A federal grand jury in Chattanooga has returned a 38-count indictment against 26 people in the Chattanooga in a meth conspiracy, federal authorities said Thursday.

The indictment was returned on Dec. 8 and the defendants have been rounded up by a number of agencies.

Those charged were Harry Allen Pritchett, a/k/a Osama, 49; James Green,a/k/a Bucky, 51; Bobby Rollins, a/k/a Bob, 48; Eddie Rollins, a/k/a Stump, 47; David Dempsey, a/k/a Lynn, 48; Gregory Layne, 42; Timothy Davis, a/k/a Fuzz Face, 37; Leslie Apger, 30; Anthony Caldwell, 37; Jamie Osborne, a/k/a Bryson, 32; Berry Nolan, 41; Ralph Layne, 20; Hunter Andregg, 30; Clarence Green, a/k/a Stick, 43; Lacy James, 24; Ella King, 30; Haley Mcgowan, 27; Stephen Baird, 43; Jeanny Runions, 40; Jessie Johnson, 46; Jesse Johnson, 23; Glenn Skiles, a/k/a Rick, 53; Donna Shropshire, 35; Crystal Davis, 26; Wendy Patterson, 37; and Donnie Rogers, 32.

Those arrested are from Bledsoe, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie counties.

They were arrested for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and to acquire and possess pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical used to manufacture methamphetamine, as well as numerous substantive counts stemming from the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, the illegal possession of firearms, and maintaining “drug houses,” located in various area counties in Tennessee, authorities said.

Investigators began arresting the defendants this morning and they began to appear before federal Magistrate Court Judge Bill Carter this afternoon. The appearances will continue on Friday.

The indictment alleges that the conspiracy began in January 2007 and continued through December 2009. Documents filed with the courts indicate that two residences in Whitwell and others in Dunlap, Tracy City and Soddy Daisy were maintained for the manufacture, distribution, and use of methamphetamine.

If convicted, the defendants each face a statutory mandatory minimum of 10-20 years (depending on prior criminal history) up to life imprisonment on the conspiracy counts alone, as well as a $4,000,000 fine, and a minimum of five years of supervised release.

The indictment is the result of an investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and assisted by the Marion, Sequatchie, Bledsoe and Grundy County Sheriff’s Departments, the Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Winne will prosecute the cases.