A 4-month investigation resulted in the arrests of 32 people on drug-related charges by Cherokee County narcotics officers in their latest roundup “Operation Crystal Clear.”
Members of the Cherokee County Community Action Team (C.A.T) conducted a roundup of suspected area drug dealers which started early Tuesday morning.
Sheriff Steve Mueller announced 32 people have been taken into custody on 69 arrest warrants over the past 24 hours following a C.A.T investigation by sheriff’s office and Gaffney Police Department agents.
Six people remained wanted on nine outstanding warrants as of Wednesday morning. Mueller said all of the drug-related charges stemmed from undercover video buys conducted all over Cherokee County by the C.A.T. narcotics unit over the past 120 days.
“This group of drug dealers also fuels other crimes in our community such as larcenies and burglaries as the individuals seeking to purchase illegal drugs often commit other crimes to get money to support their addictions,” Mueller said. “This operation will certainly slow the drug trade in our community, but dealers and users let us be crystal clear, our C.AT. officers are already working on a new operation to rid our streets of persons who sell this poison.”
Since 2011, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has made 3,536 drug arrests. That figure includes more than 300 drug arrests to date in 2019.
The C.A.T. members were assisted in this week’s roundup by Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Homeland Security Investigations, and Cherokee County detention center officers.
According to a sheriff’s office press release, those arrested include:
— Charles Edward Mullinax, 52, 215 Frye Road Gaffney, charged with distribution of marijuana;
— Melissa Dawn Martin, 36, 709 9th Street, Gaffney, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (2-Counts) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (1-Count);
— Kesley Rachelle Blanton, 18,195 Old Chester Road, Blacksburg, charged with distribution of Methamphetamine 1st Offense (2-Counts) and Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count);
— Edward Gauge Nixon, 25, 101 E. Carolina Street Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a School (1-Count);
— Amanda Faye Lee, 27, 249 Sims Road, Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count) and distribution of Methamphetamine within ½ mile of a School (1-Count)
— Ashlee Lynn Fort, 22, 107 Overhead Bridge Rd., Chesnee, distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count)
— Shelly Lynn Smith, 33, 135 Deanna Lane, Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count)
— John Wayne Orr, 48, 402 W. Lime Street Lot 8, Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (3-Counts) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (2-Counts);
— Wylie Reginald Stradford, 51, 300 Debra Drive, Gaffney, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count);
— Iris Charleen Corry, 43, 204 Curry Street, Gaffney, charged with distribution of Schedule II Oxycodone 1st Offense (1-Count), distribution of Schedule II Oxycodone within half mile of a school (1-Count), possession of Schedule II hydrocodone 1st Offense (1-Count);
— Christopher Scott Blackwell, 29, 133 Kraft Road, Gaffney, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (1-Count);
— Tracy Lynn Hurst, 48, 126 Henderson Street, Gaffney, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count);
— Lisa Ann Schwendner, 31,148 Tansi Trail Gaffney, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (2-Counts);
— Aaron Corey Sprouse, 27, 106 N. Calles Street Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count), charged with distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (1-Count), trafficking Methamphetamine 100 Grams or more, but less than 200 Grams (1-Count), and possession of Weapon During a Violent Crime (1-Count);
— Steven Sentell Smith, 39, 708 Pleasant School Rd., Gaffney, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense (2-Counts) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a School (1-Count);
— Roger Dean Wylie II, 30, 117 McClain Street Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense (1-Count), charged with distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (1-Count), possession of methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense (1-Count), unlawful possession of a weapon (1-Count), and Violation of Probation arrest warrant (1-Count);
— Shannon Nicole Butler, 33, 136 Mattie St. Lot 303 Gaffney, SC 29341, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a School (1-Count);
