ATHENS, Tenn. — Authorities in eastern Tennessee said 16 people have been indicted after a months-long investigation into a major methamphetamine ring in the area.
According to McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy, the probe, dubbed the “Propane Cowboys,” stretched from Tennessee into North Georgia over the past six months, WBIR-TV reported.
Authorities seized approximately 17 pounds of methamphetamine, plus cocaine, Xanax and hydrocodone, WATE-TV reported.
On Thursday the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Drug Investigation Division began conducting an arrest operation, and 12 people have been taken into custody, WVLT-TV reported.
Guy said most of the arrests were in the Athens and Nitoa areas, and four suspects remained at large Wednesday, according to WBIR.
“I want to commend our officers, the DTF agents, and the TBI for the great work that was done to take down this major meth operation,” Guy said in a statement. “The Propane Cowboys case is a victory for the citizens of our county as well as also our region and our state.”
Arrested so far on charges involving possession, manufacture and sale of methamphetamine are:
- Raymond Scott Knox
- Melissa Skinner
- Jonathan Knox
- Kenneth Huckaby (taken into federal custody)
- Douglas Hutchison
- George Buchanan
- Lawrence Schmidt
- Russell Rouse (booked into the Bradley County Jail)
- Zachery Liner
- Felix Macuga III
- Stacy Dewayne Moses
- Wanda Simpson
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