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5 arrested in separate drug stings
2 Gaines
Gaines

Authorities say recent efforts have removed more than a half pound of suspected methamphetamine from the streets.

The two unrelated stings also resulted in five arrests on charges of trafficking the highly addictive drug.

Dawson County Sheriff's Capt. Tony Wooten said the street value of the meth in the cases is estimated at between $10,000 and $15,000 "depending on how it would have been distributed."

"It was a significant amount of meth that is no longer available here in Dawson County," he said.

Kelly Mullenix, 41, of Dacula and Josh Paxton, 32, of Lawrenceville are being held without bond at the Dawson County Law Enforcement Center.

The men, who have each been charged with one count of trafficking, were arrested June 14 at North Georgia Premium Outlets.

Paxton also faces charges of distribution, obstruction and tampering with evidence in connection with his alleged attempt to destroy the drugs in the mall parking lot, investigators said.

The same night, three other Gwinnett County residents were arrested on trafficking charges at a nearby package store.

"They just happened about the same time, in the same area," Wooten said of the incidents.

Brittany Watson Gaines, 25, and Roger Harbin, 27, both of Lawrenceville, along with 32-year-old Sugar Hill resident Adam Yarosius are also being held without bond.

Wooten said the three were arrested after a drug-sniffing dog discovered a bag of suspected meth inside the store's walk-in cooler.

"That was how they planned to make the deal," he said.