On July 24, 2026, the Gilmer County Sheriff's Office (Georgia), with assistance from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, NCSBI, the Union County Sheriff's Office (Georgia), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), conducted a traffic stop involving Wolfenbarger. The methamphetamine was destined for Cherokee County but was seized before it could reach its destination. The cooperation between the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, the NCSBI, and multiple Georgia law enforcement agencies proved essential in disrupting the flow of illegal drugs into local communities. During the investigation, detectives identified electronic communications and financial transactions involving payments allegedly made in exchange for sexually explicit photographs of minors. Because Ives resided outside North Carolina, Cherokee County detectives coordinated with the Cobb County Police Department Special Victims Unit in Georgia.