3rd arrested in conspiracy to smuggle meth into the prison

A Nashville woman was released from jail Tuesday on an $11,200 bond after her arrest on accusations she conspired to have 77 grams of methamphetamine delivered to the Floyd County Prison.

According to Floyd County Jail reports: Brandy Christina Batchelder, 43, used recorded phone lines at the prison as well as the inmate email system to make a plan with multiple inmates back on Aug. 5 to have someone deliver the drugs to the facility.

The latest to be charged in the ongoing case, Batchelder was arrested early Tuesday and charged with felony use of a communication facility in commission of a felony involving controlled substances, conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act, and procuring items prohibited for possession by inmates.

Warden Mike Long said in late August his Criminal Investigations Division worked the case along with the Rome-floyd Metro Task Force to stop the drugs from being smuggled in.

According to warrants, Batchelder and another woman conspired with two inmates to have the meth delivered by a third party to an inmate crew working at the Public Animal Welfare Services facility at 99 North Ave.

Merilea Levitt Hansler, of Cumming, turned herself in at the Floyd County Jail back on Aug. 31 to face felony charges of procuring items prohibited for inmates, conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substances Act and use of a communications facility involving a controlled substance.

The shipment was intercepted at the shelter by Floyd County Prison personnel, who immediately called task force agents to assist in the investigation.

They found the drugs on Dale Bruce Shaw, 35, of Cartersville. Task force commander Sgt. Cathy Taylor said a handgun was found inside Shaw’s car after her agents obtained a search warrant for the vehicle.

He was arrested on the scene and charged with possession of meth with intent to distribute, drug trafficking and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Cpl. Guy Hunt with the prison CID said the cache of 77 grams was one of the largest drug seizures he’d investigated in the prison system.