Tag Archive for: #ale

ALE Concludes Long-Term Drug Trafficking Investigation in Vance County

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— courtesy of NC Dept. of Public Safety; Alcohol Law Enforcement

HENDERSON, N.C. — The North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) division has concluded a long-term investigation into drug trafficking and sales at several ABC-permitted businesses in Henderson and Vance County.

ALE special agents initiated the investigation in January 2026 after receiving numerous community complaints regarding loitering and harassment by suspected drug dealers at these establishments.

Throughout the investigation, undercover agents purchased trafficking amounts of controlled substances from a range of suspects, including gang members, sex offenders, absconders and individuals with violent criminal histories. Agents identified that key participants in the trafficking operation collaborated with gangs to distribute drugs into the local community. Agents also discovered evidence of illicit drug manufacturing inside homes where children were present.

“The success of this investigation is a testament to the dedication of our ALE special agents and the strength of our partnerships with the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation,” said ALE Director Bryan House. “By working together and acting on the concerns shared by the community, we have effectively disrupted significant criminal activity. We will continue to utilize these collaborative efforts to ensure that ABC-permitted businesses are safe environments and that those who engage in illegal activities are brought to justice.”

During the investigation, agents seized more than a pound of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine. They also recovered MDMA, opioids, heroin, $5,479 in cash and 10 firearms, majority of which were possessed by convicted felons. Additionally, agents arrested three individuals for armed robbery during the investigation, including a 15-year-old.

“This operation demonstrates the value of collaboration amongst law enforcement agencies,” said District Attorney Mike Waters. “We will continue to pursue accountability for individuals involved in criminal activity and support efforts that make our neighborhoods safer.”

ALE, with assistance from the Henderson Police Department, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation, conducted an operation on June 17 and 18 where they executed seven search warrants and arrested or obtained warrants for more than 15 people on a combined total of more than 170 charges.

Criminal charges are as follows:

Dermale Alphonso Durham, 38, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
  • Sell Cocaine – 2 counts
  • Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
  • Sell Marijuana
  • Deliver Marijuana

Michael Joseph Gill, 46, of Oxford

  • Trafficking Cocaine – 2 counts
  • Manufacture, Sell, Deliver, Possess a Controlled Substance within 1000 ft of a School
  • Conspire to Traffick Cocaine

Zyquaveon Hargrove, 20, of Henderson

  • Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
  • Conspire to Commit Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substances

Reginald Tyrone Harris, 54, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
  • Misd. Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Tatianna Hinton, 24, of Oxford

  • Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
  • Conspire to Commit Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substances
  • Promote Drug Sales by a Minor
  • Misd. Carrying Concealed Gun
  • Misd. Assault by Pointing a Gun
  • Misd. Possess Marijuana up to ½ ounce

Maurice Gerod Kearney, 36, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Ecstasy
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
  • Maintaining a Dwelling for a Controlled Substance
  • Misd. Possess/Sell Non-Tax Paid Liquor
  • Misd. Possess Marijuana up to ½ ounce
  • Misd. Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia
  • Misd. Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Richard Cliffton Newman, 46, of Norlina

  • Obtain Property by False Pretense

Barry Oneil Reavis, 46, of Henderson

  • Possession of a Firearm by Felon
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 3 counts
  • Maintaining a Dwelling for a Controlled Substance – 3 counts
  • Trafficking Cocaine – 9 counts
  • Sell Cocaine – 3 counts
  • Deliver Cocaine – 3 counts
  • Conspire to Sell Cocaine – 4 counts
  • Conspire to Deliver Cocaine – 4 counts
  • Conspire to Traffick Cocaine – 3 counts
  • Misd. Possess Marijuana up to ½ ounce
  • Misd. Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia
  • Misd. Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Jonathan Allan Rhodes, 37, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Heroin
  • Maintaining a Vehicle for a Controlled Substance
  • Misd. Simple Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance
  • Misd. Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Mario Antwon Solomon, 50, of Henderson

