Dec 2, 2024
Arrests of three alleged meth traffickers have been made following a joint investigation between the Caldwell County Sheriff’s office, City of Lenoir Police Department and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The bust uncovered more than 22 pounds of narcotics with a total street value of $1,526,250 according to the Sheriff’s Office, thanks to the help of a soon-retiring drug dog with the office.
According to the sheriff’s office, on Nov. 25, narcotic agents with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office and narcotic detectives from the Lenoir Police Department observed two rental cars traveling in tandem on Highway 321 in Granite Falls. Patrol deputies with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s office initiated stops on both vehicles and Sheriff’s Office K-9 Angie was used to conduct a sniff of the vehicles.
After Angie alerted to the odor of narcotics, both vehicles were searched. Deputies located approximately 22.2 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk of the first vehicle and over $30,000 in US currency in the passenger area of the second.
The Sheriff’s Office I.C.E unit and Lenoir narcotics detectives then obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence of the passenger in the second vehicle, Kenan Michaux, age 34 in Granite Falls. A search of the residence located more narcotics, a stolen 2022 Jeep Rubicon from Atlanta, GA and a stolen shotgun from Lenoir.
Michaux was arrested and charged with two counts of meth trafficking and with conspiracy to traffic meth. He was placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $1,000,000 secured bond.
Essence Largent, driver of the first vehicle, age 33, and Kristin D’eon, driver of the second vehicle, age 36, were both arrested under identical charges and placed in the Caldwell County Detention Center under $1,000,000 secured bond each.
Major Aaron Barlowe of the Sheriff’s Office said that the investigation had been in the works for several months leading up to the arrests, and a broader investigation is still ongoing and may yield additional arrests or charges in the future.
“This bust was the biggest one in the history of the county,” said Barlowe, adding that the 22.2 pounds of meth seized was nearly double the previous record holding seizure several years ago.
Corporal Chase Bowman, Angie’s handler with the office, said Angie was seven years old, and will be eight in may. Angie started when she was young, in 2018, and has served nearly the whole time. Bowman said that he was lucky to to work with Angie, saying, “she’s always been good, I’ve always worked with dogs and she’s made it real easy on me.”
Following the arrest, Sheriff Kevin Bean said, “the investigation into meth dealers in this county never stops. The amount of methamphetamine seized in this investigation is the largest this county has ever seen. K-9 Angie will be retiring in the near future and this bust is a fitting way to end her career. She has been a tireless worker for the citizens of Caldwell County.”