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Published Thursday, February 26, 2009 in Local

'Biggest meth supplier' nabbed

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

Eight people were arrested when the Coweta County Sheriff's Office drug unit happened into a meeting of suspected local methamphetamine dealers in the Home Depot parking lot.

"We expect more [arrests]," said Sgt. John Kennedy of the Coweta Crime Suppression Unit's Narcotics Task Force.

Investigators opened a drug investigation based on information they'd received, according to Sgt. Pat Lyons. Lyons said law enforcement initiated surveillance on a "secondary target" in hopes of busting 36-year-old Robert Lee Arrington Jr. -- who was out on bond for meth charges from last fall -- and his girlfriend, 30-year-old April Michelle "Missy" Watkins.

"In the past three years, [Arrington's] been the biggest meth supplier to our county," said Lyons.

Arrington was living at Lakeside Apartments prior to his drug arrest last year. When he was released on bond, he was evicted. He moved to Gay, Ga., where he allegedly continued supplying drugs to Coweta County, according to Lyons.

"He's been bringing a substantial amount of meth into the county," said Lyons on Thursday.

Investigators determined that Arrington had been supplying meth to several different smaller suppliers in the county, according to authorities.

On Feb. 20 at approximately 6 p.m., investigators followed the secondary target to the Home Depot parking lot on Highway 34 East at Interstate 85 and found themselves in the middle of a large drug transaction, according to Lyons.

Investigators waited for money to exchange hands before moving in to make the arrests. Approximately $7,500 in cash was seized in the raid, according to Lyons.

"This evolved into something we weren't expecting," said Kennedy.

"We weren't expecting to get back to Arrington this quick," said Lyons.

Arrington and Watkins were arrested and charged with conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine. In another vehicle, police arrested Matthew Gordon Duncan, 29, of Newnan, and his brother, 36-year-old Travis Bryan Duncan. Both were charged with conspiracy to traffic meth, possession of meth and possession of a Schedule IV narcotic.

Craig Harrison Shelton, 35, and 36-year-old Cynthia Louanne Ford, both of Newnan, were arrested in another vehicle and each charged with conspiracy to traffic meth, possession of meth and possession of a Schedule IV narcotic.

A husband and wife -- Mickey Shane Presley, 38, and Frances Katherine Presley, 36 -- were both arrested during the bust and charged with conspiracy to traffic meth.

"This is a big case for the unit," said Kennedy.

"Especially for the amount of dope they were bringing into the county," Lyons added. "In the last six months, this organization has brought in and distributed about eight pounds of meth, or $250,000 to $300,000 worth."

The reason for the increase of meth arrests of late, according to Kennedy, is that meth "seems to be what people want."

"It's the drug of choice," added Lyons.

"Targeting this organization has at least temporarily slowed the distribution of meth to this county," said Kennedy.