6 arrested, drugs seized in Middle Georgia pot bust

breaking@macon.com

Six people have been arrested in a multi-county drug bust in which authorities seized half a million dollars worth of marijuana.

On Thursday, authorities arrested Jason Lang, 38, after a search of his Hayes Road residence in Byron, according to a Tuesday news release from the Peach County Sheriff’s Office. Lang is accused of operating marijuana grow houses in Houston, Crawford, Wilcox and Decatur counties.

Lang was charged with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, conspiracy to traffic marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. His wife, 37-year-old Stephanie Lang, also was charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana.

According to the release, other arrests were made that same day as part of the investigation:

Ernest Thompson, 60, was arrested at a Gordon Road residence in Rochelle. He was charged with manufacturing marijuana, conspiracy to traffic marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Samuel Storey was arrested at a Dell Road residence in Bainbridge. He was charged with trafficking marijuana, possession of cocaine, interfering with a public utility and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Mitchell Wright, 50, was arrested at a Houze Road residence in Fort Valley. He was charged with manufacturing marijuana, trafficking marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during a crime.

Authorities seized a total of 150 marijuana plants plus 20 pounds of packaged marijuana during search warrants executed as part of the arrests, Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese said. He estimated the wholesale value to be $510,000.

Moreover, because plants could be harvested four times a year, the illegal grow operations were probably bringing in at least $2 million annually, Deese estimated.

“That’s more money that you or I will see in a lifetime,” Deese said.

Also, on June 29, Jonathan Johnson was arrested at an Orchard Way residence in Perry. Johnson was charged with manufacturing marijuana, trafficking marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, the release said. Authorities were able to connect this grow house to Jason Lang, who already had already been under investigation, Deese said.

Authorities began investigating Lang about a year ago after a tip that he was living beyond his means, Deese said. Once authorities were confident that all the grow houses being operated under his leadership had been found, search warrants were executed simultaneously in each of the counties, Deese said.

The investigation involved numerous man hours, including surveillance of the suspects and the grow houses, Deese said.

The Peach County Drug Enforcement Unit, made up of members of the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Byron police and Fort Valley police; the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and the GBI/DEA Task Force were involved in the arrests.

To contact writer Jennifer Burk, call 744-4345, or find her on Twitter@jennburk. To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559, or find her on Twitter@becpurser.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 2:50 PM with the headline "6 arrested, drugs seized in Middle Georgia pot bust ."