Seven suspects were recently arrested following a multi-agency drug investigation in Hall and White counties.
The operation, known as "Operation Rolling Hills," was operated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Hall County Sheriff's Office, Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office, White County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia State Patrol.
Those arrested in the operation include the following:
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Dwayne Beck, age 42, of Cleveland, GA (booked into the White County Detention Center)
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Ashley Ingram, age 32, of Gainesville, GA (booked into the Hall County Detention Center)
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Christopher Lee Frazier, age 36, of Cleveland, GA (booked into the White County Detention Center)
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Siarrah Ferrar, age 31, of Gainesville, GA (booked into the White County Detention Center)
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Mashelia Martin, age 54, of Cleveland, GA (booked into the White County Detention Center)
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Preston Lee Esco, age 36, of Cleveland, GA (booked into the White County Detention Center)
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Michael Anthony Jones, age 36, of Cleveland, GA (booked into the White County Detention Center)
On March 22, Beck was charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, and Driving Under the Influence. Ingram was charged with charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance.
On March 27, Frazier was arrested for Violation of Probation and was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Ferrar was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Martin was charged with Simple Battery. Esco was arrested for Violation of Probation. Jones was arrested for Failure to Appear.
Between March 22 and 27, authorities executed several arrest warrants and search warrants in Hall and White counties. The GBI received information that Beck had active arrest warrants and was trafficking methamphetamine.
"After further investigation, on March 22, 2024, law enforcement located Beck in White County and after a short car chase, arrested him for his warrants," a release from the GBI said. "After his arrest, investigators found that Beck possessed suspected methamphetamine and a firearm."
Additional search warrants were executed at a home in Gainesville and a home in Cleveland. Ingram was arrested at the home in Gainesville. Frazier, Ferrar and Martin were arrested at the home in Cleveland on March 27. Esco and Jones were also later arrested at a home in Cleveland.
"Multiple agencies conducted this investigation to make an impact on the current street level drug distribution within White County and Hall County and promote a safer place for productive citizens," the release said.
If you have information related to drug activity, you are encouraged to call GBI ARDEO at (706) 348-7410. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
