A U.S. District judge sentenced two Clay County men to a combined 32 years in prison because of their involvement in trafficking “significant quantities” of methamphetamine, among other crimes. The sentencing was the result of a 16-month investigation that began in 2017 connecting a drug ring operating in Clay County and Gainesville, Ga. Street value of the meth seized throughout the probe was estimated at $725,000, according to a previous interview with then sheriff, Vic Davis.
Last week, Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced Eugene “Bo” Mashburn, 58, of Hayesville, to 135 months in prison, according to Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. If he serves the full term, he will be 69 when he is released. Mashburn was also ordered to serve five years under court supervision upon completion of his 11- year prison sentence.
On March 24, Bobby “Rob” Roger Burch, 48, of Shooting Creek, was sentenced to 262 months in prison. He will be 63 when released if he serves the full term. Burch was also ordered to serve five years under court supervision after completing his 15-year sentence.
Through the North Carolina/Georgia operation, methamphetamine was distributed in and around Clay County and elsewhere. Burch was the North Carolina-based source of supply for the drug ring, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
According to court records, over the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from Mashburn, Burch and others, which resulted in the seizure of cash, firearms and meth.
Officers conducted two controlled buys of methamphetamine from Mashburn and seized methamphetamine, 24 firearms and two silencers from Mashburn’s residence. In addition, records law enforcement seized from Burch more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine, which Burch was transporting from Georgia to North Carolina.
In addition to the narcotics, law enforcement seized 39 firearms, including an assault rifle, from Burch’s residence. The probe culminated Sept. 5, 2018 when the investigation led authorities to more than 3 pounds of meth hidden in the battery of Burch’s truck in Gainsville. Davis said Burch had just left the Conyers residence of Charles Michael Ledford and was traveling to Hayesville when the drug sting occurred. “The investigation uncovered a highly organized network of methamphetamine distribution in both counties,” Davis said at the time of the arrests.
The Attorney General’s office also contends that Burch obstructed or attempted to impede the administration of justice by threatening and intimidating some of their co-conspirators who he suspected were cooperating with law enforcement.
Six other locals including Mashburn’s wife, Peggy were arrested as part of the drug sting. Sheriff Bobby Deese said Peggy Mashburn is awaiting sentencing.
“The cocktail of deadly chemicals used to manufac- ture methamphetamine are a recipe for disaster. These substances are not only volatile and toxic, but they also destroy families, communities and lives,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division.
“Because of the collective effort between DEA and its local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this defendant was brought to justice and will spend well-deserved time in prison,” said Murphy.
In addition to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, SBI and GBI, multiple law enforcement agencies were thanked for their involvement and for their handling of the lengthy, broad-spanning investigation.