Osceola deputies bust 20 people in meth operation

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County authorities landed a big meth cooking suspect during Operation Big Meth Bass.

James Bass is accused of pulling off the large operation recruited more than 20 people who were putting meth on the streets, according to investigators.

"We received a tip five months ago that led us to Jimmy Bass. He was considered the ringleader in the operation," Twis Lizasuain of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said.

Osceola authorities even decided to name Operation Big Meth Bass after him.

James, or Jimmy, Bass lives at a St. Cloud home where investigators say he and some of his crew would cook up the drug.

Bass is not only accused of making the meth, but of recruiting more than 20 people

They were caught because state law requires pharmacies to get the names of every person who buys medications that contain meth's key ingredients.

The reason Bass needed so many people was because pharmacies look closely at identification in products like cold medicines, investigators said.

One person can only buy small amounts Sudafed or Benadryl at a time before raising red flags.

Investigators are still working to calculate the estimated street value of the meth and aren't sure how long the ring may have been going on.

Three people are still on the run Thursday, who investigators think had a role in the operation.

WFTV