(Case No. 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 Sheriff's Office made the announcement. A locked padlock Steven Hanna, 20, of West Park: obtaining a controlled substance (codeine) by fraud. They were also prohibited from carrying firearms, said police. WebDahlin Patrick Stanton, 20, of Lake Placid, was arrested on Nov. 29 by deputies from the Highlands County Sheriffs Office. Threats of harming another ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Beachwood police said the the suspects are from the Northeast Ohio area and have had previous felony convictions. Lock Shawn Douglas Klebba, 37, of Avon Park: sale of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment, use of a two-way device to facilitate a felony. Top headlines of the day, delivered to your email every morning. 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. Create a password that only you will remember. 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. (Case No. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. She was arrested numerous times in Pasco County before she got clean. (Case No. All rights reserved. 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. LAEK PLACID, Fla. - Deputies in Highlands County say they have busted one of its most prolific drug dealers. Marlene Rodriguez Top headlines of the day, delivered to your email every morning. (Case No. Tonya Hartsfield Granger, 57, of Avon Park: sale of oxycodone. One of their missions was to establish strong partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies. In the past three months, the following federal defendants have been sentenced in this matter: Markyrie McCray, Jr., 24, was sentenced on Sept. 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.. Leeper said drug dealers will mix it will other drugs including heroin, meth and cocaine, which increases the chances of a fatal interaction. Coy Lee Bellamy, Jr. was sentenced as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( 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? Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Task force members found additional amounts of methamphetamine, as well as a pint of liquid codeine, and smaller amounts of liquid THC and marijuana. At about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Hillsboro Police The junior Bellamy was sentenced as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. We will continue to work hard to identify and arrest the people who seek to peddle this poison in our community.. Dario Stephan Dixby, 41, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone. There was an error processing your request. Their efforts have put one of the countys major drug dealers in jail where he belongs and likely saved many lives.. 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Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. 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. However, Molina-Etchechurys was the local kingpin of the smuggling ring, with links to an unnamed international drug trafficking organization with connections in Mexico. Whether you want to DIY it or go with a craft kit, theres something for everyone this St. Patricks Day. 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. The driver, 40-year-old Ruben Ramirez-Rivera, was arrested on several charges and was being held without bond. 20-CR-14021). COURTESY/HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, International drug smuggling ring with Highlands County connection dismantled. 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. racist or sexually-oriented language. 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. 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. It was also learned that the organization was responsible for bringing up to 13 kilograms 28.66 pounds of methamphetamine a week, with a street value of almost $975,000, into Highlands County and the south-central Florida area. 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. Trafficking cocaine (28 grams less than 150 kilograms). Official websites use .gov 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. Coy Lee Bellamy, Jr. was sentenced as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. 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A locked padlock Four people were arrested in Ellsworth last Thursday after nearly 4 pounds of fentanyl was recovered in a drug bust spanning Hancock and Somerset counties. HCSO Special Operations Units narcotics team investigated the complaint, and a large drug bust was made on Nov. 29. COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE/, COURTESY PHOTO/HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. Jamie Lynn Thomas, 36, of 5010 Starfish Ave., for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug equipment and warrants out of Polk County. 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 (Case No. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. NW, had meth, cocaine, oxycodone, 3 lbs. He continued to say the investigation had spanned many months and countless hours of work by investigators in multiple agencies. Derick Demon Hammonds, 38, of Sebring: sale of oxycodone (two counts), possession of drug equipment. (Case No. Lock 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. Markyrie McCray, Sr. has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. More than 70 people have been charged with 184 felonies as a part of a Henry County drug bust, according to the Henry County Sheriffs Office. SEBRING Multiple search and arrest warrants served Thursday in Sebring took down an international methamphetamine smuggling ring. During the investigation, undercover deputies identified 55-year-old Lisa Radina of Lakeland as a local drug dealer/trafficker selling methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. "That pull of addiction, those obsessive thoughts, can take you to some dark places," she said. 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. 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. Main Office: RELATED: Law enforcement officials worry 'rainbow fentanyl' could be targeting children. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2 men arrested with guns, drugs at Beachwood Place, police say, Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. 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). This lead to the prosecution of members at all levels of the criminal enterprise - from top leaders, to people who cooked crack cocaine, to street-level dealers. Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some face federal charges. If the Iditarod race inspired you, weve compiled a list of the best gear to keep your dog safe and happy throughout winter, as well as year-round. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. WebHILLSBORO, OH (FOX19) - Seven people have been arrested after a drug bust in Highland County. 21-CR-14003). Molina-Etchechury was one of eight arrested Thursday when an international drug smuggling ring with Highlands County connections was dismantled. Floyd Gene Hodge, 52, of Avon Park: possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter. Takaria Vashon McCray, 47, was sentenced on Aug. 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. Rachel Starostin is lucky one of them wasn't her. Operation Triple Play is most likely the largest and most productive investigation of its kind ever conducted in Highlands County. WebSeveral 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 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. Liquid THC, a concentrated form of the addictive substance in marijuana, is often put in vape pens and smoked. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida, Highlands County Drug Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison, Palm Beach County Resident Pleads Guilty to Importation of MDMA and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Armed South Florida Fentanyl Dealer Arrested on Federal Charges, Dark Web Drug Dealer Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison, Highlands County Drug Traffickers Sentenced To Federal Prison. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. AVON PARK, Fla. - Deputies say they took a dangerous amount of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine off the streets of Highlands County in what they called one of the largest drug seizures in recent memory.. Share with Us. First published on September 11, 2021 / 9:26 AM. 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. More information about this case can be found atwww.flsd.uscourts.govorhttp://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. Investigators say the drug den rented by Ezzard Dixon on Abel Rd. The narcotics team at the HCSO reportedly found illegal drugs at a home in Lake Placid. An international methamphetamine smuggling ring with Highlands County SHERIFFS OFFICE an email message containing instructions on how to reset password... Establish strong partnerships with state and federal law enforcement officials worry 'rainbow fentanyl could... Will Find their Own Way drugs inside Ramirez-Rivera, was arrested on Nov..! 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