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Deputies Bust Major Methamphetamine Operation

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Release Date: July 09, 2008

William McLemore	Vincent Pacetti	Alejandro Gonzalez-Cordona
Jacinto Gonzalez-Cardona	Michael McCormack	Charles Howard

Six people have been arrested on drug charges as the result of a methamphetamine investigation conducted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Desoto County Mississippi Sheriff’s Department, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

“This is another significant step the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is making to keep illegal drugs out of our community. I commend our Deputies for developing leads in this case and bringing other agencies into the investigation so arrests could be made,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

“We were pleased our Deputies got to work alongside of Shelby County Deputies on this case.  This was a major methamphetamine operation that has fortunately been shut down as a result of those arrested,” said Desoto County Mississippi Sheriff Bill Rasco.

A few weeks ago, Shelby County Deputies received a tip about an alleged methamphetamine operation in Desoto County Mississippi.  Deputies discovered that a Memphis man, William (Todd) McLemore, 44, had bought some of the methamphetamine at a home in Olive Branch at 5631 Blocker Street.  Deputies raided McLemore’s home at 6883 Raleigh LaGrange on June 5th and found about ¾ of a pound of meth worth $15,000.  Drug scales, smoking pipes and several bags of the drug had been labeled and were ready for distribution.  McLemore was charged with possession to manufacture, deliver or sell methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

As the investigation continued, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies notified Desoto County Mississippi Deputies and agents with the DEA and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.  The joint law enforcement investigation determined the methamphetamine was brought to the home in Olive Branch by way of a Mexican drug cartel.

Deputies and agents raided the Olive Branch home last Tuesday, July 1st, and arrested Vincent Pacetti, 35.  Inside Pacetti’s home, officers found 2.8 ounces of methamphetamine and almost $70,000 in cash.  Pacetti faces federal drug charges.

Also during the course of the investigation, Sheriff’s Deputies received another tip about a storage unit at the intersection of Tulane and Nail Streets in Horn Lake, Mississippi, which contained almost $100,000 worth of products used to make methamphetamine.

Deputies found almost 63,000 Benadryl pills, more than 33,000 ounces of Dayquil cough liquid and a huge shipment of lithium batteries in the storage unit.  Michael McCormack, 27, of Memphis and Charles Howard, 45, also of Memphis, were arrested and charged with possessing materials used to make methamphetamine.  A small amount of meth was also found when officers searched McCormack’s clothes.

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