The medical examiner who covers Highlands County says 37 people died of an overdose there last year, while 8,000 died statewide. of marijuana, and worst of all for deputies, was the two ounces of fentanyl powder and 800 pressed fentanyl pills. 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The State Attorneys Office for Floridas 10th Judicial Circuit assisted with this operation. Before that, it was months and months of investigations. A lock ( 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. WebHILLSBORO, OH (FOX19) - Seven people have been arrested after a drug bust in Highland County. Tonya Hartsfield Granger, 57, of Avon Park: sale of oxycodone. 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. Markyrie McCray, Sr. has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. (Case No. One of their missions was to establish strong partnerships with state and federal law enforcement agencies. They were prosecuted by the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Talvin Johnson, 33, of Miramar: obtaining a controlled substance (codeine) by fraud. When your e-Edition is ready to be read, we send you a reminderemaileach day letting you know. 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.. 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 The operation culminated this week with a surge of arrests as part of the federal Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). "That pull of addiction, those obsessive thoughts, can take you to some dark places," she said. 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. Marquis Sharod Bellamy was sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act. 21-CR-14002). Dixon has received the following charges: The Highlands County Sheriffs Office said Dixon previously spent 9 years in prison on federal drug charges and completed his probation in 2020. Local public notices delivered daily to your email account. However, Molina-Etchechurys was the local kingpin of the smuggling ring, with links to an unnamed international drug trafficking organization with connections in Mexico. (Case No. Im very proud of the work done by the deputies involved in this arrest, Sheriff Paul Blackman said in a press rleease. You have permission to edit this article. Photo is courtesy of the Highlands County Sheriff's Office. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The cannabis was reportedly field tested on scene and showed a positive result for the substance. 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. Donna Alice Bermudez, 56, of Avon Park: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 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. Authorities said these forms of the drugs have higher potency and are highly addictive. (Case No. The Appomattox County Sheriff's Office announced 14 arrests in connection with a 6-month narcotics investigation on April 13, 2021. 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. K-9 officer Gentry sniffed around the outside of the car and indicated there were drugs inside. Investigators say the drug den rented by Ezzard Dixon on Abel Rd. "We are hoping he never sees the outside of prison again," said Dressel. 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. A locked padlock 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. The most recent obituaries, sent out every Wednesday and Saturday morning. WebAccording to a release from the Highlands County Sheriffs Office, Ezzard Charles Dixon, 47, was arrested on Tuesday after a search warrant turned up multiple types of drugs and 21-CR-14002). 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. 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. The senior McCray has a prior conviction from the Southern District of Florida for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. Have a question about Government Services? We arent finished, either. Be Nice. Chief Dolan said charges are pending and the suspects names are not being released at this time. Virgina Joy Underwood, 31, of Sebring: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 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. LAEK PLACID, Fla. - Deputies in Highlands County say they have busted one of its most prolific drug dealers. 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). Stephen Martin Mackay, 46, of Sebring: possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 20 of the arrests were charged with selling narcotics, the other three for drug possession. Copyright 2022 WOIO. Be Proactive. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 33132, Telephone: (305) 961-9001 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. Galyn Oakley Turnbull, 32, of 2333 Cleveland Road, for trafficking methamphetamine (14 grams or over), possession of marijuana, possession of drug equipment and resisting an officer. 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.. The junior Bellamy was sentenced as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. Highlands County Sheriffs Office says their most recent drug dealer bust is the largest recorded in the countys history. 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, 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. The most recent obituaries newsletter, sent out every morning. accounts, the history behind an article. 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. More information about this case can be found atwww.flsd.uscourts.govorhttp://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. Molina You have permission to edit this article. 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. "With that amount of drugs, it's clear that he must have a pretty good clientele," said spokesperson Scott Dressel. 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. Cesar Rodriguez, of 2333 Cleveland Road in Sebring, on unrelated charges. Joshua Thomas Strusz, 33, of Sebring: sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug equipment. 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. 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