— courtesy North Carolina SBI and NC Dept. of Public Safety
RALEIGH – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Warren and Franklin County Sheriffs’ offices arrested six men Nov. 8 on heroin trafficking charges following a three-month undercover operation.
Charged were Steven Lamar Cooke, 35, of Warrenton; Derrick Lamont Cooke, 38 of Warrenton; Dalton Raheim Williams, 33 of Warrenton; Kiree Dequan Williams, 22, of Warrenton; Jamar Shaheen Foster, 25 of Warrenton; and Traquan Foster, 25, of Warrenton. Charges ranged from trafficking in heroin to home invasion. The men were taken to the Warren County Jail.
The operation, dubbed Operation Cooke Out, centered on the home of brothers Steven and Derrick Cooke who allegedly ran an open-air heroin market. More than 900 dosage units of heroin were purchased or seized during the operation.
“Heroin is poisoning our streets at an alarming rate,” said Timothy L. Gay, assistant special agent in charge of SBI’s Capital District Office. “This is why it is important for law enforcement bring their resources together and target dealers like these to make a difference in our communities.”
Warren County Sheriff Johnny Williams said drug trafficking has been on the increase in his county.
“This will not be the end,” Williams said. “We will continue to diligently fight illegal drug activities and put offenders in jail.”
The operation began as a result of citizens’ complaints. Franklin County Sheriff Kent Winstead said he appreciated the joint effort to get the suspects apprehended.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Winstead said. “We will continue to apprehend and arrest drug dealers who are a dangerous blight on our communities.”
Charges are as follows:
Steven Lamar Cooke
Three counts of conspiracy to sell and deliver heroin; one count of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver, (PWIMSD); one count felony sale of heroin.
$860,000 secured bond.
Derrick Lamont Cooke
PWIMSD; felony count of maintaining a vehicle and dwelling for the manufacture and sale of heroin; felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
$30,000 secured bond
Dalton Raheim Williams
Felony possession of cocaine; possession of marijuana; felony count of maintaining a vehicle and dwelling for the manufacture and sale of heroin; felony count of PWIMSD, felony count of trafficking heroin or opium; one count trafficking; felony count of selling heroin; felony count delivering heroin.
$420,000 secured bond
Kiree Dequan Williams
Misdemeanor breaking and entering, resisting public officer
$5,000 secured bond
Jamar Shaheen Foster
Misdemeanor breaking and entering, resisting public officer
$5,000 secured bond
Traquan Foster
Misdemeanor breaking and entering, resisting public officer
$5,000 secured bond
The SBI provides expert criminal investigative assistance to local law enforcement agencies when requested by police, sheriffs, district attorneys or judges. The agency also has original jurisdiction in cases such as drug and arson investigations, election law violations, gambling, child sexual abuse in day care centers, computer crimes against children and crimes involving state property.
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