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By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

Two multi-agency drug enforcement operations have resulted in multiple arrests and seizures of large amounts of illegal materials and cash proceeds over the last two months, according to a release from Assistant Chief Deputy Shane Mayfield of the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office.

The first major bust occurred on Jan. 23, when a multi-agency operation involving the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, Clanton Police Department, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, Prattville Police Department and the Montgomery Resident Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration was carried out.

“Agents from those Agencies executed five search warrants in the Clanton area, resulting in three arrests, the seizure of approximately $27,000 in illegal currency, approximately 1.2 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately one pound of marijuana,” said the release. “Arrested in that operation were Deferio Marquez Varner, 35, for Drug Trafficking and Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree, Ronrico Lente Williams, 38, for Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Manuel Earnest Lattimore (25) for Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 

“This Investigation began in 2018 with the Clanton Police Department and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office,” Mayfield said. “With the assistance of DEA and a Sheriff’s Investigator now assigned to the DEA Task Force, a federal investigation began and has resulted in additional seizures of approximately three pounds of methamphetamine and approximately $15,000 in other cooperating jurisdictions. This investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated.”

The second multi-agency bust took place on March 5 and involved the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, Clanton Police Department, Calera Police Department and the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.

A search warrant was executed and resulted in 27 arrests on outstanding warrants and additional charges.

“The operation also resulted in the seizure of approximately 13 ounces of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, a stolen handgun and approximately $1,000.00 in cash,” said the release. 

Arrested in this operation were: 

– Arley Roberto Rodriguez, 42, for Probation Violation

– Tiffany Lashaun Tyus, 41, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance (3 counts)

– Nelson Blaine Buldier, 27, for Contempt of Court

– Nicholas Arlin Henry, 21, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance (2 counts )

– Rasheem Tremayne McCoy, 29, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance (3 counts )

– Donald Eugene Jackson, 38, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance

– Tracy Lynn Dubose 49, for Probation Violation

– Robert Edward Pierce, 48, for FTA Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Domestic Violence 3rd Degree

– Dana Michelle Westervelt, 39, for Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

– Jared Dakota Frost, 29, for Theft of Property 2nd, Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

– Richard Elton Fairley, 46, for Theft of Property 1st (Cullman County Sheriff’s Office)

– Brian Wallace Watley, 45, for Failure to Appear, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

– Bruce Edward Walker, 55, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance (2 counts), and Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute.

– Christopher Shane Smitherman, 44, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance (2 counts)

– Catrina Michelle Burrow, 30, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance

– Anthony Sareze Atchison, 28, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance

– Mathew Percy James Lachney, 21, for Failure to Appear, Possession of short barrel Shotgun, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

– Jamaris Parker, 37, for Probation Violation

– Corey Levell Childers, 47, for Probation Violation and Drug Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

– Angela Dawn Loomis, 38, for Failure to Appear, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance

– Venice Larisha Johnson, 31, for Probation Violation

– Gerron Ondreis Reed, 28, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance

– Lorenzo Sanchez Floyd, 36, for Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance

– Jamal Lahad Johnson, 28, for Drug Trafficking (2 counts), Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

– Dallas London Mullins, 25, for Fugitive from Justice Warrant from Panellas County, Florida.

– Gustin Rigell Childers, 28, for Drug Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

– Demond Antrell Cleckley, 43, for Drug Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 2nd, Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

“These cases are the result of great joint effort between all the involved agencies,” said Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon. “We have recently joined efforts with Chief Keith Maddox and Clanton Police Department housing our Narcotics Investigators in the same office, sharing intelligence, equipment and working together to have the most impact. We have been very successful.

“Our goal is to eventually have a countywide Drug Task Force with all the law enforcement agencies in the county participating. We now have a Sheriff’s Office Investigator assigned to the DEA Task Force. We intend to target as many of our major offenders as possible for federal prosecution. 

“We receive numerous complaints from the community about drug activity in our community. We are not able to make cases on all of them, but rest assured we work daily to enforce the drug laws. It seems to be a revolving door sometimes, but we do not let that deter our efforts. Just because there’s not something in the press every week about an arrest or a seizure doesn’t mean it’s not happening. 

“These cases are covert by their very nature. We will continue to provide as much information to the public as possible while maintaining the integrity of our investigations.  I am proud of all of the effort put into these cases by all the agencies involved., and we will continue to do everything possible to make our county as better place.”