Multi-county roundup results in 10 arrests

By Shannon White
Special to the Register & Bee
Published: July 8, 2008

Ten North Carolina men are currently awaiting sentencing after being convicted of federal drug charges thanks to a grant from the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission and the teamwork of four law enforcement agencies.

The Caswell County Sheriff’s Office partnered last year with the Person County Sheriff’s Office, the Roxboro Police Department and the recently dissolved Yanceyville Police Department to create a narcotics task force.

The four agencies received a total of $95,176 to establish a database of individuals involved in illegal drug distribution and gang activity and conduct a number of intensive undercover narcotics investigations within the district.

The yearlong investigation led to the arrest and federal convictions of 10 people. All 10 face a minimum of 10 years in prison and the possibility of life behind bars.

Five additional suspects were arrested on July 3 and the agencies involved in the yearlong investigation say more arrests are expected.

Officers seized approximately 33 ounces of crack cocaine during the investigation.

“The task force was very successful,” Caswell County Sheriff Michael Welch said Tuesday during a news conference. “We were able to keep these drugs out of our communities.”

In addition to the 33 ounces of crack cocaine, officers also seized 120.5 grams of powder cocaine, 126 pills of Ecstasy and 10 pounds of marijuana.

Welch said that the technology and training provided by the grant used to fund the investigation would continue to be an invaluable resource to officers.

“We’ll be able to work smarter and make a positive difference in our communities,” he said.

An officer demonstrating the computer system Tuesday explained that by simply entering data into the search fields, law enforcement agencies could instantly access information regarding suspects’ vehicles, gang affiliations and even known associates.

“The guys are only as good as the information they’re given,” Roxboro Police Chief Jeff Insley said. “Shrinking budgets and a lack of resources make that difficult.”

Welch said he has long been a big proponent of interagency cooperation, explaining that drugs most often travel through numerous jurisdictions and that increased communication and information-sharing among neighboring jurisdictions is critical to keeping drugs out of our communities.

Other law enforcement agencies seem to agree.

“Being able to join forces is something we’ve been working toward for a long time,” Person County Sheriff Dewey Jones said. “This is something we look forward to continuing in the future.”

Those individuals already convicted of federal drug charges and

awaiting sentencing include:

Moses Nathaniel Barnette III, 33, of Roxboro;

Mark Edward Thomas, 37 of Semora;

Ronald Leo Cousins, 40, of Roxboro;

Cleveland Drumwright, 41 of Roxboro;

Lance Antonio Williams, 32 of Roxboro;

William Keith Nelson, 52, of Roxboro;

Terry Yellock, 21, of Roxboro;

Shawn Patillo, 33, of Roxboro;

and Kimwon Street, 29 of Roxboro.

Those individuals arrested on July 3 and awaiting trial include:

Justin Henry Brown, 24, of Big Oak Farm Road in Ruffin, charged with one count

of possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance;

Ivan Gerren Hooper, 24, of Brooks Road in Reidsville, charged with two

counts of sell and delivery of schedule I controlled substance and two

counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver schedule I controlled substance;

Kenneth Wayne Farrish, 32, of Oak Tree Farm St. in Yanceyville, charged with one count of selling drug equipment/paraphernalia;

Donnie Edward Lawhun, 44, of Joe Cobb Road in Ruffin, charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of marijuana;

and Damien Demetrus McCadden, 32 of N.C. 86 in Yanceyville, charged with one count misdemeanor possession of marijuana.