ATLANTA – In a grim revelation from Cherokee County, Michael Ferrell Price, alias ‘Cheese,’ faced the music for his sinister blend of drug trafficking and gun smuggling. The 68-year-old has been nailed to serve over seven years in federal prison for operating an illegal methamphetamine lab and moonshine distillery, which was also a storehouse for explosives and firearms.
“Price posed a clear danger to the community by selling meth and distilling moonshine while harboring a cache of explosive devices and more than 150 firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The joint efforts of federal agents and local law enforcement brought him to justice.”
The ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka echoed the sentiment: “This case shows what happens when law enforcement agencies combine forces to dismantle criminal operations that threaten public safety.” Major Walter Jones, Director of Drug Enforcement-Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, added, “Price’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder that those on the drug trafficking path face dire consequences.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad had been investigating Price since September 2024. A search warrant executed on October 22, 2024, unearthed over three ounces of crystal meth, gallons of homemade moonshine, scores of illegal explosive devices, and a stunning array of firearms.
Price’s arsenal included two machineguns, a short-barreled rifle, an unregistered firearm, five silencers, and a stolen revolver. As a long-time methamphetamine abuser, Price was federally prohibited from owning firearms or explosives. On August 21, 2025, Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Price to 87 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.
This case, investigated by the ATF and the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad with assistance from the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, underscores the commitment of federal agents and local law enforcement to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law. For more information on drug dangers, visit www.justthinktwice.gov and www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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