Sheriff, ALEA bust two for meth

Jeff W. Wright, Cody Barnes

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

Two Franklin County men were arrested June 3 as part of a cooperative effort among Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, June 3.

Investigators from the partnering agencies first identified a methamphetamine supplier and two other subjects who had outstanding warrants. Then, information gathered led to a search warrant of a residence in Haleyville, which resulted in three additional arrests, along with the seizure of methamphetamine and cash. In Franklin County, Jeff W. Wright, County Line Road in Russellville, was arrested for Trafficking in Methamphetamine, and Cody Barnes, Highway 22 in Spruce Pine, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Additional related arrests were also made in Winston County.

Following the initial buy, Franklin County Narcotics investigators and ALEA agents conducted surveillance of the initial target and identified the supplier of the methamphetamine that was purchased. A traffic stop of the supplier was initiated, and the money used in the controlled buy, as well as an additional quantity of methamphetamine, was recovered.

Total seizures for this joint effort were $11,700 in U.S. currency, two vehicles and 8 ounces methamphetamine.

Narcotics agents with the SBI and Franklin and Winston counties continue to investigate.

Sheriff Shannon Oliver praised “the hard work the investigators put into the case and the teamwork,” commenting that the resulting arrests “show that hard work pays off.”