Last Updated:May 15. 2008 11:31PM
Published: May 16. 2008 3:30AM

A tip led to the arrest of four people accused of making methamphetamine.

Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said officers searched a residence in Vina on Wednesday and found meth and an active meth lab.

Those arrested included Cody Patrick Gray, 26, 1562 Alabama 19, Red Bay, who was charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and Melody Beth Phfier Pruitt, 34, 2501 State Line Road, Golden, Miss., charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also arrested were Virginia Ann Taylor, 40, 457 Barker Road, Vina, who was charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and Gina Nell Armstrong, 39, 507 7th St. S.W., Red Bay, charged with first-degree manufacturing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators said they received a tip about the residence on Franklin 9 in Vina, which is owned by Gray.

The sheriff said when officers got to the house they were able to obtain consent to search the residence and found the lab in the basement.

Authorities said they found a number of actual labs where meth had been cooked upstairs, in the vehicles outside and even at the edge of the yard near a wooded area.

Department officials said that during the search of the residence, officers found 2-4 grams of finished meth, 2-3 ounces of liquid meth and two grams of the substance ice, which is a stronger form of meth.

Also, Plott said they found three homemade gun silencers and two rifles.

Investigators seized a 2007 Toyota truck where they found chemicals and firearms along with a four-wheeler that authorities say was being used to transport chemicals to labs that were behind the residence.

Authorities said the drug enforcement agency's HazMat team was called in to dispose of the lab.

Officers with the Franklin District Attorney's office, Red Bay Police and Marion County Drug Task Force aided the sheriff's department in the investigation.

All four suspects are being held in the Franklin County Jail without bail.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.