5 wanted, 13 arrested in Vance County drug crackdown; raids seize guns, cocaine, gambling machines: ALE officials

HENDERSON, N.C. (WNCN) — A nearly six-month investigation led to 13 central North Carolina arrests in raids at seven locations last week, with agents seizing many items, including $40,000 in cash, a pound of cocaine, and 10 guns, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement said Friday.

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Five suspects are still wanted in the crackdown that included a sting operation, leading to more than 170 charges and discovering that key drug traffickers worked with gangs to spread illegal drugs into Henderson and Vance County, NC ALE officials said.

The investigation, which culminated with arrests on Wednesday and Thursday, also found drug manufacturing alongside children inside homes, an NC ALE news release said.

Many loitering and harassment community complaints against suspected drug dealers at various businesses triggered the “long-term drug trafficking investigation,” officials said.

Illegal gambling machines were found and seized at several businesses where drug deals took place, the release said.

NC ALE worked with the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation during the operation and investigation.

Authorities said that agents, police and deputies seized the following items during the arrests and execution of search warrants:

• 1 pound of cocaine
• crack cocaine
• fentanyl
• methamphetamine
• MDMA, opioids and heroin
• $5,479 in cash
• 10 firearms — at least three possessed by convicted felons
• illegal gaming equipment
• $35,677 in cash during the gaming seizures

The operation led to the arrest of three armed robbery suspects, including a 15-year-old, officials said.

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“By working together and acting on the concerns shared by the community, we have effectively disrupted significant criminal activity,” NC ALE Director Bryan House said in the news release.

NC ALE officials reported that the following businesses were among the locations where search warrants were executed:

• 4U Country Store at 13674 N.C. 39
• Park and Play at 13020 N.C. 39
• New Hope Mini Mart at 47 Morgan Road
• Williamsboro Grocery at 7690 N.C. 39

According to NC ALE authorities on Friday, the following are sought on active warrants for the listed charges as of Friday:

Christopher Donnel Watkins, 52, of Townsville

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
• Sell Cocaine – 2 counts
• Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
• Sell Marijuana
• Deliver Marijuana

Jimmy Lee Branch Jr., 51, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
• Sell Cocaine
• Deliver Cocaine

Malik Jones, 24, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
• Sell Marijuana
• Deliver Marijuana

Keith Jones, 49, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
• Sell Cocaine

Antwain Nicholas Quazon Allen, 27, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
• Sell Cocaine
• Deliver Cocaine

“We will continue to pursue accountability for individuals involved in criminal activity and support efforts that make our neighborhoods safer,” Vance County area District Attorney Mike Waters said in the news release.

The news release said the following people were arrested on charges listed below:

Dermale Alphonso Durham, 38, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
• Sell Cocaine – 2 counts
• Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
• Sell Marijuana
• Deliver Marijuana

Michael Joseph Gill, 46, of Oxford

• Trafficking Cocaine – 2 counts
• Manufacture, Sell, Deliver, Possess a Controlled Substance within 1000 ft of a School
• Conspire to Traffick Cocaine

Zyquaveon Hargrove, 20, of Henderson

• Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
• Conspire to Commit Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substances

Reginald Tyrone Harris, 54, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana

Tatianna Hinton, 24, of Oxford

• Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
• Conspire to Commit Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substances
• Promote Drug Sales by a Minor
• Misd. Carrying Concealed Gun
• Misd. Assault by Pointing a Gun
• Misd. Possess Marijuana up to ½ ounce

Maurice Gerod Kearney, 36, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Ecstasy
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
• Maintaining a Dwelling for a Controlled Substance
• Misd. Possess/Sell Non-Tax Paid Liquor
• Misd. Possess Marijuana up to ½ ounce

Richard Cliffton Newman, 46, of Norlina

• Obtain Property by False Pretense

Barry Oneil Reavis, 46, of Henderson

• Possession of a Firearm by Felon
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 3 counts
• Maintaining a Dwelling for a Controlled Substance – 3 counts
• Trafficking Cocaine – 9 counts
• Sell Cocaine – 3 counts
• Deliver Cocaine – 3 counts
• Conspire to Sell Cocaine – 4 counts
• Conspire to Deliver Cocaine – 4 counts
• Conspire to Traffick Cocaine – 3 counts
• Misd. Possess Marijuana up to ½ ounce

Jonathan Allan Rhodes, 37, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Heroin
• Maintaining a Vehicle for a Controlled Substance
• Misd. Simple Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance

Mario Antwon Solomon, 50, of Henderson

• Possession of a Firearm by Felon
• Carrying a Concealed Gun
• Trafficking Methamphetamine – 3 counts
• Trafficking Fentanyl
• Manufacturing a Schedule II Substance
• Conspire to Sell Methamphetamine – 2 counts
• Conspire to Deliver Methamphetamine
• Sell Methamphetamine
• Deliver Methamphetamine
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
• Sell Schedule II Controlled Substance
• Conspire to Sell/Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance

Andre Lamont Stevenson, 37, of Norlina

• Misd. Allow Unlawful Conduct on Licensed Premises

Frederick Williams, 45, of Henderson

• Possession of a Firearm by Felon
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 5 counts
• Trafficking Cocaine – 11 counts
• Trafficking Methamphetamine – 2 counts
• Sell Cocaine – 6 counts
• Deliver Cocaine – 5 counts
• Conspire to Sell Cocaine – 7 counts
• Conspire to Deliver Cocaine – 6 counts
• Conspire to Traffick Cocaine – 8 counts
• Conspire to Sell Methamphetamine – 2 counts
• Conspire to Deliver Methamphetamine
• Conspire to Sell/Deliver Schedule II Substance
• Sell Methamphetamine
• Deliver Methamphetamine
• Sell Schedule II Controlled Substance
• Conspire to Sell Schedule II Substance

Shawn Andre Williams Jr., 18, of Henderson

• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substances
• Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
• Sell or Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substance

“The success of this investigation is a testament to the dedication of our ALE special agents and the strength of our partnerships,” House added in the release.

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