Multi-County Sheriff Operation Busts Major Methamphetamine Ring in Hayesville

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — A five-month investigation by sheriff’s offices in Towns, Clay, Union, and Cherokee counties culminated in the arrest of two Hayesville residents on Aug. 2, 2025, for large-scale methamphetamine distribution, authorities said.

Kimberly Jo Allison, 42, and James Brandon Taylor, 30, were apprehended by Towns County investigators with over 6 ounces of methamphetamine in their possession. Following the arrests, a search warrant was executed at their residence at 953 Town Mountain Road in Hayesville, where an additional 8 ounces of methamphetamine and three firearms were seized, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

Allison and Taylor face multiple drug and weapons charges in Towns County. Additional charges are pending in Clay County related to the residential search, which officials say will carry significant prison time due to the severity of the drug trafficking and weapons violations.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office praised the collaborative efforts of the multi-county operation, noting that drug trafficking networks often cross jurisdictional boundaries. “We are proud to have a great working relationship with all of our neighboring law enforcement agencies,” the office said in a statement.

The investigation highlights ongoing efforts to combat illegal drug distribution in the tri-county area, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to disrupting such operations.