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43 arrested in Sevier Co. undercover drug operation called 'April Fools'

According to the sheriff's office, the arrests began at 5 a.m. and continued throughout the day. Authorities focused on heroin and other opioid related drugs including methamphetamine.

More than three dozen suspected drug dealers have been taken into custody in Sevier County after an undercover drug operation called "April Fools".

The Sevier County Street Crimes Unit arrested 43 individuals Tuesday morning with the help of the sheriff's office, Sevierville PD, Pigeon Forge PD, Gatlinburg PD, TBI, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Homeland Security, US Marshals Service and Tenn. Dept. of Corrections.

According to the sheriff's office, the arrests began at 5 a.m. and continued throughout the day. Authorities focused on heroin and other opioid related drugs including methamphetamine.

During the arrest operation, 3 vehicles, $15,600 in cash, and additional illegal drugs were seized from the suspects' homes.

The undercover operation has been going on for 8 months, according to the sheriff's office.

Last week, a Sevier County Grand Jury indicted 87 people for the sale and delivery of various narcotics.

The sheriff's office said the following suspects were in custody in correctional facilities when the sealed presentments were handed down by the Grand Jury and holds were placed on them.

- Dustin Black, 52

- Melissa Meister, 40

- Gabriel E. Hyatt, 30

- Samantha Penn, 21

- Ammie Lyons (Grimmett), 43

- Ashley Blevins, 25

- Aaron Monroe Hooker, 29

- Samual Eslinger, 29

- Steven Arnold Hedgepath, 47

The rest of the suspects arrested Tuesday include the following:

- Jeffery Large, 50

- Anna Shafer, 44

- Jennifer Brown, 36

- Jeffery Latham, 40

- Amber Skye Smith, 20

- Jacklyn Kirk, 36

- Teresa Long, 34

- Tabitha West, 35

- Edger Benjamin Munoz, 41

- Gary Ogle, 36

- Thao Nichols, 28

- Eddie Williams, 33

- Sandy Bierman, 39

- Teddy Campbell, 50

- Michael Spurling, 35

- William Joseph Tucker, 49

- Carly Huskey, 26

- Kailyn Rea Davis, 28

- David Wesley Brown, 34

- Jason Daniel Huskey, 28

- Stephen Roger Vandergriff, 25

- Julia Christine Harksen, 28

- Tiffany Martin, 31

- Roy Gambill, 34

- Randy Howard, 47

- Robert Franklin, 54

- Joel Clabough, 38

- Billy Joe McFalls, 47

- Kelsie Epperson, 23

- Shane Gilliand, 28

- Nolvia Rosmery Carillo, 38

- Samantha Herstritt, 36

- Charles Thomas, 33

- Cammie Middleton, 34

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