CENTRE — Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver announced Friday afternoon that agents of his department’s Narcotics Unit (CCNU) have made several arrests as the result of a months-long undercover operation.

In a press release dated Feb. 25, Shaver said officers from his department along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have been working together in the investigation of a local crime organization since July 2010.

Shaver said his agents identified Roger Dale Crane as a primary source for crystal methamphetamine. Shaver said Crane also acted as a high-level fence willing to trade crystal methamphetamine for stolen property, particularly firearms.

Crane was also using money from the sale of stolen property to fund his supply of crystal methamphetamine to sell at the street level, Shaver said.

From July through December 2010, CCNU agents along with ATF special agents utilized multiple undercover sources to purchase a large number of stolen guns and crystal methamphetamine from Crane and others within his organization.

Shaver said the vast majority of the cases are expected to be prosecuted at the federal level. Additionally, 41 state arrest warrants have been issued for persons known to be associated with Crane.

Other federal indictments are expected in the near future.

“This has been an extensive investigation that was initiated to relieve the citizens of the burglaries and other drug related crimes that have plagued the Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville areas for quite some time,” Shaver said in the press release.

He said the execution of the warrants for members of Cranes’s organization is ongoing.

Those arrested to date include:

_ Roger Dale Crane, 11 counts of methamphetamine distribution, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of second degree receiving stolen property, one count of third degree receiving stolen property, and two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

_ Timothy Alan Hall Jr., two counts of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count of sale of imitation drugs. 

_ Jerry Ladon Rickett, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 

_ Christopher Ladon Rickett, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 

_ Martha Coleman Early, three counts of methamphetamine distribution, 1 count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 

_ Nathan Christopher Jackson, two counts of possession of a short barrel shotgun, 1 count of manufacturing methamphetamine and three counts of methamphetamine distribution.