Domestic Cannabis Suppression / Eradication Program, Red Ribbon Toolkit - Resources For Your Community, DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Intelligence Research Specialist Job Announcements, Schedule A Hiring Authority: Intelligence Research Specialist, Privacy Impact Assessment and Management Information Systems, Victim Witness Assistance Program Resources. Before that, it was months and months of investigations. Deveaux has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and was sentenced as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. WebMulti-agency drug dealer sweep nets more than 70 arrests in Highlands County SEBRING -- For more than a year, the Highlands County Sheriffs Office has worked with local, SEBRING, Fla. Highlands County Sheriffs Office says their most recent drug dealer bust is the largest recorded in the countys history. (Case No. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Three of their co-conspirators were arrested in Highlands County just before New Years Eve. Throughout the investigation, another four were arrested and authorities seized a large amount of drugs. I am so proud of the work done on this case by the Crime Suppression Unit and the work of all the others who took part in this investigation. LAEK PLACID, Fla. - Deputies in Highlands County say they have busted one of its most prolific drug dealers. Task force members found additional amounts of methamphetamine, as well as a pint of liquid codeine, and smaller amounts of liquid THC and marijuana. Other people linked with the drug trafficking organization were arrested prior to Thursday: Victor Antonio Delagua, 27, of 1517 Melady Ave. in Sebring, was arrested Feb. 8 and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug equipment, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and probation violation after he was found with 13 grams of methamphetamine and 255.3 grams (more than half a pound) of marijuana during a probation search of his home. Freddie Leon Owens, 59, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone, use of a two-way device to facilitate a felony. Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, La Verne J. Hibbert, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, Robert Cekada, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Miami Field Office, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Field Office, Troy Walker, Special Agent in Charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Paul Blackman, Sheriff, Highlands County Sheriffs Office made the announcement. In the past three months, the following federal defendants have been sentenced in this matter: Markyrie McCray, Jr., 24, was sentenced on September 8, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, to 30 months' imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as "crack cocaine." Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, Eastlake City Council president pleads not guilty to solicitation, Missing 17-year-old Cleveland boy last seen at Lake Erie High School, Ohio Gov. of marijuana, and worst of all for deputies, was the two ounces of fentanyl powder and 800 pressed fentanyl pills. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Edward Bernard Hammond, 61, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone. Marquis Sharod Bellamy, 28, was sentenced on July 1, 2021, by Judge Middlebrooks, to 180 months' imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Top headlines of the day, delivered to your email every morning. Kenneth Jamal Deveaux, 39, was sentenced on May 26, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez, to 151 months' imprisonment after being convicted of distribution of cocaine base. Floyd Gene Hodge, 52, of Avon Park: possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. SEBRING, Fla. On September 30, 2010, a multi-agency federal, state, and local task force conducted an operation in which more than 70 people were arrested on drug trafficking and gun marcharges. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Markyrie McCray, Sr. has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Daniell Nicole McDaniel, 33, of Avon Park: sale of oxycodone, sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. 2 men arrested with guns, drugs at Beachwood Place, police say, Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. Operation Triple Play was a long-term investigation conducted by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force made up of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) West Palm Beach District Office: the Bureau of Alcohol: Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI); the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Sebring Police Department; the Okeechobee County Sheriffs Office; and the State Attorneys Office for the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. We won't share it with anyone else. I want to thank everyone who had a part in making this huge impact on the flow of drugs onto our streets, Blackman said. Deputies say they confiscated enough fentanyl to kill nearly 40,000 people. Beachwood police said the the suspects are from the Northeast Ohio area and have had previous felony convictions. They are wanted for using fraudulent prescriptions to obtain codeine-based prescriptions to be sold on the streets, and