Jackson County councilwoman arrested in GBI drug investigation

By Joe Johnson

A city councilwoman in the Jackson County municipality of Commerce has been arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for allegedly being a marijuana dealer.

Roshuanda Merritt, 43, was charged on Friday with criminal attempt to commit sale of marijuana and use of a telecommunication facility to facilitate a felony, according to the GBI.

An investigation into Merritt began in December after the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office conducted an unrelated investigation and discovered that Merritt was allegedly distributing marijuana from her home in Commerce, according to the GBI, which was requested by the sheriff's office to assist with the investigation.

Merritt, who was newly elected in November to represent Ward 5 on the Commerce City Council, was informed by authorities that warrants for her arrest had been issued and she subsequently surrendered at the Jackson County Jail on Friday, the GBI said.

The state law enforcement agency indicated that the investigation that resulted in Merritt's arrest was ongoing.