Kathy Jefcoats; Staff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Copyright 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Neighbors in the otherwise quiet Old South subdivision in eastern Clayton County were stunned to learn Tuesday that the mud brown ranch on the corner was a stash house containing, police say, $27 million in illegal drugs.
“I was just floored, scared for the kids, my family, and saddened at the state of the community is such that I have to educate my kid more about drugs,” neighbor Dale Shaw said.
“It’s just insane. God knows what goes on right under your nose.”
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Administration agents raided the well-kept home at the corner of Wood Hollow and Old South lanes Monday. U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said agents took 145 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, known as “ice,” and 72 kilograms of cocaine from the home.
Three Mexican citizens, Leonardo Garcia-Miranda, 30, of Hapeville and Jonesboro residents Ramon Luis Soto-Maciel, 29, and Rafael Heredia-Ramos, 42, are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, federal officials said.
Soto-Maciel and Heredia-Ramos rented the Jonesboro home from its owner, a former long-term resident, who now lives in McDonough, said neighbors Coley and Sandra McWilliams.
They said the men had only been there a few weeks. "[The owner] tried to sell it, but no one wants to buy in Clayton County,” Coley McWilliams said. “Clayton has become a mecca for crime, it’s terrible.”
The owner could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Neighbors said the men kept to themselves.
“They did a lot of yard work,” Sandra McWilliams said. “I never saw a lot of cars or even visitors over there. They weren’t noisy or anything.”
Clayton County Assistant Police Chief Jeff Turner said the men kept a low profile.
“But that’s what you’d expect if you had that amount of drugs and money around,” he said. “You’d keep to yourself, not attract any attention.”
Although agents reported only finding the drugs, Shaw wondered about the presence of guns, another safety factor.
“With that kind of stash and money, there is usually fully automatic weapons,” he said. “That is a definite concern.”
On Monday, DEA agents and DeKalb County police made a controlled purchase of about 1 kilogram of cocaine from Soto-Maciel, Nahmias said. A confidential source and Miranda, who allegedly brokered the deal, were stopped shortly after leaving the site of the transaction, he said.
The cocaine was recovered, and Miranda was arrested. A subsequent consent search of Miranda’s Hapeville home resulted in the discovery of about 4 ounces of “ice,” packaging materials and a scale used to weigh drugs, Nahmias said.
DEA agents continued their surveillance on Soto-Maciel after the transaction was completed. After visiting and exiting the Jonesboro home, Soto-Maciel was approached by DEA agents.
He fled, throwing down a package in the process, authorities said. Soto-Maciel was caught and the package, allegedly containing ice, was recovered.
Ramos was seen standing in the doorway of the Jonesboro home and was detained. Agents then got written consent from Ramos and Soto-Maciel to search the house.
The arrests are the culmination of a monthlong federal investigation by U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement Agency Administration and DeKalb Police Department.