Detectives arrest 18; wrap up six-month drug operation

A six month long drug investigation targeting drug dealers in Marathon and Big Pine wrapped up Friday, with detectives from the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Division rounding up 18 suspects. More arrests are expected.

Detectives worked a total of 68 investigations during the time period in question, including sale of prescription medications, trafficking in cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana. They were assisted in the Friday arrests by patrol deputies, investigators from the Sheriff’s HIDTA group, Sheriff’s Corrections staff and agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The following people were arrested:

• Thomas Patrick Ward, 50, of Marathon: Sale of cocaine, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Bond total $31,000
• Andre Kenvis Howard, 28, of Marathon: Two counts of Sale of cocaine, Two counts of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond Total $120,000
• Johnnie Leatherwood, 39, of Marathon: Two counts of Sale of cocaine, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond Total $165,000
• Timothy Holmes, 48, of Marathon: Sale of cocaine, Bond Total $25,000
• Kizmet Yatz Qualla, 37, of Marathon: Two counts of Sale of cocaine, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond $70,000
• Clarence Michael Bryant, 49, of Marathon: Two counts of Sale of cocaine, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond Total $62,000
• Scott Jerome Baker, 47, of Big Pine Key: Sale of Marijuana, Bond $25,000
• Manuel Antonio Artiles, 27, of Marathon: Sale of cocaine, Bond $10,000
• Brett Alan Gipson, 54, of Marathon: Sale of cocaine, Bond $50,000
• Dywane John Hardge, 34, of Marathon: Two counts of Sale of cocaine and manufacturing, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond $172,000
• Irene Hester, 38, of Marathon: Sale of cocaine, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond $52,000
• Michael Robert Gunderson, 24, of Big Pine Key: Trafficking of Opium, Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Bond $40,000
• Edward Arthur Brusseau, 45,of Big Pine Key: Two count of Trafficking in cocaine, Bond $200,000
• Vanessa Lynne Suarez, 30, of Big Pine Key: Two Counts of sale of Opium, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond $102,000
• David Ashley Harris, 39, of Big Pine Key: Sale of cocaine, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond $27,000
• David Thomas Blanco, 26, of Big Pine Key: Sale of Opium, Sale of cocaine, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond $107,000
• Julio Oscar Sosa, 19, of Big Pine Key: Sale of cocaine, Sale of Opium, Bond $155,000
• Daniel Bruce Wiggington, 51, of Big Pine Key: Trafficking in Opium and sale schedule II, One count of using a two way communication device while committing a felony, Bond $99,000.

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One Response to “Detectives arrest 18; wrap up six-month drug operation”

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1. @@@@@ Aug 03 2012 / 7pm

   Are you looking for Irene Hester, cause i know where she is