For Immediate Release
December 10th, 2025
Operation Crystal Ball
Wave 2 of the Largest Case in Ashe County History
Ashe County, N.C. – Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces that Wave 2 has been
completed in the most significant drug trafficking takedown in Ashe County’s history.
The operation began as an investigation in January 2025 by the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office, in
partnership with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and has rapidly developed into a
large-scale effort spanning across North Carolina and other states. “Wave 2” of Operation Crystal
Ball currently includes 33 new charged individuals, 27 arrests, and 8 previously arrested individuals
with additional outstanding warrants, as well as 6 wanted individuals.
Wave 2 of Operation Crystal Ball commenced on December 3rd, 2025, and has remained ongoing in
recent days. The Ashe County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the NCSBI, conducted the
majority of arrests in Wilkes County. We extend our appreciation to the Wilkes County Sheriff’s
Office, North Wilkesboro Police Department, and Wilkesboro Police Department for their valuable
support during this phase of the operation. Following their arrests in the Wilkesboro area, all subjects
were transported to the Ashe County Detention Center for processing.
Sheriff Howell wants everyone to know that “We are incredibly proud of our Detectives and the
countless hours they have poured into this investigation. They have worked tirelessly, day and night,
even throughout the holidays to see this case through. Our partnerships and mutual-aid agreements
allow the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office to reach far beyond the borders of Ashe County, seizing larger
quantities of narcotics and dismantling drug networks operating across the Carolinas. While some of
these drugs may ultimately find their way into our communities, we are actively disrupting
distribution throughout the state through our strong partnership with the North Carolina State
Bureau of Investigation and many agencies throughout the US. With the help of many agents and
Prosecutor Leigh Bricker, we have been able to guide this case from the first day of the investigation.
We can’t do this alone.”
Along with the arrest made in Wilkes County, several individuals were arrested or served with
additional warrants in Ashe County.
Julio Cesar Medina, age 34, of Boomer, was booked under a $1,175,000 secured bond. His
charges include:
• 3 Felony Counts Attempted Trafficking in Meth by Sell • 2 Felony Counts Conspire Traffic Methamphetamine • 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Continuing Criminal Enterprise • Felony PWIMSD SCH II CS • Probation Violation • Felony Sell SCH II CS • Maintain Place Controlled Substance
Anthony William Saner, age 44 of Roaring River, was booked under a $50,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 3 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Pamela Denise Logan, age 63, of North Wilkesboro, was booked under a
$25,000 secured bond. Her charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Barbara Danielle Alexander, age 36, of Roaring River, was booked under a $50,000 secured bond. Her charges include:
• 4 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Mark Raymond Love, age 59, of Millers Creek, was booked under a $50,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 4 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Ronda Diana Hart, age 65, of Millers Creek, was booked under a $27,500
secured bond. Her charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Possession SCH II Controlled Substance
Tony Wade Young, age 48, of Wilkesboro, was booked under a $50,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 4 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Jerome Ray Leeper, age 53, of West Jefferson, was booked under a $25,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Kenneth Brian Cleary, age 52, of North Wilkesboro, was booked under a $25,000 secured bond. His charges include:
• 2 Felony Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Rebecca Ann Call, age 47, of Wilkesboro, was booked under a $175,000
secured bond. Her charges include:
• 6 Felony Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Conspire Traffic Methamphetamine
Donald Jeffery Gant, age 54, of Moravian Falls, was booked under a $250,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• Felony Continuing Criminal Enterprise • Felony Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Misty Lynn Testerman, age 39, of Millers Creek, was booked under a $800,000 secured
bond. Her charges include:
• 32 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • 5 Felony Counts Conspire Traffic Methamphetamine • 2 Felony Counts Traffic in Methamphetamine • Felony Conspiracy • Felony Possess Methamphetamine • Felony PWIMSD Methamphetamine
Marie Church Oakley, age 51, of Millers Creek, was booked under a $25,000
secured bond. Her charges include:
• 4 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH III CS
David Barry Eller, age 58, of Wilkesboro, was booked under a $425,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Conspire Traffic Methamphetamine • Felony Continuing Criminal Enterprise
John Charles Severt, age 56, of Jefferson, was booked under $18,500 secured
bond. His charges include:
• 6 Felony Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Possess Controlled Substance Jail Premises
Allison Shauntee Love, age 46, of North Wilkesboro, was booked under a $25,000 secured bond. Her charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Lowell Kevin Powers, age 60, of Millers Creek, was booked under a $25,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
William Thomas Johnson, age 67, of Hays, was booked under a $50,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 3 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Conspiracy
Peggy Ann Johnson, age 47, of North Wilkesboro, was booked under a $25,000 secured bond. Her charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspires Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Kaitlin Gail Foskey, age 28, of Ferguson, was booked under a $15,000 secured
bond. Her charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/ Deliver SCH II CS
Natasha Horton, of Boomer, was booked at the Wilkes County Detention
Center. Her charges include:
• Felony Conspire to Traffic more than 28 grams but less than 200
grams of Methamphetamine.
Nathan Shuping, of North Wilkesboro, was booked at the Wilkes County
Detention Center. His charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Georgia Absher, of Wilkesboro, was booked at the Wilkes County Detention
Center. Her charges include:
• Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Darien Corey McCulloch, Incarcerated- Wilkes County Detention Center.
His charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Gerardo Galan Gomaz, Incarcerated- Watauga County Detention Center. His
charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Craig White, of Lenoir, was booked at the Caldwell County Detention
Center. His charges include:
• Felony Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Chris Bare, wanted from Ashe County during Wave 1, was booked at the
Bristol, VA, Detention Center. His charges include:
• Felony Conspire Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Conspire to Traffic Methamphetamine
Alton Hensly was served at the Wilkes County Detention Center. His charges
include:
• Felony Traffic Methamphetamine
Ricky Tanner Griffin, Incarcerated- State Prison. His charges include:
• Felony Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Tiffany Ashley Colbert, of Moravian Falls, was arrested in Wilkes County.
Her charges include:
• Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Jerry Lee Luther, age 52, of Wilkesboro, was booked under a $75,000
secured bond. His charges include:
• 6 Felony Counts Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Rocky Lee Cleary, age 48, of Hays, was booked under a $125,000 secured
bond. His charges include:
• 5 Felony Counts Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS
Matthew Cobbs, Incarcerated at the Ashe County Detention Center. His
charges include:
• 14 Felony Counts Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Trafficking Methamphetamine > 400g • Felony Trafficking Methamphetamine 28-200g
Marcus Joe Gwyn, age 49, of Purlear. His charges include:
• 21 Felony Counts Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • 2 Felony Counts Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH III CS
Tasha Anderson, Incarcerated at the Ashe County Detention Center. Her charges include:
• 2 Felony Counts Conspire to Sell/Deliver SCH II CS • Felony Conspire to traffic Methamphetamine 28-200g • Felony Conspire to possess a firearm by felon
These Individuals are still wanted by the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office
Dalton Kennedy, Corey Bolt, Toby Billings, Brian Dishman,
Hannah Hamby, Steven Burke, Glenna Greer, and Arnaldo Torres
