Drug bust
By angie meadows
An undercover drug investigation led by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Smithville Police Department, resulted in 23 sealed indictments. Seventeen of the defendants were arrested and booked on June 9 and June 10 after the grand jury returned indictments on June 2.
Sheriff Patrick Ray and Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins, in a joint statement released last Wednesday, said the investigation involved the sale of methamphetamine, oxycodone, sub Oxone, heroin, and hydrocodone. In one case, officers found 15 marijuana plants while serving indictments.
“This is probably the most unique round up I have been part of in my 30 years of law enforcement,” said Sheriff Ray. “We have had to pace ourselves doing the pickups to keep from overloading the booking area and quarantine cells and I want to thank our correctional officers because it’s been an especially challenging process for them. We would pick up a few of these drug defendants and then take a pause to give them time to post bond or be moved into the quarantine cells if they couldn’t make bond. Inmates tested for COVID-19 have to be quarantined. Recent test results on other inmates have all come back negative.”
Original plans were to present the cases for indictment during the regular term of the grand jury in April but the COVID-19 pandemic intervened forcing the courts to shut down. Because inmate population is still somewhat limited due to social distancing practices, only a few of the drug defendants could be brought in at a time for booking.
“I appreciate what Chief Collins and his guys have done during this investigation. They put in a lot of long hours. Hopefully this is one of many we will do in conjunction with each other,” said Sheriff Ray.
“We could not have done this without the help of the sheriff’s department. When you can combine the resources of two law enforcement departments like this you can get great things done. I want to thank the detectives of both agencies because they worked long hours and got this done. I also want to thank Sheriff Ray and his department for allowing us to be part of it. We look forward to working with them again in the future,” said Chief Collins.
“I would also like to thank our correctional officers,” said Sherriff Ray. “Also a special thanks to Alexandria Police Chief Chris Russell and his staff who assisted the sheriff’s department in making one drug buy.”
Those arrested on June 9-10, 2020 and their charges are as follows:
Mark Gregory Brock, 54, of Smithville, one count sell of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine), one count delivery of a schedule II drug. His bond was set at $5,000.
April Lynn Coronado, 47, of Smithville, two counts of sell schedule II drug (hydrocodone), delivery of schedule II drug. Her bond was set at $5,000.
Dorothy Renee Crowell, 51, of Smithville, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (hydrocodone), two counts delivery schedule II drug. Her bond was set at $10,000.
Sherri Francine Gunter, 38, of Smithville, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine) two counts delivery schedule II drug. Her bond was set at $10,000.
James Allen Hesson of Smithville, 42, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine), two counts delivery schedule II drug. His bond was set at $5,000.
Glen Ray Jones of Smithville, 56, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine), two counts delivery schedule II drug. His bond was set at $5,000.
Larry Estil Lattimore of Smithville, 59, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine), two counts delivery schedule II drug. His bond was set at $5,000.
Sabrina Ann Lattimore of Smithville, 41, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (oxycodone/hydrocodone), two counts delivery schedule II drug. Her bond was set at $7,500.
Charlotte Elaine Malone, 46, of Smithville two counts of sell of schedule III drug (sub Oxone), two counts of schedule III drug. While officers were there they found 15 marijuana plants growing. She was charged with manufacturing a schedule VI drug. Her total bond was $8,500.
Crystal Gail Malone, 43, of Smithville, four counts of sell of schedule III drug (sub Oxone), four counts of schedule III drug. She was also charged with manufacturing a schedule VI drug (marijuana) as she lives at the same location as her wife Charlotte Malone. Her bond was set at $13,500.
Teresa Darlene Mayo, 53, of Smithville , two counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine), two counts delivery schedule II drug. Her bond was set at $5,000.
Michael Chad Owens, 39, of Smithville sell and delivery of a schedule 1 drug (heroin) in a drug-free zone and sell and delivery of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine). His bond was set at $15,000.
Donald Hugh Pack, 46, of Smithville two counts of sell of schedule II drug (hydrocodone), two counts delivery schedule II drug. His bond was set at $10,000.
Marcus John Peregoi, 48, of Alexandria two counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine), two counts delivery schedule II drug. His bond was set at $5,000.
Carla Jean Ray of Smithville, 38, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (oxycodone), two counts delivery schedule II drug. Her bond was set at $5,000.
Nelson Pack Redmon, 43, of Smithville one counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine), one counts delivery schedule II drug. Her bond was set at $5,000.
Ivan Martel Young of Smithville, 60, two counts of sell of schedule II drug (methamphetamine), two counts delivery schedule II drug. His bond was set at $5,000.
Robert Alexander Judkins, 29, of Baxter was at a residence of one of the defendants, and he was arrested for failure to appear. His bond was set $2,000.
Defendants are scheduled to be in court July 14 on the drug charges.
