April 14, 2008
For more information contact:
Supervisory AUSA Karen E. Rhew
(850) 942-8430
32 ARRESTED IN DRUG TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION
TALLAHASSEE – Gregory R. Miller, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced today the indictment and arrest of thirty-two defendants on federal and state drug charges stemming from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigation in the Northern District of Florida. In early March 2007, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Levy County Sheriff’s Office, Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Florida initiated an investigation into the large-scale distribution of cocaine base, commonly referred to as “crack cocaine,” by an organization operating primarily in Levy and Dixie Counties.
On February 26, 2008, a federal indictment was returned against seven individuals on the charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 kilograms of cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(ii) and (iii), and 846.
Over the course of the last four weeks, the following individuals were arrested on federal charges: Andre Delaney THOMPSON (34) of Chiefland, Nacola Monique BROWN (24) of Chiefland, Dearmus Cezhan LOVETT (33) of Cross City, Juan Antrell WASHINGTON (31) of Cross City, Willie Charles CARTER, Jr. (37) of Cross City, Clarence Darnell MARSHALL (30) of Leesburg; and Jaquana Adeline MCPHEE (28) of Leesburg. If convicted, defendants face sentences ranging from a mandatory minimum term of ten years to mandatory life imprisonment.
In addition to the federal indictment, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit has filed state drug charges against numerous defendants in connection with the same investigation.
Arrested on state charges were Paul Lavell ALEXANDER of Williston, Harold Monroe DALLAS, Jr. of Williston, Andrew DAVIS of Cross City, Antonio Deshun DAYS of Cross City, Robert Lee GAINES of Williston, Tammy Bell GODBOLT of Cross City, Adrian Lamar GODBOLT of Cross City, Derrick Keith GODBOLT of Cross City, Willie Edward GODBOLT, Jr. of Cross City, Eddie Daniel GRAHAM of Williston, John HART, Jr. of Cross City, Courtney Cordelroe HARVEY of Williston, Alphonso Peter HEIDELBURG of Cross City, Calvin JACKSON of Williston, Willie Lee KIRKLAND, Jr. of Cross City; Lee Clarence LEWIS, Jr. of Williston, Jeffrey Rashad MIDDLETON of Williston, Gerald Lavern ROSS, Jr. of Williston, James Alexander SMITH, III of Cross City, Jamario Starvez TEAGUE of Cross City, Donnie Lee WESLEY, Jr. of Williston, Derrick Jerome WESLEY of Williston, Shirley Evette WIGGINS of Bronson, Derwin Homer WILLIAMS of Williston, and Carlo Jermaine WILLIAMS of Cross City.
Charges against additional individuals in the Nature Coast area are anticipated.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The federal case is being prosecuted by AUSA Frank Williams.