Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad

Nearby government services

North Georgia Angel House Inc.
2260 Sam Nelson Road

The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad is one of the premier narcotics squads in Georgia. We investigate drug-related offenses within Cherokee County.

The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) is one of the premier narcotics squads in Georgia. The officers assigned to CMANS have been extremely successful in their efforts to combat the drug problems in Cherokee County. Their success is due in large part to the continued commitment and support of the participating task force agencies as well as the assistance of the citizens of Cherokee Co

unty. The CMANS was formed in 1993 to combat drugs in Cherokee County in a united effort. All law enforcement agencies in Cherokee County were invited to participate in the task force. Agents from the City of Canton and the City of Woodstock joined Cherokee deputies, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) supervisor and a Georgia State Patrol Trooper to start the CMANS. Since that time the City of Holly Springs has added an agent, and the total number of sworn agents is now fifteen. When originally formed the task force was funded by a federal grant, but over the years the grant amount declined until in 2003 the task force funding was assumed by the local agencies involved. Originally the GBI provided an Assistant Special Agent in Charge to command the combined effort. As the State Budget was reduced in 2009 local law enforcement was required to assume supervision of the task force. While the GBI and the Georgia State Patrol no longer provide staff to the CMANS, they continue to provide valuable leadership as representatives on the CMANS Control Board. Sheriff Frank Reynolds of Cherokee County is currently the Chairman of the CMANS Control Board. Control Board Members are:

Cherokee Sheriff Frank Reynolds
Pickens Sheriff Donnie Craig
Woodstock Chief of Police Calvin Moss
Holly Springs Chief of Police Mike Carswell
Ball Ground Chief of Police R. Bryon Reeves
Canton Chief of Police Steve Merrifield
Cherokee Chief Marshal Jamie Gianfala
District Attorney of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Shannon Wallace
District Attorney of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit B. Alison Sosebee
SFC. Tim Nichols of the Georgia State Patrol
In addition, the Control Board encourages participation by other Cherokee law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement executives who sit on the Control Board provide guidance and oversight to the management and operations of the CMANS. The members approve major expenditures and provide guidance in personnel matters. The Control Board unifies the investigation of drug-related matters, as the law enforcement executive from every agency in Cherokee County is actively involved in the guidance of the Commander of CMANS. The Director of Drug Enforcement is a retired Special Agent-in-Charge from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Director along with the Commander manage CMANS and are both employed by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, and have more than 50 years of law enforcement experience combined. The dedicated response to the m**hamphetamine lab problem in Georgia has been successful. In the Southern United States, the location and investigation of m**hamphetamine clandestine laboratories has decreased significantly. In 2009 CMANS only seized one m**hamphetamine laboratory in Cherokee County Georgia. There is still a large problem with the use and possession of m**hamphetamine, but the existence of volatile laboratories has slowed. During 2010 and 2011, CMANS Agents mounted substantial efforts against an increase in the abuse and sales of prescription medication. Agents worked with medical professionals and other law enforcement agencies to fight the increase in prescription forgery cases and doctor shopping. A Summit was held by CMANS to being law enforcement officers, prosecutors, pharmacists and medical doctors together to address this problem in November of 2011. About 100 participants heard from subject matter experts about their experiences in this area. In 2012, the pressure on prescription medications resulted in an upsurge in the seizure of he**in in Cherokee County. CMANS Agents made the first He**in Trafficking case in the history of Cherokee County in 2012. The drug problem in Cherokee County and metro Atlanta continues to evolve and CMANS Agents participate in advanced training to keep pace with the current trends. CMANS Agents receive on average 100 hours of training per agent each year. In 2019, Pickens County joined CMANS allowing CMANS Agents to fight the drug epidemic in two neighboring counties. CMANS appreciates the continued assistance of the Cherokee & Pickens County citizens. To report a drug dealer call the tip line at 770-345-7920 or by submitting a tip online. The calls and online tips can be anonymous. You can also contact an agent with CMANS at (678) 493-7625.

