2635 Century Parkway Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30345
(404) 679-9000

Contact: SA Stephen Emmett
Desk: (404) 679-6451
Cell: (404) 392-2506

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2007

Atlanta - Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, in conjunction with the Whitfield County Sheriff's Department and the Dalton Police Department, announce the following arrests which were conducted today at Dalton, Georgia.

Arrested today, Monday, October 29, 2007, on federal charges related to conspiring to distribute methamphetamines were:

Antonio Quintero, Hispanic Male, age 25, of Dalton, GA
Rolando Quinonez Godoy, Hispanic Male, age 27, of Dalton, GA
Jesus Meraz, aka Jessie Meraz, Hispanic Male, age 30, of Dalton, GA
Francisco Kiko Meraz, Hispanic Male, age 25, of Dalton, GA
Mario A. Lopez, Hispanic Male, age 24, of Dalton, GA
Armando Martinez, aka, Rogelio Pimentel, Hispanic Male, age 31, of Dalton, GA

The arrests were based on a Federal Criminal Complaint issued in the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division, charging each subject with violation of Title 21, USC 846, Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; methamphetamine. They will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Wednesday, 10/31/2007 in Rome, Georgia.

This has been a 1 and 1/2 year joint investigation between the FBI, Whitfield County Sheriff's Department, and Dalton Police Department. More arrest are expected.

The public is reminded that these initial charges are merely allegations and that all persons are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.