Photo courtesy of Decatur County Sheriff's Office
In mid-August 2020, investigators with Decatur County Sheriff’s Office began an operation targeting middle level drug traffickers in Decatur County. The investigation led investigators to determine that several of the targets were living and/or operating in the northern end of the county. Investigators began to conduct covert operations with the intent of identifying and prosecuting these targets. Throughout the operation investigators used several confidential informants to conduct controlled undercover purchases of methamphetamine from the targets that had been identified. Investigators also logged several hours of surveillance and conducted several traffic related stops in order to continue to build evidence in this case.
Once the investigation was nearing completion, Investigators began meeting with District Attorney Matt Stowe of the 24th Judicial District and Assistant District Attorneys to prepare the case for prosecution. “Operation Holladay Harvest” was presented Tuesday, May 18, before a Decatur County Grand Jury seeking indictments of several individuals that had been identified by investigators. The Decatur County Grand Jury returned indictments on 9 drug traffickers that were identified by investigators.
Investigators and several other members of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office began serving the indictments on the targets Wednesday, May 19. As a result of Wednesday’s operation 5 of the targets indicted were arrested. Two were currently in custody at other agencies, and two are still at large at the time of this release. Law enforcement also made 4 additional arrests. As a result of the Wednesday operation, an addition sizable amount of methamphetamines, marijuana, diverted prescription medication, 2 firearms, a stolen 28 ft. camper, 1 vehicle, and a large amount of US Currency were seized.
The following is a list of those that were arrested Wednesday along with their charges and their bonds:
- Jeff Cunningham: INDICTMENT: Possession of Meth with intent to sell (2 counts), $20,000.00 bond NEW CHARGES: Possession of Meth with intent to sell, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: Hold Without (Currently out on Bond from other Drug Charges)
- Elizabeth Cunningham: INDICTMENT: Possession of Meth with intent to sell (1 count), $20,000.00 bond
- Tyson Wiltse: INDICTMENT: Possession of Meth with intent to sell (3 counts), $20,000.00 bond NEW CHARGES: Possession of Meth with intent to sell, Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia $40,000.00 bond
- Nancy Richardson: INDICTMENT: Possession of Meth with intent to sell (3 counts), $20,000.00 bond
- Samantha Lee: INDICTMENT: Possession of Meth with intent to sell (1 count), $20,000.00 bond NEW CHARGES: Possession of Meth with intent to sell, Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell, Possession of Schedules II, III, IV with intent to sell, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: $40,000.00 bond
- Courtney Brewer: Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell, Simple Possession of Meth, Drug Paraphernalia, $10,000.00 bond
- Glen Smith: Simple Possession of Marijuana, $1000.00 bond
- Richard Haynes: Simple Possession of Marijuana, $1,000.00 bond
- Cory Tubbs: Theft of Property over $2,500, and Driving charges, $5,000.00 bond
All defendants are to appear in Decatur County Court Monday May 24, 2021, and Decatur Court Circuit Court Tuesday May 25, 2021. Decatur County Sheriff Keith Byrd, along with District Attorney General Matt Stowe wants to commend these Investigators and Deputies who have put in many hours to get drugs off of the streets of Decatur County. They also want the public to know that these types of operations are on-going in our county and they take a lot of time and man power to make it all come together.