By Randy Foster
Cherokee Scout
Law enforcement officers from North Carolina and Georgia made three arrests of Cherokee County residents following an investigation into drug trafficking with local ties.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit in cooperation with the Union County, Ga. Sheriff’s Office, Fannin County, Ga. Sheriff’s Office, Gilmer County, Ga. Sheriff’s Office and Clay County Sheriff’s Office conducted a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of Robert Gerald Stiles, 31, of Ware Road in Murphy and Shandar Michelle Kauffman, 41, of Old Forge Road in Murphy.
Investigators learned the two suspects had traveled to Georgia to obtain methamphetamine for distribution in Cherokee County.
A traffic stop was conducted on Sunday, Aug. 17 as part of the operation, during which about nine ounces of methamphetamine and 12 ounces of gamma hydroxybutyrate, GHB, a “date rape” drug, were recovered.
Stiles and Kauffman were taken into custody without incident. The two face charges of trafficking in methamphetamine along with additional drug-related offenses.
Following up on information learned during the investigation, on Tuesday, Aug. 19, narcotics agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Brianna Renee Sherman, 25, of Nottley River Road in Ranger.
During that search, methamphetamine and fentanyl were seized and Sherman was arrested.
A second search warrant was executed for the forensic analysis of Sherman’s cell phone. Based on information obtained, Sherman was connected to Stiles and charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine in Cherokee County.
On Monday, Aug. 25 Sherman was arrested at her residence and booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center. Sherman’s bond was set a $250,000 secured bond. She is scheduled to appear in Cherokee County District Court on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Stiles also faces conspiracy charges pending his release from Gilmer County Detention Center.
Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith thanked agencies involved in the arrests.
“I want to thank our local and regional partners for their continued cooperation and commitment to combating the flow of illegal drugs into our communities,” he said. “These arrests demonstrate what can be accomplished when agencies work together with a shared mission of protecting our citizens. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office remains dedicated to identifying, investigating, and disrupting drug trafficking operations that threaten the safety of our community.”