Photos from U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia's post

08/22/2025

01/27/2025

Prison Time for Leader in RICO Case Involving Fraudulent Prescriptions

District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway announces that on January 15 a multi-defendant RICO case was closed when the final defendant entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced.

This case involved a total of six defendants who associated together as a criminal enterprise for the common purpose of illegally obtaining prescriptions using a stolen doctor’s prescription pad. The medications included Adderall, Alprazolam, Hydrocodone, Phentermine, and Tramadol.

The leader of the enterprise, Leslie Joann Archambault, 49, was sentenced on January 26, 2023, to 15 years with the first three years to serve in prison and the remainder to serve on probation.

“This defendant has a history of committing fraud in one form or another, manipulating and using family members and friends to acquire medications that were not legally prescribed to her,” said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Damion Overstreet, of the Gang and Organized Crime Unit. “In this case, she tried to outsmart authorities by recruiting other individuals to assist her in her scheme. Fortunately, an extensive CMANS investigation put a stop to this organized crime.”

In September 2022, law enforcement first became aware of this illegal activity when a Roswell medical practice discovered that Archambault, who was a former employee, had been filling prescriptions by fraudulently using a doctor’s credentials.

The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) investigation determined that Archambault obtained prescription pads while employed at the medical practice. She used those prescription pads to write prescriptions for the co-defendants (her associates in the enterprise). Archambault wrote prescriptions for medications for herself as well as for medications her associates requested.

Prescriptions were filled at pharmacies throughout Cherokee County.

During the prosecution of this case, the six co-defendants entered negotiated guilty pleas on different dates from 2022-2025. Their sentences are as follows:

• Gina Marie Moson, 49, negotiated guilty plea on January 15, 2025, to violation of RICO Act, sentenced to two years to serve on probation.
• Jeffrey Moson, 46, negotiated guilty plea on December 6, 2024, to violation of RICO Act, sentenced to three years to serve on probation.
• Jessica Rose Weaver, 38, negotiated guilty plea on April 19, 2023, to violation of RICO Act, sentenced to three years to serve on probation.
• Cathy Rebecca Hudson, 41, negotiated guilty plea on June 15, 2023, to violation of RICO Act, sentenced to two years to serve on probation.
• Leslie Joann Archambault, 49, negotiated guilty plea on January 26, 2023, to violation of RICO Act, sentenced to 15 years, with the first three years to serve in prison and the remainder to serve on probation.
• Bryan Omae Chirangu, 35, negotiated guilty plea on December 13, 2022, to fraud or theft in obtaining controlled substance and possession of a scheduled IV controlled substance, sentenced to five years to serve on probation.

“By utilizing the RICO Act in the prosecution of this case, we were able to attribute specific acts committed to each co-conspirator while clearly showing that one defendant was the mastermind behind the enterprise,” said District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat all forms of organized criminal activity in Cherokee County.”

The case was investigated by the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, with assistance from the Holly Springs Police Department. It was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Damion Overstreet, of the Gang and Organized Crime Unit, Office of the District Attorney, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.

01/16/2025

Photos from Cherokee County District Attorney - Georgia's post

10/02/2024

Drug investigations yield massive m**h bust

03/20/2024

Great work by all of the local, state and federal agencies involved with this investigation.

Drug investigations yield massive m**h bust [Additional reporting Glenn Harbinson Blue Ridge News Observer] [Editor's Note: The article has been updated from the original version. The dollar amount of the m**h seizure is lower than originally thought]. Drug investigations across north Georgia counties merged Friday with seve

Jury convicts gang member of m**hamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and attempt offenses

12/19/2021

CMANS will continue to work diligently with our Local, State and Federal partners to get this poison off the streets!

Jury convicts gang member of m**hamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and attempt offenses A federal jury has convicted Antonio Jamar Laster of conspiring and attempting to traffic m**hamphetamine sourced from a cartel-connected stash house hidden in plain sight in the north Atlanta suburbs.