On Dec. 27, law enforcement agencies concluded a six-month investigation into a drug trafficking organization headed by Alison Michelle Smith of Old Fort.  Throughout the course of the investigation, investigators identified numerous individuals throughout Western North Carolina with whom Smith worked with to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine.  
 
Search warrants were executed in McDowell, Rutherford and Cleveland counties and 13 individuals were arrested for their involvement in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.  The search warrants and arrests produced 24 pounds of methamphetamine, 43 firearms which included handguns and assault rifles, as well as a large amount of US currency. 
 
“Drug traffickers have become sophisticated in their practices which has required law enforcement to work that much harder to successfully apprehend and prosecute them,” said Jim Schandevel, special agent in charge of SBI’s Western District.  “The investigation required months of partnership and cooperation among law enforcement agencies in both North and South Carolina.  This case is a true testament to what can happen when everyone works together to achieve a common goal and make our communities safer places.
 
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation was aided in the investigation by sheriffs’ offices in  McDowell, Rutherford, Cleveland, Polk, Henderson, Yancey and Burke counties, the Marion Police Department, Morganton Department of Public Safety, State Highway Patrol, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Buncombe County Anti-Crime Task Force, Prosecutorial District 29A District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office.
 
“Without the hard work and man-hours expended by these agencies, this case would not have had the impact on our communities that it is surely going to have,” Schandevel said.
 
 
 
The following individuals were arrested between December 27 and 28 and placed in the McDowell County Detention Center:
 
Tracey Lynn Arnold, 54, of 3815 Dedmond Road in Mooresboro, one count each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and aiding and abetting a continuing criminal enterprise; $1 million bond
 
Andy Darren Green, 49, of 722 Andrews Mill Road in Bostic, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting a continuing criminal enterprise; $1 million bond
 
Roman Guzman, 27, of Lexington, S.C., one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $500,000 bond
 
Ruben Guzman, 26, of Spartanburg, S.C., two counts each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and trafficking in methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting a continuing criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
 
Ashlea Nicole Hawkins, 34, of 1048 High Shoals Church Road in Mooresboro, one count each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and aiding and abetting a continuing  criminal enterprise; $100,000 bond
 
Joshua Michael “Bubba” Lipe, 37, of 70 Indian Waters Drive in Old Fort, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting a continuing criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
 
Dennis Eugene Medley, 35, of 1458 Beechwood Road in Mooresboro, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $1 million bond
 
Tonya Chris-Ann Mullinax, 40, of 840 Jack McKinney Road in Forest City, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $1 million bond
 
Deidre Diane Pearson, 38, of 3815 Dedmond Road in Mooresboro, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting a continuing criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
 
Dustin Bo Pearson, 30, of 161 Cliffside St. in Rutherfordton, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $1 million bond
 
Robin Ann Rhyne, 54, of 62 Highway 70 Business East in Ellenboro, two counts of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and one count of aiding and abetting a continuing criminal enterprise; $1 million bond
 
Allison Michelle Smith, 51, of 76 Souther Road in Old Fort, one count each of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and continuing criminal enterprise; $5 million bond
 
Wesley Chad Smith, 42, of 122 Durham Road in Mooresboro, one count of conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine; $500,000 bond