Duplin cracks down on crack
By Other
Published in News on May 9, 2008 2:10 PM
KENANSVILLE -- Crack cocaine and marijuana with estimated street values of $50,000 and $8,000, respectively, were seized in a raid at the home of a 57-year-old Duplin County man, Duplin Sheriff Blake Wallace announced Thursday.
Also, Wallace said 20 people from across the county, from Mount Olive to Wallace, were booked on numerous drug charges in an early morning round-up dubbed "Operation Street Sweep."
DRUGS SEIZED
Clarence Edward Horne, 57, 536 Calico Bay Road, Teachey, was booked on numerous drug-related charges when deputies raided his residence on May 1.
The charges against Horne include two counts of trafficking in cocaine; manufacture of cocaine; possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver; manufacture of marijuana; maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia; and felony possession of marijuana.
Wallace said Horne, who is known by his nickname of "Mr. Nut Horne," was placed under a $1 million bond at the Duplin County Jail in Kenansville.
The arrest came after Duplin sheriff's authorities received information from the neighboring Onslow County Sheriff's Office that there could be drugs at the Horne residence, Wallace noted.
He said that after members of the Duplin sheriff's drug team made an undercover purchase from Horne, a search warrant was executed for Horne's residence and the drugs, as well as a loaded .38 caliber handgun and drug paraphernalia were seized.
Most of the crack cocaine was in two different sizes of tiny "blocks," about the size of a cough drop, and wrapped individually in clear plastic.
Wallace said the "blocks" would sell for $50 or $100 each on the street.
Most of the marijuana was individually wrapped in two sizes of little "balls," about the size of golf balls, and wrapped for individual street sale for about $40 to $125 each, Wallace said.
Horne has previously served prison time for drug charges and was released from prison five years ago, Wallace said.
'STREET SWEEP'
In "Operation Street Sweep," the suspects were arrested at their residences across the county in the early morning hours after 4 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7, Wallace said.
He said the suspects are "street-level" drug dealers.
"We targeted them for a purpose because for some months our resources were dedicated to the larger-scale dealers and other investigations, so we wanted to send a clear message to the drug dealers who were operating on the street level that they are not forgotten," Wallace said.
Officers of the new inter-county drug task force, including Mount Olive Police, participated in the investigation that led to the drug round-up, Wallace said.
"We appreciate all the help we received from these other agencies," Wallace said. "This is just another example of what a cooperative effort can result in."
Wallace also announced that his office had just completed a crackdown on "deadbeat dads" -- fathers who have not paid child support payments.
He said deputies rounded up and arrested 24 persons on Wednesday, May 7, who were behind on child support.
THE CHARGES
The drug round-up charges include the follow, by community:
n MOUNT OLIVE - Ricky Dean Bennett, 46, 148 Mayberry Ln., possession of methamphetamine
n ALBERTSON - Enoc Barraza, 24, Lot 21, Albertson Mobile Home Park (MHP), possession, manufacture and sale of marijuana; Isaiah Freeman III, 33, 2363 Hwy. N.C. 11, possession, manufacture and sale of cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for a
controlled substance
n WARSAW - Devon Hobbs, 17, 406 Yancey St., simple possession of marijuana, sale and delivery of marijuana; Edward Lee Lewis, 56, 303 W. George St., possession, sale and delivery of cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance and possession, manufacture and sale of cocaine; Alvis O'Neil Stevens, 64, 110-B B&L MHP, manufacture and possession of cocaine, sale of cocaine
n ROSE HILL - Mario Jurrell Williams, 20, 402 Clinic Circle Dr., sale of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance; Johnathan Matthews, 19, 624 Pasture Branch Rd., possession, manufacture and sale of marijuana, possession, manufacture and delivery of cocaine
n BEULAVILLE - Eric Sanchez, no age listed, 355 Catherine Square Rd., possession, manufacture and sale of cocaine; Otis Fennel Williams, 60, 465 Jimmy Tate Williams Rd., manufacture, possession and sale of cocaine; Kevin Ray Hodge, 23, 1179 Fountaintown Rd., manufacture, possession and sale of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia; Courtney E. Hall, 31, 289 George Sumner Rd., three counts of trafficking in cocaine
n WALLACE - Desmond M. Johnson, 19, 321 Brice St., manufacture, possession, and sale of marijuana; Brandon Jeremiah Huffin, 19, 724 Ivey St., manufacture, possession and sale of marijuana; Denae Carpenter Hall, 46, 186 Norwood Blanchard Rd., possession and sale of cocaine
n TEACHEY - Malcolm Laboris Boney, 21, 121 First St., possession and sale of cocaine, maintaining a dwe-lling for the purpose of a controlled substance
n MAGNOLIA - Jami Mustfan Morgan, 18, 130 Rivenbark Farm Ln., possession, manufacture and sale of marijuana.
By NELSONBLAND
Special Correspondent