— Joshua Shane Phillips, 37, 642 Batchelor Drive, Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense (1-Count);
—Cameron Alan Eaton, 29, 184 River Hill Road Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count);
— Jeremiah Wayne Johnson, 28, 134 Ellis Road Lot 3, Blacksburg, charged with distribution of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count);
— Alan Wilson Upchurch, 36, 114 Cherry Street Gaffney, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (2-Counts) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (2-Counts)
— Kevin Michael Eaker, 47, 136 Foggy Bottom Road, Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (3-Counts) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (2-Counts)
— Brady Felmet McDaniel, 39, 193 Batchelor Drive Blacksburg, charged with distribution of methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense (1-Count) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (1-Count);
—Jason Matthew Ricks Jr., 19, 631 King Creek Drive, Blacksburg, charged with possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count);
— Bradley James Smith, 31, 316 Gardner Road Gaffney, SC 29340, charged with possession of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count);
— Lance David Manley, 39, 832 S. Charleston Street, Blacksburg, charged with possession of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count);
— Morgan Elizabeth Rollins, 21, 108 Oak Forest Drive Greer, charged with possession of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count);
—Ross Alan Rittacco, 42, 423 Mullinax Circle Blacksburg, charged with possession of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count);
—Curtis James Helms, 31, 1325 Jaclyn Lane, Lincolnton, NC 28092 charged with trafficking methamphetamine 10 Grams or more, but less than 28 Grams 1st Offense (1-Count);
— Tara Ann Tangaray Samanth Dorsett, 22, 409 E. Junior High School Road Apt #54 Gaffney, charged with trafficking methamphetamine 100 Grams or more, but less than 200 Grams 1st Offense (1-Count) and possession of a Weapon During A Violent Crime (1-Count);
— Tasha Lee Howard, 37, 740 Barrett Road Clover, charged with possession of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (2-Counts), unlawful possession of a weapon (1-Count), and simple possession of marijuana (1-Count); and
— Christopher Wayne Thomas, 56, 147 Whites Farm Road, Blacksburg, charged with possession of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count).
Six individuals wanted by the sheriff’s office remained at large as of Wednesday afternoon. They are:
Mykerrius Raheen Lumarquist Davidson, 25, 1015 N. Granard Street, Gaffney, who is wanted on a charge of distribution of Crack Cocaine 2nd Offense (2-Counts);
Gary Todd Norman, 50, 832 S. Charleston Street, Blacksburg, who is wanted on a charge of distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count);
James Noah Upchurch, 45, 209 7th Street Gaffney, who is wanted on a charge of distribution of methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count);
Anthony Craig Scott, 42, 445 Goucher School Rd., Gaffney, who is wanted on a charge of distribution of Methamphetamine 2nd Offense (1-Count) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (1-Count);
Marcy Lynn Binns, 34, 1480 Blacksburg Highway Lot #9,Blacksburg, who is wanted on a charge of distribution of methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense (1-Count); and
Robert Edward Lapoint, 52,134 Watterson Road, Grover, N.C., who is wanted on a charge of distribution of methamphetamine 1st Offense (1-Count) and distribution of methamphetamine within half mile of a school (1-Count).
People can call the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 1-888-CRIMESC to report any illegal activity or the location of the wanted suspects. Citizens can also send tips via email to [emailprotected].
Christopher Scott Blackwell
Kesley Rachelle Blanton
Shannon Nicole Butler
Iris Charleen Corry
Tara Ann Tangaray Dorsett
Kevin Michael Eaker
Cameron Alan Eaton
Ashlee Lynn Fort
Curtis James Helms
Tasha Lee Howard
Tracy Lynn Hurst
Jeremiah Wayne Johnson
Amanda Faye Lee
Lance David Manley
Melissa Dawn Martin
Brady Felmet McDaniel
Charles Edward Mullinax
Edward Gage Nixon
John Wayne Orr
Joshua Shane Phillips
Jason Matthew Ricks Jr.
Ross Alan Rittaco
Morgan Elizabeth Rollins
Lisa Ann Schwendner
Bradley James Smith
Shelly Lynn Smith
Steven Sentell Smith
Aaron Corey Sprouse
Christopher Wayne Thomas
Alan Wilson Upchurch
Marcy Lynn Binns
Mykerrius Raheen Davidson
Robert Edward Lapoint
Gary Todd Norman
Anthony Craig Scott
James Noah Upchurch
Roger Dean Wylie