Michael Crawford
Anthony Cunningham
Moesheay Gustus
Christopher Hanner
Joe Percy
Five men have been arrested in Whitfield County on drug charges.
Last month an investigation was initiated by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office (Narcotics Unit) involving an individual known as Moesheay Gustus of Chattanooga, who was involved in the distribution of cocaine in Northwest Georgia and the surrounding areas. During the investigation officers determined Gustus was interested in purchasing three kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of resale. The sheriff’s office was able to have an individual pose as a large scale dealer and offer to sale Gustus the cocaine at the price of $29,000 per kilogram. Gustus advised he would be in Dalton on Wednesday, with his partner (who was providing the money) and purchase the three kilograms.
On Wednesday, at approximately 5:45 p.m., Gustus and his partner (later identified as Michael Crawford Jr.) met with the person that they thought was going to sell them the cocaine in the parking lot of a local restaurant. They were driving a Ford Excursion. When they were asked to show the money Crawford made a telephone call and a couple of minutes later a Chevrolet van pulled up with three other occupants. Crawford walked over to the van and produced a bag containing a large amount of cash.
After the van and the Excursion left the parking lot they were stopped by the sheriff’s office and the Georgia State Patrol and the five occupants were taken into custody. While taking the suspects into custody two loaded handguns were recovered from the suspects in the van. Gustus was found to possess a small amount of marijuana. A total of $87,000 in cash was recovered from the van that the suspects were going to use to purchase the cocaine.
All five individuals were charged with attempting or conspiring to violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act (via trafficking in cocaine). Percy, Hanner, and Cunningham were also charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. All suspects are being held in the Whitfield County Jail without bond.
The suspects were identified as Moesheay Kenyatta Gustus, 39, of Benson Drive, Chattanooga, Michael Anthony Crawford, Jr., 36, of Greenwood Road, Chattanooga, Joe Love Percy, 30, of Bardood Lane, Chattanooga, Christopher Jamar Hanner, 27, of Woodmore View Circle, Chattanooga, and Anthony De Cunningham, 19, of Leslie Lane, Chattanooga.