12 Charged in Major Walton County Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

A newly unsealed federal indictment has charged twelve defendants with allegedly participating in a methamphetamine production and trafficking conspiracy operating out of a ten-acre property in Walton County, Georgia. The indictment was unsealed on October 23, following a federal search warrant executed on August 13, 2024, at 2370 Mountain Creek Church Road, Monroe, Georgia.

During the joint law enforcement operation, agents seized a total of 4,346 grams of “finished” crystal methamphetamine, 22 gallons of liquid methamphetamine (approximately equivalent to 377 kilograms of finished crystal methamphetamine), and $5,401 in cash. A search warrant was also executed on a Chevrolet Traverse occupied by Yuretzi Gomez, Yirla Gomez, Rafael Gomez, and Uriel Garcia, recovering 1,046 grams of methamphetamine and $4,350 in cash. Additionally, agents found 4,523 grams of methamphetamine inside a Camaro occupied by Jared Calhoun and Ebony Jones-Tate.

The following defendant charged by indictment will have his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles H. Weigle on November 4:

James Len Ramey, 52, of Comer, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.

The following defendants charged by indictment have had their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Weigle:

Christopher Hyatt, 44, of LaGrange, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing a maximum of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
Kendell Cawthon, 59, of Baldwin, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing similar penalties.
Bonterris Turner, 44, of Athens, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing the same potential penalties.
Demetrius Appling, 36, of Crawford, Georgia, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, with similar sentencing implications.
Andrea Robinson, 44, of Cleveland, Georgia, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Yuretzi Adame Gomez, 39, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing the maximum sentence of life imprisonment and related penalties.
Yirla Adame Gomez, 24, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing similar consequences.
Rafael Gomez Flores, 21, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, with penalties including life imprisonment.
Uriel Garcia, 32, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing the same penalties.
Jared Calhoun, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, with the potential for life imprisonment.
Ebony Jones-Tate, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, facing similar maximum penalties.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP). Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.