Twenty people have been rounded up, with more arrests expected, following an undercover drug-buying operation which targeted everything from marijuana and prescription pills, to meth and cocaine.
“This is part of our ongoing drug operation,” said Sheriff Jackie Matheny, whose department worked the operation along with McMinnville Police Department investigators with help from the TBI and Meth Task Force. “These types of operations have led to the arrests of literally hundreds of people over the past few years.”
Like many operations before it, the most recent operation used undercover operatives to purchase drugs from the suspects. The drug deals were monitored and recorded by lawmen who will use the recordings as evidence should the cases go to trial. Investigators say the evidence is usually so strong in such buys over 90 percent of them are settled by plea agreement and never make it to trial.
Those arrested were brought before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley last week for arraignment on their various charges. Most were assigned legal representation trial dates, with a handful directed to come back with attorneys.
Included in those arraigned for the recent drug sting are:
• Eric Marlon Webb on charges of initiating the process to manufacture meth and promoting the manufacture of meth.
• Rayburn Laylon Prater on two counts of delivery of Oxycodone.
• Jody Evan McGlothen on charges of delivery of Dihydrocodenone and fraudulently obtaining TennCare benefits.
• Barnabe Torres on charges of attempted delivery of cocaine and delivery of a counterfeit drug.
• Tara Hope Spencer on charges of delivery of meth over a half gram and delivery of meth.
• Teirra Lashae Harris on the charge of delivery of meth over a half gram.
• Jennie Northcutt Pleasant on the charge of delivery of Dihydrocodenone.
• James Paul Bailey on charges of delivery of Alprazolam and delivery of over a half ounce of marijuana.
• Vondale Eugene Solomon on two counts of delivery of morphine.
• Mack Wayne Mullican Jr., on charges of delivery of meth.
• Corinna Ann Padgett on charges of delivery of Oxycodone and morphine.
• Brady Wayne Meeks on the charge of delivery of meth.
• Jacqueline Mary Myers and Jack Thomas Myers on charges of delivery of Oxycodone and Dihydrocodenone.
• Michelle Renee Perkins on the charge of delivery of marijuana.
• Lafredrick Maurice Eddings on two counts of delivery of cocaine over a half gram.
• Joshua Ryan Burton on charges of delivery of Dihydrocodenone and Oxycodone.
• Chasity Leann Hindenberger on two counts of delivery of meth.
• Timothy Harold Bates on the charge of delivery of meth.