Gainesville woman arrested after $77,000 worth of meth seized in drug bust

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A Gainesville woman is facing a trafficking charge after authorities seized more than a kilogram of methamphetamine, cash, a firearm and drug paraphernalia during a multi-agency drug investigation July 6, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

Hall County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit investigators arrested Kernicia Trenae James, 33, on July 6 after executing a search warrant at her apartment at Ridgecrest Apartments off Cleveland Highway, Hall County Public Information Officer B.J. Williams said.

Investigators detained James on the apartment property as they prepared to serve the search warrant. Authorities obtained the warrant after learning James was allegedly selling illegal narcotics from her apartment, Williams said.

During the search, investigators recovered approximately 1,040 grams of methamphetamine, more than $18,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia and a 12-gauge assault shotgun. James also was carrying about 2 ounces of methamphetamine and $2,000 in cash when she was detained, according to Williams.

Authorities estimated the seized methamphetamine has a street value of approximately $77,000.

James was charged with one felony count of trafficking in methamphetamine. She is being held without bond at the Hall County Jail.

According to Williams, the arrest was the result of a long-term investigation involving the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.