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March 28, 2024

Area meth ring busted

Authorities have made arrests in a methamphetamine ring in the area.

Approximately three months ago, information was received by the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division of a major methamphetamine distribution in Alexander County, as well as other counties in western North Carolina.

An investigation was begun by the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Homeland Security, Hickory Police Department, Boone Police Department, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.

A surveillance investigation was launched, lasting approximately three months on the following individuals. This surveillance operation into the methamphetamine distribution led law enforcement throughout western North Carolina into Georgia.

The following suspects have been arrested in connection with this investigation:
• Jeremy Matthew Magnus, W/M, age 44 of Gillsville, GA.
• Angela Marie Dale, W/F, age 33 of Morganton.
• Troy Norman Powell, W/M, age 42 of Lenoir.
• Heather Nicole Swanson, W/F, age 35 of Lenoir.

All were arrested and charged with multiple counts of Felony Trafficking Methamphetamine. They are currently being held in the custody of the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office under a $500,000 secured bond each. Further investigation led to the seizure of a large quantity of U.S. currency, two vehicles, and a large quantity of methamphetamine. The estimated street value of the methamphetamine seized in this operation according to North Carolina State Drug Guidelines is approximately $291,300.

According to this investigation, Jeremy Magnus was a major distributor of methamphetamine to Alexander County and western North Carolina. Magnus and Dale were taken into custody after a vehicle stop in Granite Falls, NC. Powell and Swanson were taken into custody after leaving a residence in Caldwell County, NC.

All photographs in this news release were provided by Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.

This investigation is continuing.

Sheriff Bowman would like to thank the agencies listed above for their assistance in this operation and for their tireless effort in shutting down this methamphetamine distribution operation.
If you have any information that involves the use and distribution of illegal controlled substances, please contact Alexander County Crimestoppers at (828) 632-8555.

17 Comments

  1. don sipos on February 12, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    It is a wonder thing to get methamphetamine off the streets but hear in Jefferson county Missouri they ignore a lot off it.

  2. Mark Collier on February 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm

    Good now if they look at homeless camp in greenville s. C.they will get 26 more and stop the meth.

  3. Jay on February 19, 2020 at 9:30 am

    Look, the problem is that drugs are illegal. There are always gonna be drug users. If the government would just legalize and control it the cartels will lose control and crime would go down. They should make it so u can get a prescription. That way insurance would take care of it which means less homelessness and the government can tax it. So everyone wins. Just look at countries that have already done this. The statistics are already there.

    • Watcher on February 19, 2020 at 3:12 pm

      Are you on drugs or what? Prescription drugs for addicts that health insurance pays for? You are an idiot.

      • Amanda on February 26, 2020 at 8:04 pm

        Actually shes correct. Some countries are already doing this and it has reduced the usage of drugs, overdoses, etc. Do some research before you shame somebody. Smh.

      • Valrrie on March 2, 2020 at 8:40 pm

        Thats not crazy look at the current opioid crisis, the doctors write the prescriptions insurance company pays for it and you’re addicted to pain pills. You need to wake up and look around. I’m not saying it’s good idea I’m just saying it’s already happening here in America

    • William Jones on February 21, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      Like seriously legalize meth r u smoking it urself or r u just stupid

      • Stephanie Daniels on March 11, 2020 at 1:30 am

        Actually u can get meth prescribed… It is used to treat obesity look it up… And it’s the stigma Society gave meth users that cause them to lose everything… Butt hey I bet Y’all that disagree goes to the bar everyday after work and has a couple beers and drives home!!! Just cause alcohol is legal doesn’t make u a better person or I should say addict…

    • MoonChild on February 24, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      Agreed!

    • Donna Rhodes on February 26, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      Of all things, legalize meth?!? Meth destroys lives, family & separates children from addicted parents. If you want to comment, know what you are talking about!

      • Kemo on March 2, 2020 at 6:41 am

        They already have.. adderial is legal meth and methadone is legal heroin…
        So really in a way… they ready have been..cause I know plenty of people who abuse both those scripts cause it gives them the same exact high…but legal

  4. Sunshine on February 21, 2020 at 12:35 am

    Some People love easy money so only selling drugs in a free time is great but don’t think about the problem is caused to this society. Sad.

  5. Brenda Carr on February 22, 2020 at 6:50 pm

    First of all….making illicit drugs such as meth and heroin legal is NEVER going to happen. Second, the war against drugs will never be won because there are too many greedy kinks in the chain of people that have the power to stop it. What we can do as a society and as human beings is educated ourselves and our loved ones about the dangers, health risks, legal ramifications and so on…and if someone needs help, help them to receive it. Jails and prisons only make better drug dealers and drug addicts. Just my two cents!! God bless!

    • JESUS SAVES!! + JUST SAYIN.. ❤ on February 29, 2020 at 12:22 am

      I totally agree, i believe that they need to make this known in every school. Teach them young on what drugs do to people and their lives if you choose to use them. It’s really sad to see all the homelessness going down every where and everyone judging other people for their habbits including myself. One thing i do know is that everyone has that choice to use so no i don’t think it’s a sickness i think it’s a choice!!! We all need to come together in Christ and pray hard for one another. If you see someone who looks like they need prayer then pray for them. The end is near people and Jesus is coming get ready and most of all get right with GOD!! PRAYER IS POWERFUL. Thank you for reading this i felt led to do it..❤

  6. Ronald Gillen on February 25, 2020 at 8:35 am

    It is a fact that heroin and methamphetamine are the two biggest drug problems currently within the USA. Nobody with any good sense wants to see the accessibility to these drugs made so easy that anyone without good sense can acquire them and get addicted to them.

  7. Demetrius Spearman on February 26, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    I have to say,I agree with jay.as awful as it sounds,the drugs aren’t going anywhere,just like alcohol in the 20s wasn’t going anywhere…maybe if they legalized it,like they do in places like Sweden ,then the government would get their money from it,the appeal of the drugs might not be as tantalizing to individuals who like to rebel against the system and the major suppliers would lose because of the well of money being dried up.

    • Amanda on February 26, 2020 at 8:14 pm

      I agree too. Thank you for breaking that down for them. Some people don’t look at the psychology side of things and automatically assume the worst. If they do the research they will see that legalizing drugs actually reduces overdoses, usage, etc. It’s already something that other countries are doing and have proven that it can cause more good than bad. It’s like when we were kids we wanted to go to parties and drink because we weren’t old enough and it gave us that adrenaline rush of “what if we get caught” mentality so we tried did it. If you legalize drugs less people will want to do it because they are allowed to do it now. It’s not as fun for them at this point and it doesn’t give them the adrenaline rush anymore. They see that people aren’t going to be giving them the attention they are looking for anymore by using it because it’s legal.

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