  • Possession of a Firearm by Felon
  • Carrying a Concealed Gun
  • Trafficking Methamphetamine – 3 counts
  • Trafficking Fentanyl
  • Manufacturing a Schedule II Substance
  • Conspire to Sell Methamphetamine – 2 counts
  • Conspire to Deliver Methamphetamine
  • Sell Methamphetamine
  • Deliver Methamphetamine
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
  • Sell Schedule II Controlled Substance
  • Conspire to Sell/Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance
  • Misd. Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia
  • Misd. Possess Drug Paraphernalia

Andre Lamont Stevenson, 37, of Norlina

  • Misd. Allow Unlawful Conduct on Licensed Premises

Frederick Williams, 45, of Henderson

  • Possession of a Firearm by Felon
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 5 counts
  • Trafficking Cocaine – 11 counts
  • Trafficking Methamphetamine – 2 counts
  • Sell Cocaine – 6 counts
  • Deliver Cocaine – 5 counts
  • Conspire to Sell Cocaine – 7 counts
  • Conspire to Deliver Cocaine – 6 counts
  • Conspire to Traffick Cocaine – 8 counts
  • Conspire to Sell Methamphetamine – 2 counts
  • Conspire to Deliver Methamphetamine
  • Conspire to Sell/Deliver Schedule II Substance
  • Sell Methamphetamine
  • Deliver Methamphetamine
  • Sell Schedule II Controlled Substance
  • Conspire to Sell Schedule II Substance

Shawn Andre Williams Jr., 18, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substances
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
  • Sell of Deliver Counterfeit Controlled Substance

The following individuals have active arrest warrants as of June 19:

Christopher Donnel Watkins, 52, of Townsville

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
  • Sell Cocaine – 2 counts
  • Deliver Cocaine – 2 counts
  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
  • Sell Marijuana
  • Deliver Marijuana

Jimmy Lee Branch Jr., 51, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
  • Sell Cocaine
  • Deliver Cocaine

Malik Jones, 24, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana
  • Sell Marijuana
  • Deliver Marijuana

Keith Jones, 49, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
  • Sell Cocaine

Antwain Nicholas Quazon Allen, 27, of Henderson

  • Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine
  • Sell Cocaine
  • Deliver Cocaine

Agents also discovered illegal gambling machines located at several businesses involved in the illicit drug transactions. ALE executed search warrants at four locations: 4U Country Store, 13674 N.C. 39; Park and Play, 13020 N.C. 39; New Hope Mini Mart, 47 Morgan Road; and Williamsboro Grocery, 7690 N.C. 39. Officers seized illegal gaming equipment as well as $35,677 in cash.

This investigation remains ongoing and more charges are pending.

Vance County Man Charged Twice after Providing Alcohol to Underage Recipient

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 — press release courtesy of NC Dept of Public Safety, ALE

HENDERSON, N.C.— A Vance County man has been charged twice in as many months for providing alcohol to the same underage 20-year-old female.

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, Henderson Police Department (HPD) responded to a vehicle crash in Henderson, NC involving Kassidy Faye Edwards, 20, who collided with a second vehicle, seriously injuring the driver. At the time of the crash, alcohol was believed to be a factor. HPD contacted ALE, who immediately began an investigation. This resulted in two arrests, consisting of multiple alcohol related criminal charges and one violation report submitted to the NC ABC Commission.

Through the course of the investigation, ALE received information that Christopher Taylor Fisher had continued providing alcohol to underage individuals. On Sunday, July 28, 2024, with the assistance from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, ALE special agents arrested Fisher and Edwards on multiple criminal charges. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at 262 Noel Lane, Henderson, NC, which resulted in the seizure of nontax paid liquor, cocaine and a quantity of prescription pills.