are part of a large ring on the east coast of the state. One of their missions was to establish strong partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies. The cannabis was packaged in vacuum-sealed bags in the snack box, according to the arresting documents. The areas top boating and fishing news will be delivered to you email every Thursday morning. The Alprazolam pills were found in a dresser drawer in Stantons room next to his identification card. Eight individuals have been identified as defendants in the case and are expected to face both state and federal indictments. Joshua Thomas Strusz, 33, of Sebring: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. When your e-Edition is ready to be read, we send you a reminderemaileach day letting you know. Operation Triple Play is most likely the largest and most productive investigation of its kind ever conducted in Highlands County. These leggings and parkas look great together in any combination, so you can mix and match according to your preferences. 4th Street Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. Cesar Rodriguez, of 2333 Cleveland Road in Sebring, on unrelated charges. WebIDAHO FALLS Between Friday, March 4, and Sunday, March 6, Idaho Falls Police Officers arrested 16 people for drug and other relevant offenses in six separate incidents. Stanton was charged with possession of marijuana over 20 grams (86.8 grams), possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug equipment. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A law enforcement operation handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and Highlands County Sheriff's Office dismantled the drug trafficking organization, leading to the prosecution of members at all levels of the criminal enterprise -- from top leaders, to people who cooked crack, to street-level dealers. Investigators say the drug den rented by Ezzard Dixon on Abel Rd. The State Attorney's Office for Florida's 10th Judicial Circuit assisted greatly with this operation. More than 80 arrest warrants were issued and more than 70 people have been taken into custody. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. First published on September 11, 2021 / 9:26 AM. (Case No. At about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Hillsboro Police RELATED: Law enforcement officials worry 'rainbow fentanyl' could be targeting children. Copyright 2022 WOIO. Top headlines of the day, delivered to your email every morning. Stanton was charged with possession of marijuana The joint investigation by the Highlands County Sheriffs Office; the Port St. Lucie office of the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the local Probation and Parole office led to five arrests. Melissa Lynn McIntosh-Paniccia, 47, of Sebring: sale of methamphetamine (two counts), possession of drug equipment, using a two-way device to facilitate a felony. The Port St. Lucie office of Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Highlands County Sheriffs Office and the local Probation and Parole office in several arrests Thursday. WebRENTON, WA Renton police and the Valley SWAT Team logged the city's largest-ever drug bust Monday, seizing an estimated $1.7 million in illegal drugs after a lengthy Deputies in Highlands County have arrested Ezzard Dixon, who they say had enough fentanyl to kill a quarter of the county. Jillian Elizabeth Tubbs, 28, of Sebring, was arrested Feb. 28 and charged with methamphetamine trafficking and possession of drug equipment after she was found with 259.6 grams (more than half a pound) of methamphetamine after a traffic stop. After obtaining a search warrant for the home on Meadowlake Circle South, deputies detained residents of the house outside while conducting the systematic search. Markyrie McCray, Sr., 46, was sentenced on August 25, 2021, by Judge Middlebrooks, to 72 months' imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. Samuel Danelle Sapp Richmond County Sheriff's Office. 20-CR-14022). 21-CR-14003). Takaria Vashon McCray, 47, was sentenced on August 25, 2021, by Judge Middlebrooks, to 188 months imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. According to deputies, a dose of 2 to 3 milligrams of fentanyl is enough to be deadly, meaning there was enough of the drug to kill 40,000 people. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 4 things you can do for your health, The State of Black Tampa Bay: An Exclusive Town Hall, Ybor speakeasy honors Madame Fortune Taylor, Ex got a warrant? (Case No. Now that she has paid her debt to society, she works on recovery efforts in New Port Richey. This one took place at 5010 Starfish Ave. in Sebring. 21-CR-14002). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. NW, had meth, cocaine, oxycodone, 3 lbs. LAKE PLACID After neighbors complained of an unusually high amount of traffic in a Lake Placid neighborhood, the narcotics unit of the Highlands County Sheriffs Office obtained a search warrant for the residence and discovered 170 Alprazolam (Xanax) pills and more than 86.8 grams of marijuana, according to the arrest report. