Top headlines of the day, delivered to your email every morning. Fax Line: (305) 530-7679. 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. Choose wisely! Mark Antonio Hanson, 32, of Sebring: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 21-CR-14002). Two people were arrested: Gina Marcia Denys, 58 of Abingdon, and Erette Allen McClellan, 41 of Abingdon. I have made it a high priority of our agency to target not just street-level drug dealers, but mid- and upper-level drug traffickers, Sheriff Paul Blackman said Friday morning. They were also prohibited from carrying firearms, said police. Working with our federal and state partners, we have stopped the flow of nearly a million dollars per week of methamphetamine coming into our community.. The arrests happened in the north parking lot on Jan. 26 around 3 p.m. Im very proud of our police officers and K-9 Kai who proactively and tactically detected the suspicious activity in the parking lot and delivered a direct, decisive response, said Beachwood Police Chief Kate Dolan. The bust in Highlands gives her shivers, knowing where those drugs would have otherwise ended up. 21-CR-14002). Neighbors complained of a large amount of traffic coming from 1 Meadowlake Drive in Lake Placid. 23 people across the area were arrested on charges for dealing meth or opiates. COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE/, COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. As a result, Highland County SO now has detectives that are task force members with the DEA, the FBI, the ATF and the United States Marshals Service. A locked padlock 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. A locked padlock 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. Terrance Mactavias Sholtz, 43, was sentenced on Aug. 17, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, to 24 months imprisonment after being convicted of distribution of cocaine base. An official website of the United States government. WebHighlands County Sheriffs Office says their most recent drug dealer bust is the largest recorded in the countys history. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Terrance Mactavias Sholtz, 43, was sentenced on August 17, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, to 24 months imprisonment after being convicted of distribution of cocaine base. 21-CR-14003). What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? Detectives unraveled the network over seven months through several controlled purchases of methamphetamine and by identifying several dealers working for Molina-Etchechury. Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Miami, Florida Several Highlands County men have been sentenced in South Florida federal district court to prison terms for their roles in a powder and crack cocaine drug trafficking ring that had become entrenched in the Lake Placid neighborhood of Highway Park, Florida. The Appomattox County Sheriff's Office announced 14 arrests in connection with a 6-month narcotics investigation on April 13, 2021. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms. Threats of harming another SEBRING, Fla. Highlands County Sheriffs Office says their most recent drug dealer bust is the largest recorded in the countys history. Local public notices delivered daily to your email account. Now that she has paid her debt to society, she works on recovery efforts in New Port Richey. (Case No. WebLAEK PLACID, Fla. - Deputies in Highlands County say they have busted one of its most prolific drug dealers. Photo is courtesy of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. Molina-Etchechury was one of eight arrested Thursday when an international drug smuggling ring with Highlands County connections was dismantled. Mykel Laron Treadwell, 34, was sentenced on June 2, 2021, by Judge Middlebrooks, to 24 months imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute hydromorphone. On December 9, 2021 in the evening hours, the Polk County Police Department executed a search warrant at 978 Fairview Road (Rockmart) in reference to drug activity at the residence. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Samuel Danelle Sapp Richmond County Sheriff's Office. The Special Operations Unit launched the operation documenting narcotics sales and usedsurveillance video and undercover operatives. "There are always going to be people to profit off of human suffering.". Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21-CR-14002). Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Success! person will not be tolerated. The most recent obituaries, sent out every Wednesday and Saturday morning. We won't share it with anyone else. A lock ( These leggings and parkas look great together in any combination, so you can mix and match according to your preferences. He continued to say the investigation had spanned many months and countless hours of work by investigators in multiple agencies. The sheriffs office estimated the street value of the fentanyl as $15,000. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, DeSantis auditing state attorney over Orlando shooting, FL sheriff stops fleeing driver during radio interview, Publix FL Lottery ticket worth $186K about to expire, Police investigating Tarpon Springs shooting that, Trustees eliminate diversity office at New College, Gov. The cannabis was packaged in vacuum-sealed bags in the snack box, according to the arresting documents. 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. Eleven grams of cannabis were found in the garage under a beige couch, the report states. Operation Triple Play is most likely the largest and most productive investigation of its kind ever conducted in Highlands County. Aleia Danielle Jones, 28, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone, sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. "With that amount of drugs, it's clear that he must have a pretty good clientele," said spokesperson Scott Dressel. Stephen Gerald Shuart, 31, of Avon Park: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 21-CR-14002). He completed probation in 2020. 20 of the arrests were charged with selling narcotics, the other three for drug possession. 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. Sheriff Paul Blackman says there is growing use of meth and opiate across the area. 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. Trafficking methamphetamine (more than 28 grams), Trafficking oxycodone (more than 7 grams), Possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent to distribute, Owning or renting a structure for the purpose to traffic narcotics, Committing a first degree felony with weapon (armed drug trafficking). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Derick Demon Hammonds, 38, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone (two counts), possession of drug equipment. There was an error processing your request. 20-CR-14021). One of their missions was to establish strong partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. After obtaining an arrest warrant, deputies said they searched Dixons home, finding two ounces of fentanyl powder and 800 fentanyl pills, as well as five ounces of cocaine, one ounce of methamphetamine, seven grams of oxycodone and three pounds of marijuana. Possession of firearm by a convicted felon. HCSO Special Operations Units narcotics team investigated the complaint, and a large drug bust was made on Nov. 29. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. that is degrading to another person. Paige Marie Oldfield, 50, of Avon Park: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 23 people across the area were Task force members also served search and arrest warrants Thursday at various locations in the country to take down the rest of the organization. Deputies said their investigation began this summer after learning that Dixon was allegedly selling fentanyl out of his home. Please enter valid email address to continue. Stanton faces charges of possession of illegal drugs and drug sales. Markyrie McCray, Sr. has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Tanya Lynn Mobley, 32, of Lake Placid: sale of hydrocodone, possession of drug equipment. 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, 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. The Alprazolam pills were found in a dresser drawer in Stantons room next to his identification card. These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Port St. Lucie Resident Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Highlands County Sheriffs Office. A locked padlock To put that in perspective, that would be enough to kill nearly 40 percent of the people in Highlands County, an HCSO spokesperson noted. MIAMI Several Highlands County men have been sentenced in South Florida federal district court to prison terms for their roles in a powder and crack cocaine drug trafficking ring that had become entrenched in the Lake Placid neighborhood of Highway Park, Florida. It is largely due to a renewed focus on long-term narcotics investigations by the Highland County Sheriffs Office (SO) Special Operations Division. Terrance Mactavias Sholtz, 43, was sentenced on August 17, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, to 24 months' imprisonment after being convicted of distribution of cocaine base. Leeper said drug dealers will mix it will other drugs including heroin, meth and cocaine, which increases the chances of a fatal interaction. 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. 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. USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov, Southern District of Florida (Case No. It is enough, they say, to kill 25,000 people, or one-quarter of everyone in Highlands County, which has a population of about 101,000 people. (Case No. Stephen Martin Mackay, 46, of Sebring: possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Joshua Thomas Strusz, 33, of Sebring: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 20-CR-14022). 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. (Case No. Beachwood police said the the suspects are from the Northeast Ohio area and have had previous felony convictions. Deputies reportedly located ledgers documenting drug sales, large amounts of cash in small denominations, 86.8 grams of cannabis and 170 Alprazolam pills. I want to thank everyone who had a part in making this huge impact on the flow of drugs onto our streets, Blackman said. 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). Beachwood Mayor Justin Berns said the city is taking an aggressive approach to policing Beachwood Place and working with their security team to make the public feel safe while having an enjoyable shopping experience.. Don't Threaten. Dario Stephan Dixby, 41, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone. Be Truthful. 20-CR-14022). Cesar Rodriguez, of 2333 Cleveland Road in Sebring, on unrelated charges. There was an error processing your request. The areas top boating and fishing news will be delivered to you email every Thursday morning. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Use the 'Report' link on Lock Donna Alice Bermudez, 56, of Avon Park: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 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. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Rebecca Lynn Taylor, 36, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone (two counts), possession of drug equipment, possession of marijuana. of marijuana, and worst of all for deputies, was the two ounces of fentanyl powder and 800 pressed fentanyl pills. Hanna and Johnson are the only two suspects not from Highlands County. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WECT) - Law enforcement officials arrested seven people, and confiscated two kilograms of cocaine, 20,000 bags of heroin, $180,000 in cash, and multiple firearms as part of a large-scale, multi-agency drug bust in southeastern North Carolina. Chief Dolan said charges are pending and the suspects names are not being released at this time. This one took place at 5010 Starfish Ave. in Sebring. Trafficking cocaine (28 grams less than 150 kilograms). When your e-Edition is ready to be read, we send you a reminderemaileach day letting you know. Daniell Nicole McDaniel, 33, of Avon Park: sale of oxycodone, sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. At about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Hillsboro Police 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." After obtaining a search warrant for the home on Meadowlake Circle South, deputies detained residents of the house outside while conducting the systematic search. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. All rights reserved. Copyright 2022 WOIO. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. (Case No. La Verne J. Hibbert, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, 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. Markyrie McCray, Sr. has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Eight individuals have been identified as defendants in the case and are expected to face both state and federal indictments. Mykel Laron Treadwell, 34, was sentenced on June 2, 2021, by Judge Middlebrooks, to 24 months imprisonment after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute hydromorphone. Three of their co-conspirators were arrested in Highlands County just before New Years Eve. Error! The State Attorney's Office for Florida's 10th Judicial Circuit assisted greatly with this operation. The search involved twelve locations. 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 21-CR-14002). More information about this case can be found atwww.flsd.uscourts.govorhttp://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. Highlands County sheriffs deputies prepare to transfer Miguel Angel Molina-Etchechury, 27, of Sebring to a different vehicle outside of his Manatee Drive home. 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. 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. Dixon was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in 2003 for dealing cocaine. John Phillip Korzep, 40, of 5010 Starfish Ave., for violation of probation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. accounts, the history behind an article. Keep it Clean. WebDrugs and weapons allegedly seized in a Highlands County bust (HCSO photo) According to deputies, a dose of 2 to 3 milligrams of fentanyl is enough to be deadly, meaning there 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. 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. 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All rights reserved. READ: Were losing this battle: Floridas attorney general wants fentanyl declared a weapon of mass destruction. Patricia Ferol Hall, 45, of Sebring: trafficking in oxycodone, sale of oxycodone, sale of hydromorphone, possession of controlled substance with intent to sell (three counts), possession of drug equipment. Dahlin Patrick Stanton, 20, of Lake Placid, was arrested on Nov. 29 by deputies from the Highlands County Sheriffs Office. 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