The following individuals were arrested:

  • Christopher Taylor Fisher, 54, of Henderson, NC, was charged with felony possession of cocaine, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine, felony possession schedule II-controlled substance, misdemeanor maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for controlled substances, misdemeanor simple possession of schedule II controlled substances, give malt beverage/unfortified wine to person under 21, possess/sell nontax paid alcoholic beverage and possess/sell alcoholic beverages without ABC permits.
  • Kassidy Faye Edwards,20, of Henderson, NC, was charged with consume alcoholic beverages by person 19/20 years old and possession of malt beverage/unfortified wine by person 19/20 years old.

ALE often works closely with local and state law enforcement agencies investigating vehicle collisions resulting in personal injury and or death of persons less than 21 years of age when alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the collision.

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ALE Operation Nets 28 Misdemeanor Charges in Henderson

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On Tuesday, April 20th, agents with NC Alcohol Law Enforcement issued 28 misdemeanor charges in Henderson.  A total of 15 people were charged.

Clay Joyner, special agent in charge for ALE in District 4 – Raleigh told WIZS News, “Our main focus of what we went that day for was to focus on any criminal activity in and around ABC permitted establishments, with a focus on underage possession, consumption and sale to underage.”

Several areas in the district were targeted during the week last week, and one of those areas was Henderson.

Statewide, in recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, ALE special agents concluded the statewide enforcement operation on Friday resulting in over 200 people charged, according to a press release from ALE. There were also seizures of alcoholic beverages, drugs, firearms and cash across the state.

ALE special agents will submit violation reports to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission documenting the criminal and regulatory violations which could result in fines, suspensions, or revocations of ABC permits.

Vance County was one of 18 counties statewide involved in last week’s efforts.

NC SBI

Franklin Co. Sheriff Partners With ALE to Make Drug Arrests, Seizures

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-Press Release, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation

On Tuesday, state and local authorities raided two houses and seized over 26 ounces of methamphetamines valued at more than $218,000 following an operation in Franklin County. Over the last three months, ALE special agents and Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies partnered with a reputed orlando drug trafficking lawyer to address ongoing illegal drug activity at ABC-licensed establishments. In addition to the methamphetamine, a 2015 Mercedes E350, a 1996 Lincoln Town Car, two handguns, Ecstasy, Valium pills and cash were seized.

“Criminals use popular businesses as locations to discretely sell drugs and commit other crimes in the presence of innocent families every day throughout North Carolina. Over the past three months, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and our special agents partnered together to address this issue in Franklin County.” said Bryan House, acting head of NC Alcohol Law Enforcement “We discovered people from out of the county were traveling in to sell substantial amounts of drugs in the parking lots of ABC permitted stores. These arrests should make Franklin County safer.”

The following individuals were charged:

· Nicholas Paul Estes of Wendell, NC: Trafficking in Methamphetamine (five counts); Sell Methamphetamine; Possess with the intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver (PWIMSD) Methamphetamine; Maintain a vehicle used for keeping and selling controlled substance (two counts)

· Jay Windle Parker of Clayton, NC:  Felony possession Schedule I Controlled Substance (MDMA); PWIMSD Schedule IV controlled substance; Trafficking in Methamphetamine; Maintain a vehicle used for keeping and selling controlled substance; Conspire to Traffic Methamphetamine; Possess drug paraphernalia

· Zachary David Wilson Jr. of Spring Hope, NC: Trafficking in Methamphetamine (three counts); PWIMSD Methamphetamine; Sell Methamphetamine; Maintain a vehicle used for keeping and selling controlled substance; Possess Methamphetamine; Conspire to Traffic Methamphetamine (two counts); Possess drug paraphernalia

“Our partnerships with State and Federal agencies allow us to continue the strong commitment we have made to address illegal drug sales in our communities. The results from this case allowed us to remove highly addictive and dangerous drugs from our community, and put those responsible for distributing them in jail,” said Franklin County Sheriff Kent Winstead.

The NC National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and NC Department of Public Safety assisted in the investigation.