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Four search warrants served simultaneously Thursday morning on Cleveland Road, Manatee Drive and Starfish Avenue in Sebring resulted in the following arrests: Molina-Etchechury, on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 23 people across the area were arrested on charges for dealing meth or opiates. According to the sheriffs office, Operation Dealer Fold began Thursday, Jan. 11 and ran through the weekend. The prosecution was part of Operation Triple Play, which is a result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Deputies say they found five loaded guns and $3,000 in cash. HCSO Special Operations Units narcotics team investigated the complaints of a high volume of traffic at Stantons residence, according to a Facebook post by the HCSO. Invalid password or account does not exist. Markyrie McCray, Sr., 46, was sentenced on August 25, 2021, by Judge Middlebrooks, to 72 months imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. Use the 'Report' link on Possession of firearm by a convicted felon. Investigators say the drug den rented by Ezzard Dixon on Abel Rd. Photo is courtesy of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. A law enforcement operation handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and Highlands County Sheriffs Office dismantled the drug trafficking organization. I would stress that we dont have as big as a problem as some of the east coast and west coast counties but we do recognize it as a growing problem, and if they are selling one opioid here in our county then thats an issue, Sheriff Blackman said. Takaria Vashon McCray has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and was sentenced as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. In the past three months, the following federal defendants have been sentenced in this matter: Markyrie McCray, Jr., 24, was sentenced on September 8, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, to 30 months imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine. (Case No. 21-CR-14002). Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Here are the best, 12 fashionable pairs of leggings and parkas that, 20-year-old killed in Mantatee County rollover crash, China dismisses FBI statement on COVID-19 lab leak, TikTok sets new default time limits for minors, Mexican president: Mexico has more democracy than, Man hospitalized after shooting in Holiday, Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off this week, Bryant family gets $28.85M settlement over crash, Former clients of attorney speak about alleged wrongdoing, Restaurant worker sprayed hot grease on 2 workers:, FL lawmaker wants to get rid of the Democratic Party, Florida moves to expand Dont Say Gay law, Buffalo Wild Wings manager stole $72,000 from work:, Florida man buys $50 lottery game, wins $1M. WebAVON PARK -- A traffic stop in Avon Park on Sunday led to what the Highlands County Sheriff's Office calls one of the largest drug seizures in recent memory in their county. WebHILLSBORO, OH (FOX19) - Seven people have been arrested after a drug bust in Highland County. Steven Lee Purser, 47, of Bowling Green: sale of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment, use of a two-way device to facilitate a felony. Choose wisely! Public Affairs Officer The driver, 40-year-old Ruben Ramirez-Rivera, was arrested on several charges and was being held without bond. WebMulti-Agency Operation Nets more than 70 arrests in Highlands County SEBRING, Fla. On September 30, 2010, a multi-agency federal, state, and local task force conducted an Highlands County Sheriffs Office arrested Dahlin Stanton, 20, of Lake Placid, on Nov. 29. Molina-Etchechury was one of eight arrested Thursday when an international drug smuggling ring with Highlands County connections was dismantled. Success! The sheriffs office said a subsequent search of the car turned up a staggering amount of drugs, including: Drugs and weapons allegedly seized in a Highlands County bust (HCSO photo). Steven Hanna, 20, of West Park: obtaining a controlled substance (codeine) by fraud. Zachary Wayne Korzep, 35, of 5010 Starfish Ave., for selling methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, felony possession of drug equipment, using a two-way device to facilitate a felony and owning/renting a structure for the sale, trafficking or sale of drugs. Hanna and Johnson are the only two suspects not from Highlands County. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. They were prosecuted by the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida. The junior Bellamy was sentenced as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. Mark Antonio Hanson, 32, of Sebring: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? It is largely due to a renewed focus on long-term narcotics investigations by the Highland County Sheriffs Office (SO) Special Operations Division. 21-CR-14003). 21-CR-14002). Neighbors complained of a large amount of traffic coming from 1 Meadowlake Drive in Lake Placid. In the snack box, according to the e-mail address listed on your account now that she has her... Distribute cocaine base of Florida for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base than 70 people have taken! Instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the address... ) by fraud deputies highlands county drug bust they found five loaded guns and $ in!: sale of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession methamphetamine! 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