CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia man was sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
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Michael Ferrell Price, known as “Cheese,” was involved in trafficking methamphetamine from a shed where he stored explosive devices and over 150 firearms, including machine guns and unregistered silencers.
He also operated an illegal moonshine still on the property, our sister station WSB-TV reported.
“Price posed a clear danger to the community by selling methamphetamine and distilling moonshine while maintaining an illegal stash of explosive devices and more than 150 firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.
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“This case demonstrates the results we achieve when federal, state, and local law enforcement work hand-in-hand,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka.
The investigation into Price began in September 2024 when agents of the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad started looking into his activities at his mother’s home in eastern Cherokee County.
On October 22, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at the property, finding more than 3 ounces of highly pure crystal methamphetamine, several gallons of homemade moonshine, dozens of illegal explosive devices, and 150 guns.
Among the firearms found were two machine guns, a short-barreled rifle, a privately manufactured firearm without a serial number, five firearm silencers, and a stolen revolver.
Price, a long-time methamphetamine user, was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or explosives.
He was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
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