 56, of Attalla, was arrested on March 8th, and charged with drug trafficking (meth) and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. At the time of his arrest, 122 grams of meth were seized. Farlow is Edmondson’s step-father. He bond was set at $51,000.
-Jeffery Lewis Frohock, 41, of Southside, was arrested on February 16th, and charged with drug trafficking (meth) and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Forty-eight (48) grams of meth were seized at the time of his arrest. His bond was set at $25,000.
“The arrest of these individuals is a positive step in removing deadly drugs from the streets of Etowah County.” Sheriff Entrekin said. “Several of these seasoned criminals have a family history of felony convictions that date back to the 1980’s.”
Harold Deal has been convicted of burglary, theft and for the possession of a stolen handgun.
Billy Deal is convicted of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. Richard Edmondson was convicted of the same along with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.
Thomas Ramey is convicted of assault, theft of property and for felon in possession of a handgun and two long guns.
Sheriff Entrekin adds, “The first search warrant I ever assisted with was Harold Deal, Jr.’s father, Harold Deal, Sr., in 1982. It is sad that his son was not able to overcome the poisonous cycle of narcotics.”
“Harold Deal, Jr. boastfully told a narcotics agent that he has sold more than one million dollars worth of drugs on the streets in Etowah County since his release from prison five months ago,” Commander Johnson said.
The drugs were being picked up in the Atlanta metro area and brought to Etowah County where they were distributed and sold. Some of the narcotics in distributed in Etowah County have gone into surrounding counties.
“We anticipate these cases to be transferred to federal agencies where they will serve the sentence they deserve,” said Sheriff Entrekin.
The FBI’s safe street task force assisted with these arrests.
