Hiawassee traffic stop leads to massive seizure, felony drug charges

HIAWASSEE, Ga. – A joint drug investigation ended Friday, Sept. 13, following the traffic stop of a Young Harris man who was charged with trafficking methamphetamine. The joint investigation was conducted by Towns County Sheriff’s Office, Hiawassee Police Department, Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, and Union County Sheriff’s Office,.

On the morning of Sept. 13, 2019, a Hiawassee Police officer conducted a traffic stop on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The driver was identified as Lonnie Max Marcus, 44, of Young Harris, GA. Upon further investigation, Marcus was arrested without incident and charged with the following:

• 1 Count Violation Georgia Controlled Substance Act, Possession of Methamphetamine
• 1 Count Violation Georgia Controlled Substance Act, Possession of Schedule IV drug, Xanax
• 1 Count Possession of Firearm During the Commission of Felony
• 1 Count Removing Plate to Conceal Vehicle Identity
• 1 Count Operating Vehicle without Registration
• 1 Count No Insurance

Hiawassee Police Department seized the 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle, approximately $8,000 in cash, and a firearm at the time of the traffic stop. Investigators and officers with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, Towns County Sheriff’s Office, Hiawassee Police Department, and Union County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the shop of Marcus, located off Highway 66 in Young Harris, later that day.

Investigators seized and recovered a quantity of methamphetamine with a street value of $11,200, cash in the amount of approximately $32,000, and 29 firearms from the location.

“Lonnie Max Marcus, upon the completion of the search warrant, was arrested for Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act, Trafficking Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, and Possession of a Sawed Off Shotgun. There will be additional charges forthcoming,” Towns County Chief Deputy Terry Conner stated.

The case will be forwarded to the Enotah Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Marcus is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

 

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