Police: EBT/SNAP Cards Traded for Drugs, 30 Arrested
Posted at: 02/08/2013 11:25 AM
| Updated at: 02/08/2013 11:03 PM
Officers have arrested thirty people in connection with a crack cocaine trafficking investigation in the Twin Ports area.
The arrests came this week after a nine-month investigation dubbed "Operation Crackdown." Investigators say suspects were trading crack cocaine for EBT/SNAP debit cards at approximately half the face value of the cards. Investigators say they used decoy EBT/SNAP cards to conduct multiple controlled buys of crack cocaine.
"This is relatively new for us," said Lt. Steve Stracek, Commander of the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. "The dealers would either go to the store with the buyer, and buy groceries with the cards. Or force the buyer to prove the card still had money, and then take the card."
Besides the thirty people arrested this week, another half-dozen people who were already in custody face additional charges and authoritees are seeking another ten people. Many of those arrested have significant criminal histories, including one with a homicide conviction who was allegedly found in a Central Hillside residence where two handguns were concealed in ceiling tiles.
Search warrants were executed at seven Twin Ports locations:
- 900 block of 88th Avenue West, Duluth
- 500 block of North 39th Avenue West, Duluth
- 100 block of East 7th Street, Duluth
- 700 block of Upham Road, Duluth
- 100 block of West 5th Street, Duluth
- 200 block of East 2nd Street, Duluth
- 1100 block of North 12th Street, Superior
Those who have been charged include:
- Laquendrick Lenel As-Sidiq, 23 - 1st degree possession and sale of crack cocaine
- Dawson Kenneth Coleman, 22, - 1 count 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 1 count wrongfully obtaining public assistance-aid and abet
- Christopher Forrest Cook, 36, - Violation of probation warrant for 2nd degree burglary and 5th degree controlled substance crime
- Jarvis Michael Cunningham, 24, A.K.A. “A-1” - 4 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance
- Shawn Wardell Embry, 36, A.K.A. “Detroit” - 1 count 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 1 count 5th degree possession of a controlled substance
- Thomas Ardell Gentry, 24, A.K.A. “Streets” - 1st degree possession and sale of crack cocaine
- Zuriel Antwon Gray, 32, A.K.A “D-Boy, Nephew, Twan, T-Money” - 4 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance
- Darrius Darrell Guyton, 28, A.K.A. “Ave” - 6 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, - 6 counts 2nd degree sale of controlled substance in a school zone, 3 counts wrongfully obtaining public assistance-aid and abet
- Matthew Dee Hollingsworth, 27, A.K.A. “Black” - 1 count 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 2 counts sale of a simulated controlled substance
- Anthony Alton Holloway, 26, A.K.A “T, Tone, Teeth” - Controlled substance sales charges in Douglas County, WI
- Jeffery Holman, 55 - 1st degree possession and sale of crack cocaine
- Darius Jared Honeycutt, 26, A.K.A. “D” - 2 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance
- Albert Lewis Johnson Sr., 56, A.K.A. "Big Al” - 1 count 1st degree sale of controlled substance, 6 counts 3nd degree sale of controlled substance, 6 counts 2nd degree sale of controlled substance in a school zone, 1 count 5th degree sale of marijuana, 1 count wrongfully obtaining public assistance-aid and abet
- Timothy Lee Johnson, 50, A.K.A. “Bagman” - 7 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 3 counts wrongfully obtaining public assistance-aid and abet
- Leon Jones, 33, A.K.A. “Lee John” - 4 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance
- Russell Eddie Lee Jones, 37, A.K.A. “Big C” - 2 counts 2nd degree sale of controlled substance, 2 counts 2nd degree sale of controlled substance in a school zone, 1 count wrongfully obtaining public assistance
- Kenyon Rashawn Latham, 21, A.K.A “Yannie” - 1 count 3rd degree sale of a controlled substance
- Loretta Lee McGowen, 61, - 1 count 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 1 count liability for crimes of another
- Latonya Alexander Moss, 25, A.K.A. “Tiny” - 1 count 3rd degree sale of, 1 count wrongfully obtaining public assistance-aid and abet
- Juanita Moy, 58, A.K.A.”TT” - 3 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 1 count 5th degree possession of controlled substance
- Daryl Brian Pearson, 56 - 1 count 3rd degree sale of controlled substance
- Ronald Edward Profit, 24, A.K.A “P” - 1 count 2nd degree sale of controlled, 1 count 3rd degree possession of controlled substance
- Ronald Paris Riles, 35, A.K.A."P" - 1 count 2nd degree sale of controlled substance in a school zone and additional charges related to drug and firearms violations
- Sylvester Robinson, 58 - 1 count 3rd degree sale of controlled substance
- Artist Samuel Sanders, 33, A.K.A. “A-Dog” -1 count 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 1 count 2nd degree sale of controlled substance in a school zone
- Christopher Edward Soward, 38, A.K.A. “CJ” - 4 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance
- Clinton Lee Strother, 64, A.K.A “Uncle” - 1 count 2nd degree sale of controlled substance in a school zone
- Derrick Lamar Tyler, 45, A.K.A “Peace or Cold Peace” - Controlled substance sales charges in Douglas County, WI
- Belinda Marie Walker, 33, A.K.A “Bey-Bey” - 6 counts 3rd degree sale of controlled substance, 2 counts 2nd degree sale of controlled substance in a school zone, 1 count wrongfully obtaining public assistance
- Belinda Marie Walker, Sr., 56 - 4 counts 3rd degree sale of a controlled substance
Officers and investigators from numerous departments assisted in the investigation and arrests, including the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Boundary Waters Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Duluth, Superior, Cloquet, Fond du Lac, and St. Paul police departments, and sheriff's offices in St. Louis, Douglas, Lake, and Carlton counties.
Police urged people who believe they have information about welfare assistance fraud to call Minnesota's Welfare Fraud Hotline at 1-800-627-9977. Reports can be made anonymously.
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