Operation Blue Christmas
Nets Several Arrests

By Jon Mayhew (Lincolnton) -- It wasn't a Merry Christmas for part of Lincolnton's criminal element Tuesday morning. Officers, investigators and narcotics officers served more than 20 warrants throughout the city in what has been called "Operation Blue Christmas."

Twenty-three people were arrested on more than 130 charges totaling more than $7 million in secured bonds.

The suspects ranged in age from 18 to 68 years old and bonds on several different charges ranged from $4,000 to $1.4 million.

"The operation started at 6am Thursday," said LPD Investigations Lt. Brian Greene. "We also recovered about a half pound of marijuana during "Operation Blue Christmas."

All suspects have a first appearance hearing scheduled for Wednesday in Lincolnton District Court.

Agencies assisting Lincolnton Police included Alcohol Law Enforcement, North Carolina Probation and Parole, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Gastonia Police Department, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrests came after a six month undercover investigation.

When told of the major drug bust Tuesday night, Lincolnton Mayor John Gilleland said he was going to send police chief Rodney Jordan a congratulatory email.

"All I can say is (their work is) exceptional," said Mayor Gilleland.

The following people were arrested in "Operation Blue Christmas:"

Edward Louis Voss, 43, 4805 Grassy Creek Road, Denver, was arrested at the Lincolnton Police Department. He was charged with seven felony counts trafficking hydrocodone; one count felony conspiracy. Magistrate J. Bates set bond at $1.4 million.


Pamela Voss, 43, 4805 Grassy Creek Road, Denver, was arrested at her residence in Catawba County. She was charged with the same charges as her husband and Magistrate P. Beal also gave her a $1.4 million bond.


Glenda Motz Franklin, 62, 104 Keever Street was arrested at her residence. She was charged with two felony counts of trafficking oxycodone - possession; two felony counts of trafficking oxycodone - selling; two felony counts of oxycodone - delivery; two counts maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance; one count trafficking oxycodone - possession; and one count trafficking oxycodone - delivery. Magistrate P. Beal gave Franklin a $910,000 secured bond.


David Wayne Martin, 50, 4609 York Highway, Gastonia, was arrested at U.S. 321 and Gastonia Highway. He was chaged with two felony counts of trafficking oxycodone possession; two felony counts of trafficking oxycodone selling; two felony counts of trafficking oxycodone delivery; two counts trafficking oxycodone transporting; and two counts felony conspiracy. Magistrate P. Beal gave Martin a $810,000 secured bond.


Rebecca Elaine Martin, 55, 112 Lou Drive, Gastonia, was arrested and charged with two felony counts oxycodone possession; two felony counts of trafficking oxycodone selling; two felony counts trafficking oxycodone delivery; two counts trafficking oxycodone transporting and two counts of felony conspiracy. Bond was set at $810,000 secured.


Sue Motz Gibson, 68, 104 Keever Street, Lincolnton, was arrested at her residence on 13 separate charges including trafficking hydrocodone by possession, selling and deliverly (ii and iii), three counts of maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances, possession with intent to sell and deliver oxycontin, the sale and delivery of oxycontin, possession with intent to sell and deliver oxycodone and the sale and delivery of oxycodone; and the possession with intent to sell and deliver and the sale and delivery of hydrocodone. Bond was set at $675,000 secured.


Thirty-two year old Robbie Christina Edwards of 305 Huss Street was charged with possession with four felony counts with intent to sell and deliver and the sale and delivery of marijuana; five felony counts of maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance; two felony counts of conspiracy; and one count each of trafficking morphine, possession (i), selling (i) and delivery (i). Bond was set at $510,000 secured.


Andrew Paul Mungro, 23, 2324 North Street, Lincolnton, was arrested and charged with four felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine and four felony counts of the sale and delivery of crack coacine, as well as three felony counts of conspiracy. Bond was set at $90,000 secured.


Jonathan Lynn Burrow, Orchard Road, Iron Station, was arrested at his residence and charged with trafficking oxycodone (i). Bond was set at $100,000 secured.



Timothy Wayne Lynch, 49, 104 Keever Street, Lincolnton, was arrested at his residence on two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver and the sale and delivery of valium; one count possession with intent to sell and deliver and the sale and delivery of oxycontin; and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance. Bond was set at $50,000 secured.


Michael Odell Fair, 23, 1006 West 4th Avenue, Gastonia, was arrested at the Buck Saver on South Aspen Street. He was charged with two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver and the sale and delivery of crack cocaine. Bond was set at $40,000 secured.


April Yvette Smith, 37, Iron Station, was arrested at her residence and charged with felony possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine and the sale and delivery of crack cocaine. Bond was set at $30,000 secured.



Ronald Auton Foster, 43, 3164 River Road, was arrested at his residence and charged with two felony counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine; two felony counts of the sale and delivery of crack cocaine; and one felony count of maintaining a vehicle for controlled substance. Bond was set at $25,000 secured.


LaDenna Monte McGill, 22, 732 East Pine Street, was arrested at her residence on charges of felony assession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine; felony sale and delivery of cocaine; felony possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and the sale and delivery of marijuana. Bond was set at $25,000 secured.


Kegan Ryan Walker, 18, was served a warrant at the Lincoln County Jail on a felony charge of manufacturing marijuana. He was given an additional bond of $20,000 secured.



Chad Christopher Caldwell, 37, Woodfield Drive, Lincolnton, was arrested at the Lincolnton Police Department on charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver hydrocodone and the sale and delivery of hyrdocodone. Bond was set at $20,000 secured.



Stanley Kinston Dean Edwards, 23, 1020 East Lincoln Street, was arrested at his residence on charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine; sale and delivery of crack cocaine and conspiracy. Bond was set at $20,000 secured.



Abner Javier Castro Rangel, 22, 140 Hillcrest Drive, was arrested at his residence on felony charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver clonipan; the sale and delivery of clonipan; and conspiracy. Bond was set at $15,000 secured.



Bobby Dean Watkins, 50, 732 East Pine Street, was arrested at his residence and charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver crack cocaine; the sale and delivery of crack cocaine and conspiracy. Bond was set at $15,000 secured.



Billy Ray Galloway Jr. of St. James Church Road, Denver, was arrested at the Buck Saver on North Aspen Street after contacting police and turning himself in. He was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; the sale and delivery of marijuana and conspiracy. Bond was set at $15,000 unsecured.



Cherish Long, 26, 668 Riverside Drive, was arrested at her residence and charged with maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance. Bond was set at $10,000 secured.





Marshall Dale Lony, 27, 2096 Old Salem Road, Lincolnton, was arrested in the 2300 block of Keener Road and charged with felony conspiracy. Bond was set at $10,000 secured.

Evan Chandler Collins, 22, Iron Station, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a counterfeit controlled substance and the sale/delivery of a counterfeit controlled substance. Bond was set at $4,000 secured.

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