Deputies arrested 19 people in connection with a local drug trafficking organization, Seminole County investigators announced Wednesday.
The 19 individuals from the Central Florida area were involved in the sale and purchase of prescription drugs and narcotics, investigators said.
Agents with the City County Investigative Bureau, who began investigating the group in September 2012, conducted a series of undercover operations and made controlled purchases, after receiving complaints about drug activity in local communities. Investigators say, five persons served as the primary dealers and suppliers of the organization, including an 81-year-old man.
The five individuals are:
· Marvin Brown, 31, of Sanford
· John Killingsworth, 30, of Sanford
· Arthur Cox, Jr., 81, of Oviedo
· Charnice Medlock, 23 of Sanford
· Katrina Redden, 31, of Sanford.
According to investigators, these five traffickers obtained the supplies of narcotics, which were primarily prescription drugs they purchased from people who had obtained them lawfully. The traffickers then sold the drugs to buyers on the street, and exchanged them with one another. They face charges including: attempting to traffic in illegal drugs, conspiracy to traffic in illegal drugs, and conspiracy to sell or deliver illegal drugs.
Additionally, agents arrested the following 11 subjects who purchased drugs from the traffickers. They were charged with solicitation to deliver controlled substances:
· Adam Sesit, 22, of Winter Springs;
· Bryce Tillerson, 20, of DeBary;
· Justin Riner, 30, of Sanford;
· Cody Clippard, 23, of Lake Mary;
· Mitchell Seholm, 25, of Winter Springs;
· Darren Zimmerman, 35, of Longwood;
· Noah Frediani, 30, of Sanford;
· Erick Blakey, 25, of Oviedo;
· Samantha Miller, 18, of Sanford;
· Tracey Brien, 41, of DeBary; and
· Frederick Vihlen, 44, of Sanford.
During the course of the investigation, agents also learned that Phillip Eubanks, 33, of Sanford was obtaining marijuana from Jammer Guy, 29, of Orlando. Agents believe Guy imported marijuana from California and provided it to Eubanks, who would then sell it in Seminole County. Eubanks and Guy were both charged with conspiracy to sell and/or deliver a controlled substance. Agents also arrested Darryl Wright, 30, of Sanford, for solicitation to deliver a controlled substance, as he purchased marijuana from Eubanks.
All of the subjects were arrested yesterday. Tillerson and Brien were booked into the Volusia County Jail and the other subjects were booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected, authorities said.
