The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Conducts Underage Alcohol Sales Sting

By Jessica Waters

Two Toccoa residents have been arrested for furnishing alcohol to minors. An arrest warrant has been issued for a third individual on the same charge.

The arrests came after the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office received multiple complaints from local parents about area convenience stores that were selling alcohol to minors without verifying age identification.

On July 17, Sheriff Randy Shirley informed WNEG News that, following the complaints, the SCSO Criminal Investigation Division conducted a controlled covert operation, utilizing a person under 21 years of age to enter into ten convenience stores throughout the county in an attempt to purchase alcohol.

According to a report by investigator Sean McGuire, three of those convenience stores sold alcohol without asking the underage person for their Identification to verify their age.

McGuire identified the three businesses where underage alcohol sales were successful as the Texaco at the intersection of Broad and Currahee streets; Buck’s Package Store at the intersection of Big A Road and Rock Creek Road, and Marathon Convenience Store located at the Jeannette Jameson intersection of West Currahee Street and the Hwy. 17 Bypass.

Peggy Ramirez-Resendiz, 60, of Toccoa, and Alanie Loner, 20, of Toccoa, were arrested for furnishing alcohol to a minor. Each was released after posting a $1,000 bond, according to Shirley.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Barbara Scott, 37, of Toccoa, on the charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office have also notified the Alcohol License Board contacts for both the City of Toccoa and Stephens County, and will be reporting the stores to the Georgia Department of Revenue, Shirley told WNEG News.