Cherokee County Man Sentenced 7 Years Meth Trafficking Guns Explosives

Michael Ferrell Price, a 68-year-old man from Ball Ground, Cherokee County, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine, operating an illegal moonshine still, and possessing an extensive cache of illegal firearms and explosives. Authorities discovered more than three ounces of high-purity crystal meth, several gallons of homemade moonshine, dozens of illegal explosive devices, and over 150 firearms, including two machine guns, a short-barreled rifle, silencers, a stolen revolver, and a ghost gun without a serial number, at his mother's home. Price, a longtime methamphetamine user, was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or explosives. The investigation began in September 2024 after suspicions arose about meth trafficking from his elderly mother's property, leading to a search warrant execution in October 2024. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized Price's clear danger to the community and credited the successful outcome to cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Officials highlighted that stockpiling weapons while trafficking drugs is a serious threat, underscoring the importance of interagency collaboration in dismantling such criminal operations.