Tuscaloosa Man Among Dozen Indicted in East Alabama Meth Ring

A 66-count indictment out of East Alabama's Calhoun County revealed 12 people, including a Tuscaloosa man, have been arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Northern District of Alabama, the defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana between June 2021 and June 2022. Each of the defendants was also charged with at least one count of using a telephone to facilitate a drug-trafficking crime.

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The defendants in the case are:

• James Christopher Stanley, 46, of Tuscaloosa
• Antonio Franchester Orr, aka Lil T, aka Tony, 48, of Eastaboga
• Brandon Maurice Butler, aka BB, 34, of Lincoln
• Thomas Terrel Truss, 50, of Oxford
• Seth Michael Owens, 29, of Ragland
• Gerod Montario Stripling, 35, of Eastaboga
• Jakahri Howard aka Joc, 22, of Lincoln
• Steven Weed, 50, of Lincoln
• Melissa Sage Goins, 36, of Guntersville
• Brian Kenneth Goodwin, 44, of Pell City
• Michael Edwin Scales, Sr., 68, of Anniston
• Charles Alan Calhoun aka Charles Allen Calhoun and Chopper, 57, of Alpine

Additional state and federal charges vary among the defendants, including conspiring to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted, the defendants could be sentenced to a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Four suspects, including the Tuscaloosa man, were already in police custody for other various charges when the indictment was issued. The other eight suspects were arrested Tuesday.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other law enforcement agencies seized over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine and 1 kilogram of cocaine as a part of the investigation.