Bondsmen out on bond

Published 3:09 am Saturday, July 29, 2006

A bondsman charged with three counts of trafficking in methamphetamine received an $80,000 bond in Whitfield County Superior Court on Friday and was released from jail.

Julio Antonio Aviles, 25, of Van Dell Drive, Rock Springs, was arrested Tuesday after undercover agents said they made several high grade purchases of methamphetamine from him.

Enio Calderon Escutia, 27, of Crow Drive, Dalton, is charged with conspiracy to traffic in methamphetamine. He was released from jail Wednesday on a $50,000 bond.

Whitfield County sheriff’s officials and agents with the FBI conducted a two-month investigation which led to the arrests.

Agents seized $3,000 cash from Escutia believed to have been part of a drug deal. A 2002 Honda Passport and two handguns were seized from Aviles.

Agents found no evidence to indicate the owner or other employees of A-Bail Bonding, where the two worked, had any knowledge or involvement of the drug activity, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.