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A nearly three months long undercover investigation conducted by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office culminated Feb. 15 in a slew of arrests and drug charges including trafficking in heroin and methamphetamine.
“Operation Ice Mountain,” resulted in the arrests of 15 people after local investigators began knocking on doors of suspected drug dealers around 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to Sheriff Bobby Deese.
“We went to everybody’s residence,” he said. “Most people were asleep. No one knew it was coming.”
The investigation launched in early December and was described as one of the most extensive they’ve done, though perhaps not the largest quantity.
Deese described the bust as “mid level,” because most suspects had smaller amounts.
“We changed our approach a bit and focused on information that involved informants and undercover buys,” he said. “We just focused really hard on anyone possessing a controlled substance.”
Deese said stolen property was also recovered during the searches which will add to some of the existing drug charges.
Six of the 15 people arrested resided in Cherokee County where the drug bust continued into the night. Cherokee County investigators and the U.S. Marshal’s Office assisted in the round-up.
“Obviously we’ve got a drug problem,” said Deese. “This stuff is killing us. There’s so many overdoses. In fact two of our deputies recently revived two people who had overdosed.”
The following people were arrested in Operation Ice Mountain:
• Frank Leon Woodard: Charged with manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. He was given a $35,000 secured bond and a court date of Feb. 28.
• Jeremy Paul McCreary: Charged with maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance and manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. He was given a $45,000 secured bond and a court date of Feb. 28, 2022.
• Lois Jean McCreary: Charged with maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance, manufacturing selling and delivering heroin, manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine and manufacturing, selling and delivering cocaine. She was given a $100,000 secured bond and a court date of Feb. 28.
• Kiefer Benjamin Whitener: Charged with maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance, manufacturing, selling and delivering a schedule III controlled substance. He was given a $45,000 secured bond and a court date of Feb. 28.
• Jeffery Edward Welborn: Charged with maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance, manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine, manufacturing, selling and delivering cocaine and manufacturing, selling and delivering heroin. He was transported to the Cherokee County Detention Facility and given a $20,000 secured bond and a court date of March 14.
• Autumn Leanne Bateman: Charged with manufacturing, selling and delivering heroin, manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine and manufacturing, selling and delivering cocaine. She was given a $100,000 secured bond and a court date of Feb. 28.
• Velma Leigh Smith-Ledford: Charged with maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance and manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. She was given a $40,000 secured bond and court date of Feb. 28.
• Steve Darren Stewart: Charged with maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance and manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. He was given a $40,000 secured bond and court date of Feb. 28.
• Leslie Dale Beattie: Charged with two counts of maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance and two counts of manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. He was given an $80,000 secured bond and court date of Feb. 28.
• Joseph Wayne Roberts: Charged with trafficking in heroin and manufacturing, selling and delivering heroin. He was transported to the Cherokee County Detention Facility and given a $75,000 secured bond and a court date of March 14.
• Spenser Wade Hendrix: Charged with two counts of maintaining a dwelling for keeping and selling a controlled substance, manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine, manufacturing, selling and delivering heroin and trafficking in heroin. He was transported to the Cherokee County Detention Facility and given a $75,000 secured bond and a court date of March 14, 2022.
• Victoria Dineen Hancock: Charged with manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. She was given a $35,000 secured bond and a court date of Feb. 28.
• Christopher George Alberta: Charged with manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. He is already incarcerated on unrelated charges.
• Ivy Rea Lucas Sams: Charged with manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine. She is already incarcerated on unrelated charges.
Also involved in this investigation, Shalees Marie Greenlee has outstanding arrest warrants for trafficking in heroin, manufacturing, selling and delivering heroin and manufacturing, selling and delivering methamphetamine.
If anyone has information as to the whereabouts of Greenlee call the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, (828) 389-6354.
Deese reminds the public that all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.