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Transylvania County -- July 18, 2022: Operation "C.U.T." (Clean Up Transylvania) concluded a narcotics investigation in and around Transylvania County early Sunday, July 17.
Transylvania County Narcotics Task Force (TNT), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations executed this yearlong multi-agency operation to combat the sale and delivery of controlled narcotics in Transylvania County. TNT consists of police from the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office and the Brevard, North Carolina, Police Department.
This investigation resulted in the seizure of roughly $19,268.64 in cash, 17 firearms, 7.84 pounds of methamphetamine, nearly a quarter-pound of cocaine, 3.4 grams of heroin, nearly a third-pound of fentanyl, and 197 grams of MDMA in Transylvania and neighboring counties.
“Narcotics investigations by their very nature are often unseen by the public”, Sheriff David Mahoney said. “Today’s successful operation serves as a testimony to the unwavering commitment of the Transylvania County Narcotics Task Force, The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Brevard Police Department in combating drugs in Transylvania County.” Sheriff Mahoney would like to thank the partnering agencies for their assistance provided throughout these investigations.
Charged as a result of Operation C.U.T.:
Decarlos Devor Lynch of Lake Toxaway:
Lynch was charged with 5 counts of sale or delivery of controlled substances, 4 counts of possession of controlled substances near a school, 1 count of possession of controlled substances near a public park, 3 counts of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances, and 2 counts of trafficking controlled substances.
Lindsay Nicole Galloway of Lake Toxaway:
Galloway was charged with 2 counts of sale or delivery of controlled substances, 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance at or near a school, and 2 counts of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances.
Lindsay Nicole Galloway
Jason Eric Hemphill of Rosman:
Hemphill was charged with 4 counts of sale or delivery of a controlled substance, 4 counts of possession of a controlled substance near a public park, 1 count of maintaining a dwelling for the purposes of selling controlled substances, and 1 count of trafficking controlled substances.
Shasta Lashea Gravley of Brevard:
Gravley was charged with 3 counts of sale or delivery of a controlled substance, 1 count of possession of controlled substances near a school, 1 count of possession of controlled substance near a child care center, 2 counts of trafficking controlled substances, and 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances.
Shasta Lashea Gravely
Edward Todd “Petey” Melton of Rosman:
Melton was charged with 2 counts of sale or delivery of a controlled substance, 2 counts of possession with intent to sale or deliver controlled substances, 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances, and 1 count of maintaining a dwelling place for the purposes of selling controlled substances.
Derek Thomas Chapman of Brevard:
Chapman was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of controlled substances, 1 count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sale or deliver, and 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances.
Derek Thomas Chapman
Charles Daniel Briggs of Brevard:
Briggs was charged with 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances.
Charles Daniel Briggs
Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.
Christian Andreus Washington of Connestee:
Washington was charged with 3 counts of sale or delivery of fentanyl, 4 counts of possession of intent to sale or deliver fentanyl, 1 count of maintaining a dwelling for the purposes of sale or delivery of controlled substances, 1 count of maintaining a vehicle for the purposes of sale or delivery of controlled substances, and 1 count of trafficking fentanyl.
Christain Andreus Washington
Aaron Alden Roberts of Brevard:
Roberts was charged with 4 counts of sale or delivery of fentanyl, 2 counts of sale or delivery of methamphetamine, 5 counts of possession with intent to sale or deliver controlled substances near a public park (fentanyl), 2 counts of possession with intent to sale or deliver controlled substances near a public park (methamphetamine), 5 counts of maintaining a dwelling for the purposes of sale or delivery of a controlled substance, 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances,1 count of trafficking opioids, 2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, 1 count of possession of marijuana, and 1 count of possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Aaron Alden Roberts
Charise McIntosh Roberts of Brevard:
Roberts was charged with 1 count of possession of methamphetamine, 1 count of possession of fentanyl, 1 count of possession of drug paraphernalia, 1 count of possession of marijuana, and 1 count of possession of marijuana drug paraphernalia.
Charise McIntosh Roberts
Manley Weston Praytor of Brevard:
Praytor was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of methamphetamine, and 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver methamphetamine.
Manley Weston Praytor
Calvin Andrew Reddish of Blantyre:
Reddish was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of cocaine.
Calvin Andrew Reddish
Renardo Miguel Whaley Jr. of Simpsonville, SC:
Whaley was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of fentanyl, 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver fentanyl near a park, and 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver controlled substances.
Renardo Miguel Whaley Jr.
Jo Ann Ramirez of Flat Rock:
Ramirez was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of methamphetamine, and 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver methamphetamine.
Jo Ann Ramirez
Brian Thomas Koontz of Balsam Grove:
Koontz was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of methamphetamine, 1 count of sale or delivery fentanyl, 1 count of maintaining a dwelling for the purposes of selling controlled substances, 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver methamphetamine, and 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver fentanyl.
Brian Thomas Koontz
Jeffrey Douglas Patterson of Rosman:
Patterson was charged with 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver methamphetamine.
Jeffrey Douglas Patterson
Tawny Kiona Jackson of Rosman:
Jackson was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of methamphetamine, and 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver methamphetamine.
Tawny Kiona Jackson
Lisa Yeomans Morgan of Rosman:
Morgan was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of methamphetamine, 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver methamphetamine, 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver methamphetamine, and 1 count of maintaining a dwelling place for the purpose of selling controlled substances.
Lisa Yeomans Morgan
Stephen Blake O’Shields of Brevard:
O’Shields was charged with 1 count of sale or delivery of methamphetamine, 1 count of possession with intent to sale or deliver methamphetamine, and 1 count of conspiracy to sale or deliver methamphetamine.
Stephen Blake O’Shields
Charles Henry Bracken of Rosman:
Bracken was charged with 1 count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Charles Henry Bracken
“We believe that today’s arrests will impact the flow of illegal drugs in Transylvania County. We intend that this operation will serve as notice to others involved in drug trafficking in Transylvania County that we take this seriously and will work diligently to stop them from selling their poison.” Sheriff Mahoney added.
The arrest phase of Operation C.U.T. was conducted by the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Brevard Police Department, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and a team from the United States Marshals Service, Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force – Asheville Office.
Citizens wishing to provide information that can help in this team effort are encouraged to contact TNT at either 828-884-3168 or by email at tnt@tcsonc.org. Tips and information can also be shared through the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office web page: https://www.tcsonc.org/community/submit-a-crime-tip.
Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.
Wnctimes by Marjorie Farrington
