Franklin man enters a guilty plea for drug trafficking

News, Press Release
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said a Franklin man will spend 70 to 96 months in prison for his role in a two-state distribution of large quantities of illegal drugs.
James “Jimmy” Steele, 47, pleaded guilty to continuing criminal enterprise, a class C felony. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bill Coward handed down the sentence Monday in Macon County Superior Court.
Steele’s plea comes as part of Operation Jawbreaker, a targeted investigation launched after the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation started investigating distribution of controlled substances.
They soon identified leaders of the drug ring: Steele and the late Wade Thomas Ennis of Highlands, who died in September 2020 of a heart attack.
The investigation also led to the arrest of Arthur Scott Reynolds Potts, another suspected leader; his case is pending in Macon County Superior Court.
In all, more than 25 people were arrested as part of the operation.
Investigators say the drug-trafficking organization was responsible for the transport of controlled substances from the Atlanta area to Macon County and, from there, into other Western North Carolina counties, as well as North Georgia.
“Thanks to a lot of hard work and hours of investigation, the majority of players in Operation Jawbreaker have been convicted and sent to prison,” Welch said. “That’s a good outcome – not only for prosecutors and law enforcement, but for everyone who lives in and cares about this community.”
Assistant District Attorney John Hindsman Jr. prosecuted the case.
Feature image courtesy of District Attorney.

Operation Jawbreaker suspect sees bond revoked

News
Operation Jawbreaker
In a press release, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said a key figure in Operation Jawbreaker, a sweep two years ago of suspected local drug dealers acting in concert on a two-state level, was arrested Tuesday and charged with harboring a fugitive.
Wade Ennis, 60, is accused of helping James Steele, 47, elude law enforcement after Steele skipped a $2.5 million bond. He did not show up in June as ordered in Macon County Superior Court.
Steele also faced arrest in Operation Jawbreaker.
Ennis and Steele were arrested again Aug. 3, this time in Transylvania County. They were charged with possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia.
Additionally, Steele was charged with providing fictitious information to an officer.
Operation Jawbreaker targeted a well-organized criminal enterprise involved in distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin – not only in Macon County, but in Western North Carolina and North Georgia.
In the April 2018 sweep that resulted in 25 arrests, Ennis was charged with continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to traffic opium/heroin, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, trafficking opium/heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine, maintaining dwelling/place, possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine.
Steele was arrested for continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to traffic opium/heroin, trafficking opium/heroin, possession of heroin, deliver heroin X2, possession controlled substance on jail premises.
Prosecutors Tuesday requested Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bill Coward revoke Ennis’ bond.
Ennis’ defense attorney, Wade Collins, argued against the bond revocation, saying the allegations from Transylvania County are, at this juncture, unproven. His client has not fled the jurisdiction since being charged in Jawbreaker, and he would not flee now, Collins told the judge.
The judge set a $700,000 bond for Ennis for the harboring a fugitive in addition to previous bond.
Feature image courtesy of district attorney’s office. 

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