NORTH CAROLINA — Ashe County deputies announced that the county’s largest drug trafficking investigation to date, dubbed Operation Crystal Ball, has resulted in 42 arrests so far, with authorities expecting the total to reach around 100.
Sheriff B. Phil Howell said the operation began in January 2025 with two agencies and has grown to involve 23 partner law enforcement agencies by November.
The investigation initially focused on 44-year-old Joseph Derrick Eller, who was first arrested on Aug. 15 and again on Nov. 19. Eller is facing 52 felony charges, most related to methamphetamine trafficking, and was placed under a $1.8 million bond.
Authorities said totals for narcotics, cash, and weapons seized during the operation will be released once all evidence is processed. The investigation is ongoing, and deputies are still searching for Christopher Ordon Bare, Glenna Chantel Greer, and Steven Glenn Burke.
