A Maysville man wanted in connection with a $3.5 million drug ring spanning Hall, Jackson and Banks counties has turned himself in to authorities.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation posted on Twitter Sunday, Jan. 13, that Rickie Nation surrendered to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office.
Georgia State Patrol also released details on their work to capture another of the suspects wanted in the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office’s “Operation Tighten Up.”
Troopers located James Christopher Hood, 34, of Alto, Friday morning in the National X-ray parking lot on Tanners Creek Drive in Flowery Branch.
Cpl. Major Patterson said Hood drove away from law enforcement, which led to a small chase that ended on Thurmon Tanner Parkway near the intersection of Chamblee Road.
Troopers used a precision immobilization technique, which is often used to turn a car sideways and disable the vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
The drug enforcement office has arrested 15 people including leader Larry “Lil Man” Fricks of Gainesville.
“This investigation indicates that the Fricks’ drug trafficking organization is responsible in five short months for the distribution of more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine with a street value of $3.5 million,” said Mitchell Posey, the GBI’s Special Agent in Charge.
Authorities seized 9 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, an ounce of marijuana, firearms, vehicles and $13,000 in cash. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $155,000
Posey said the charges would involve the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for the organization that has been active in this area for many years.
The sheriff’s offices for Hall, Banks, Jackson and Barrow counties as well as the Commerce Police Department assisted in the investigation for the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.
Georgia State Patrol will also seek warrants on Hood for failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to maintain lane, failure to signal while changing lanes, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.