Hanceville men charged with drug trafficking, 45 grams of meth seized

Published 4:35 pm Thursday, September 28, 2017

CNET agents working with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office arrested two Hanceville men on drug trafficking charges Wednesday and seized 45 grams of meth, marijuana and pills.

Patrick Joseph Cunningham, 37, and Gerald Wilson McDonald, 58, were arrested after a two week long investigation by CNET agents. Authorities executed a search warrant on County Road 565 near Hanceville Wednesday after receiving information that the homeowner, Cunningham, and McDonald were selling drugs at the residence, according to a sheriff’s office press release.

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Agents discovered ice — a stronger, purer form of meth, according to the sheriff’s office —  marijuana, pills, and drug paraphernalia during the search. Cunningham was arrested at the scene, and agents later arrested McDonald at a residence on Golf Course Road where meth and drug paraphernalia were allegedly found.

“This was pretty high-quality meth. I am glad we were able to arrest these suspects and get the meth before it made it into our community,” said Sheriff Matt Gentry. “I would also like to thank the CNET agents for the good job they did on this case.”

Cunningham was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, three counts of unlawful possession of controlled substance, two counts of second-degree possession of marijuana and two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

McDonald was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, two counts of unlawful possession of controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana, two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and attempting to elude.

McDonald was also arrested on two failure to appear warrants for unlawful possession of controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia charges.

Cunningham was being held in the Cullman County Detention Center on $261,000 bond and McDonald on a $258,000 property bond and $6,000 cash bond.