In their fourth drug bust in a week, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Depart-ment and Cherokee County Drug Task Force arrested five people following execution of a warrant in Cedar Bluff late last week. Agents executed the warrant around midnight Thursday evening, Jan. 27, at the resident of Frankie Watkins on Cherokee County Road 251.

According to the sheriff’s report, agents executed an arrest warrant and found approximately one and a half ounces of methamphetamine from Watkins and then executed a search warrant, which resulted in the seizure of two pounds of crystal meth ice, valued at $22,000 and some $9,000 in cash.

Watkins, who was on probation from previous arrests, was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Others arrested at the residence, according to reports, included Jamie Trint White, 22, of Cedar Bluff, who was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine; David Eugene Hunter, 25, of Cedar Bluff, for trafficking in methamphetamine; Rita Gail Watkins, 44, of Cedar Bluff, for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and Haley Grace Neil, 19, of Cedar Bluff, for trafficking in methamphetamine.

On Monday evening, Jan. 24, agents executed search warrants at the home of Joseph Lee and Teresa Dianne Lee on County Road 46 in Gaylesville. Both were arrested for manufacturing methamphetamine in the first degree and other charges. District Judge Sheri Carver set those bonds, totaling $29,500 each.

On Wednesday, Jan. 26, officerss executed two search warrants on different residences in the Gaylesville community, which resulted in three arrests, confiscation of approximately three grams of finished meth and enough product in process to turn out a large quantity of the illegal drug. Agents discovered a meth lab at the residence of Billy and Brenda Mayes of a Gaylesville address. Brenda Mayes, 49, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a felony drug charge. Billy Lee Mayes, 49, was charged with manufacturing meth in the second degree and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, both felonies and also had a misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Agents executed another search warrant at the residence of Ronnie Lackey Jr., 42, of Gaylesville, who was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and a small quantity of meth.

Circuit Judge Randall Cole set bonds for the three Thursday, Jan. 27, at $13,000 for Billy Lee Maze, $2,500 for Brenda Mayes and $5,000 for Lackey