71. Sheriff's Office: Meth labs in NSB, Port Orange smashed; seven arrested

Originally posted Fri, 2009-10-23 05:29

Courtesy photos/Jail mugs.

Francesco Vezza, 53, of New Smyrna Beach, and Angel Somma, 28, of Edgewater, were among seven people arrested Oct. 8 on drug charges in connection with law enforcement raids on meth labs in Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- One of the largest methamphetamine labs ever found in Volusia County was raided Thursday morning in Port Orange and a second meth lab in New Smyrna Beach was hit as well, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

Narcotics agents with search warrants for two homes found an active methamphetamine lab in one in Port Orange and an equipped but inactive lab in New Smyrna Beach.

By the end of the day, seven men and women were arrested on various drug-related charges and the homemade lab components and finished drug products were safely seized.

A four-month investigation led up to the 6 a.m. raid when the Sheriff's Office's Eastside Narcotics Task Force and SWAT team served the search warrants on 1209 Harbour Point Drive, Port Orange and 4129 Treadway Road, New Smyrna Beach.

"Once all occupants of the homes were secured outside, narcotics agents certified to handle meth lab materials began their searches for the volatile lab materials," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. "Investigators found the chemicals and equipment needed to start a meth lab at the Treadway Road home, but it didn't look like production had started there yet."

The Harbour Point Drive home in Port Orange, however, was actively churning out meth, Haught said, with 98 grams of meth oil, which was just one step away from becoming the finished product, and 22 grams of meth powder found. The drug sells for about $100 a gram. In addition to the active meth lab, a safe full of various pills - such as Lortab, Valium and Xanax - was found, with the drugs all packaged and ready to be sold.

The sebven arrested were transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail where they were being held on various bail amounts.

Arrested at 1209 Harbour Point Drive, Port Orange:

# Cecil Fore, 47, lives on S. Ridgewood Avenue, Port Orange Trafficking in methamphetamines, manufacture of methamphetamines, possession of listed chemicals. Total bail: $80,000.

# Steven Johnson, 39, lives at 1209 Harbour Point Drive, Port Orange Two Warrants charging sale and delivery of a controlled substance, a third warrant charging principle to sale of amphetamines; on scene charges of trafficking in methamphetamines, two counts of trafficking in a schedule II narcotic, manufacture of methamphetamines, possession of listed chemicals, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of schedule II possession of schedule III pills, three counts of possession of schedule IV pills. Total bail: $190,000.

# Danny Montgomery, 61, lives on Dubois Avenue, Port Orange Warrant charging sale of amphetamines; on scene arrest charges of trafficking in methamphetamines, manufacture of methamphetames, possession of listed chemicals, probation violation. Total bail: None allowed.

# Angel Sommo, 28, lives on S. Ridgewood Avenue, Edgewater Trafficking in methamphetamines, manufacture of methamphetamines, possession of listed chemicals, probation violation. Total bail: $80,000.

# Brandy Tremblay, 33, lives on Aspen Street, Daytona Beach Trafficking in methamphetamines, manufacture of methamphetamines, possession of listed chemicals Total bail: $80,000. # Jason Wagers, 43, lives on Roosevelt Boulevard, Daytona Beach Trafficking in methamphetamines, manufacture of methamphetamines, possession of listed chemicals. Total bail: $80,000.

Arrested at 4129 Treadway Road, New Smyrna Beach:

# Francesco Vezza, 53, lives at 4129 Treadway Road, New Smyrna Beach Warrant arrests charging sale of a schedule II substance and principle to sale of amphetamines. Total bail: $60,000.

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