NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- More than a dozen people are facing drug charges resulting from an undercover investigation of cocaine and Oxycodone sales in Southeast Volusia, a Sheriff's spokesman said.
Dubbed “Operation King of the South,” the three-month investigation culminated Thursday in a large round-up of suspects who were caught selling drugs to undercover agents and other sources connected with the operation.
Spearheaded by the multi-agency East Volusia Narcotics Task Force, the investigation was launched after agents received anonymous complaints about street-level drug sales in the New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater area. The investigation resulted in the issuance of arrest warrants for 15 people.
"On Thursday, drug agents headed out to known residences and hangouts in a search for the defendants," Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. "By day’s end, 12 of the defendants had been located. And a thirteenth person who wasn’t a target of the investigation was arrested when she was found to be in possession of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia at a house that agents raided on Thursday. Three other defendants named in the investigation are still at large."
The East Volusia Narcotics Task Force is a multi-agency force of narcotics agents that shares resources and crosses jurisdictional boundaries to combat street-level drug and vice crimes. Agencies that participated in the operation include the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Edgewater Police Department and the Daytona Beach Police Department.
Those arrested and charged:
Terry Ammons, 23, New Smyrna Beach . Sale and delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, $50,000 bond.
Rex Bissell, 33, New Smyrna Beach . Sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $20,000 bond.
Kyle Chivers, 24, Edgewater. Sale and delivery of a controlled substance. Also charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia, $56,000 bond.
Jennifer Crawford, 24, Edgewater. Possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, $3,000 bond.
Charles Eaton, 29, New Smyrna Beach . Two counts of sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $45,000 bond.
Steven Jeffers, 24, Edgewater. Sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $20,000 bond.
Desiree Leclair, 21, Edgewater. Two counts of sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $50,000 bond.
Michael Macleod, 23, Edgewater. Sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $10,000 bond.
Robert McGrath, 23, New Smyrna Beach . Sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $100,000 bond.
Daniel Sturtevant, 26, Edgewater. Sale and delivery of a controlled substance. Also charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, $13,000 bond.
Robert Warren, 42, Edgewater. Sale and delivery of a controlled substance. Also charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance, $53,000 bond.
Charles Wessler, 26, Edgewater. Sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $15,000 bond.
Tommy Woods, 23, New Smyrna Beach . Sale and delivery of a controlled substance, $20,000 bond.