18 Arrested in Forsyth Club Raid, Owner Claims No Wrong-Doing

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — 18 people were arrested and 100 citations were handed down in Forsyth over the weekend, after the Monroe County Drug Unit conducted a raid at the Sugar Shack Lounge.

Owner Dexter Webb says the rules in his club are no drugs, no underage drinking, and no entry without an invite.

“I would have to know you or the people in the club would have to know you and if they don’t know you we ain’t going to let you in,” says Webb.

Early Saturday, around 1 am the drug investigators from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and four other law enforcement agencies were able to move in without an invitation.

“We had about 65,” says an undercover narcotics investigator, MCSO.

They split into four entry teams. 18 people were arrested on charges ranging from drug possession to disorderly conduct, and handed down 100 citations to others in the club.

“We were charged with selling liquor with a license, but we don’t sell alcohol here,” says Webb.

The undercover investigator says they’ve watching the club since November.

“We start out by doing general observation of the place, having informants inside the building letting us know what’s going on.”

Those informants have witnessed the illegal sale of alcohol and drugs and illegal gambling payouts. Webb claims those accusations are false.

“I don’t sell drugs or alcohol,” says Webb.

Webb says when it comes to the rules inside his club, “no drugs” means no drugs, but on Saturday night the undercover investigator says it was clear that rule was broken.

“When we walked inside the building with our search warrant, the odor of burnt marijuana was inside the building.”

Webb also told us he feels law enforcement has been trying to close his business for years, and that officers have scared his customers off.

Since this is an open investigation, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office wouldn’t comment any further on the matter.