An investigation, initially launched by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, has resulted in nine arrests in what authorities say was a major methamphetamine ring based out of DeKalb County. The ring allegedly involved people in four states and several Middle Tennessee counties, and resulted in what the TBI has termed “Operation Ice Pick”.

According to DeKalb Sheriff’s Detective Mason Merriman, the investigation began early last year and slowly evolved through controlled buys and surveillance.

“In February 2021, we began an investigation into Charles Edward White, Jr., and were able to utilize confidential sources to purchase 3.5 grams, or an 8-ball, of methamphetamine from him. From that point on we began hearing his name more and more, and we contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and started purchasing larger amounts just to see exactly how big a dealer he was.” Merriman explained.

“Over time, we were able to utilize an undercover TBI agent to make the purchases. Through countless hours of surveillance, we were able to get a T-3 wire intercept to tap into his phones, and through that we were able to learn the names of other people involved in the conspiracy,” Merriman continued.

“By the end of October 2021, White and his partner, Shawn David Troglen, traveled to Alabama to meet their source, Robert H. Murdock, and picked up 13 pounds of meth, along with a couple of pounds of marijuana.”

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Chief Deputy Brian Williams and the TBI then took the suspects down at a gas station in Pulaski, TN, on their return trip. Officials say that White and Troglen had made the trip to Killen, Alabama, in a Ford F-350 with a motorcycle in the back, but on the return trip White was riding the motorcycle with Troglen following. Fearing they would be unable to stop the motorcycle from fleeing, it was decided to make the arrests when the pair had stopped at a gas station. The pair had been under surveillance all along their trip, with a plane in the air. Roughly $10,000 in cash, guns, the truck and motorcycle, along with the drugs were seized.

The Alabama DEA was also involved in the bust. A search warrant was executed at Murdock’s home in Killen, Alabama, where another two pounds of meth, marijuana and several thousands of dollars in cash was found.

Later that evening, a search warrant was executed at White’s home on Johnson’s Chapel Road, where an additional 10 ounces of meth was discovered. Eight vehicles, including wreckers and rollbacks, four wheelers, a tire changer, and two Jet Skis, were seized at White’s home that officials say were traded for drugs. That property has already been awarded to the Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities say that Troglen had another source for drugs in the Knoxville area, who was also arrested by the DEA. Troglen would order five to seven kilos of meth, which is 2.2 pounds each, and she would bring the drugs to him. From September 15 to October 29, roughly a one-month span, around 43 pounds of methamphetamines was put through DeKalb County, with $325,000 of total revenue.

Customers were traveling from Warren, Van Buren, White, Putnam, and DeKalb Counties, with some traveling as far away as Kentucky to pick up drugs. Four states were involved with connections in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia.

After White was out on bond for the arrest in Pulaski, on May 12, 2022, another search warrant was executed at White’s home where more meth and five more vehicles were seized along with some other equipment.

Through the culmination of the investigation, a special called Grand Jury convened on Wednesday, June 8, where nine people alleged to be involved in the operation were indicted and later arrested. Authorities say that the initial source of the drugs are most likely super labs in Mexico, and that during the eight months of the investigation possibly $1.5 million in drug transactions were made.

“White and Troglen are the biggest methamphetamine dealers I’ve seen around here in a long, long time,” Sheriff Ray said. “I want to commend the detectives and chief deputy here for the work that they’ve put into this case. Detective Merriman has spearheaded this case from the beginning, He has worked in depth on the case and put in numerous hours from February 2021 to this week. Even though the case ended in October 2021, there were still a lot of man hours put in to the case to get things ready for the grand jury.”

“I also want to thank the TBI and all the other agencies that helped us, along with the District Attorney General’s office for the cooperation we have with them. We’re a small county with limited sources, and this was a multijurisdictional case that’s led into another state. Without their help we could not have done it,” Sheriff Ray concluded.

Agencies involved in the investigation included the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, TBI, Middle Tennessee Task Force High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Office of the 13th Judicial District Attorney General, Homeland Security Investigations, Cookeville Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Crossville Police Department, and Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

On June 8th, the DeKalb County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging multiple individuals on various drug-related charges. Over the past two days, those individuals have been arrested and booked into area jails:

Charles Edward White, Jr. (DOB 02/24/1974), Sparta: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy, 25 counts Meth – Mfg, Deliver, Sale, Possession with Intent. DeKalb County Jail, $300,000 bond.

Shawn David Troglen (DOB 12/13/1970), Sparta: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. White County Jail, $300,000 bond.

Tiffany Ford (DOB 06/18/1987), Sparta: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. Cumberland County Jail, $200,000 bond.

Tara R. Treadway (DOB 01/17/1990), Smithville: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. Cumberland County Jail, $200,000 bond.

Amy L. Hall (DOB 07/17/1978), Smithville: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. DeKalb County Jail, $200,000 bond.

Eva L. Dover (DOB 08/05/1969), Smithville: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. DeKalb County Jail, $200,000 bond.

Paige L. Simmons (DOB 07/20/1990), McMinnville: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. Warren County Jail, $200,000 bond.

Phillip J. Potter (DOB 03/04/1992), McMinnville: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. Warren County Jail, $200,000 bond.

Robert H. Murdock (DOB 04/24/1986), Killen, AL: Two counts Meth 300 grams or more – conspiracy. Lauderdale County Jail, $300,000 bond.

Authorities say that this investigation remains active and ongoing.