1 min read. Deputies said they uncovered a nearly $300,000 drug trafficking operation and booked 27 people on drug-related charges, which reportedly makes this the largest fentanyl bust in Lake County history. High 57F. LAKE COUNTY, IL A 38-year-old Lake Villa man is behind bars on a $750,000 bail after authorities found nearly three kilograms of cocaine and a semi-automatic gun in his apartment last week . LAKE WALES, Fla. Thirty-two people are facing dozens of charges following a $283,000 drug trafficking bust in Polk County, the sheriff's office said. The charges resulted from the operation dubbed "Close to Home," which was . Anthony L. Brown, a known street gang member, was arrested Friday after the Lake County Sheriff's Office special investigations group detectives searched his apartment in the 100 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Lake Villa, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. We have zero tolerance for those who traffic drugs in our community," said Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg. Gernes was arraigned in Wabasha County Court on one count of felony First-degree sales Tuesday. 22 people arrested in undercover drug operation in Lake County. Lake County Arrest Info. | Become a News 6 Insider (its free!)]. Andrew Smurph Woodruff, 37, of 5616 Galloping Drive in Apopka, was charged with trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, racketeering, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Updated 8/6/2021 6:51 AM. She graduated from UCF and returned to Central Florida after working in Colorado. No," he said. The drugs accumulated nearly $300,000 of street value with over 43 pounds of drugs contained in four vehicles. The Groveland Police Department makes huge narcotics bust during a routine traffic stop. The primary drug trafficking broker operated from a federal Oct 16, 2017 at 2:18 pm. VIDEO: Undercover operation leads to record-setting fentanyl bust in Lake County A record-setting drug bust has led to more than a dozen arrests in Lake County, and deputies say there could be more to come. According to deputies, the seized cannabis had an approximate value of $7 million. Eugene Isom, 44, and Marie Richardson, 42, were arrested on Wednesday at a home in Astatula. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until THU 4:00 AM EST, Coastal Volusia County, Baby dolphin injured after getting caught in crab trap now thriving at SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando offering free beer to eligible park guests, WATCH: Manatee rescued after getting stuck in mud banks of Florida river, Sarah Boone case: Attorney plans to argue battered spouse defense in 2020 death of Boone's boyfriend, Porn actor Ron Jeremy mentally incompetent to stand trial on rape counts, National Hurricane Center tracking rare wintertime disturbance over North Atlantic Ocean, Recognize them? Source: Lake County Sheriff's Office, Three main subjects, Cliff "Sneak" Johnson, 40, Charles "Cuz" Carter, 50, and Andrew "Smurph" Woodruff, 37, were arrested for drug-related charges for the largest fentanyl operation in Lake County history. Polar bear attack kills woman, boy in Alaska, Condo owners say increasing assessment fees may force them to sell, Brian Walshe held without bail, charged with murder of wife Ana Walshe, Search for possible missing person in pond to continue in Osceola County, Plan to redesign Downtown Orlando set to go into action in 2023. Brown is charged with manufacturing/delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine, a class X felony; unlawful possession of more than 900 grams of cocaine, a class X felony; and felon in possession of a firearm, a class 2 felony, according to police. Apt #202 in Lake Wales, where they found another pound of cocaine . Patch is a community platform: Here is how you can contribute on Patch. Authorities said the charges involve the possession and sale of a multitude of illicit drugs, including heroin, which has caused an epidemic of overdoses and deaths throughout Lake County and the nation. Joint operation leads to largest fentanyl bust in Lake County history. CROWN POINT Calling it the "most successful year on record," the Lake County Sheriff's office said the department's Drug Task Force seized more than $1.2 million in . First published on February 11, 2022 / 5:57 PM. Its county seat is Tavares, and its largest city is Clermont. Jun 22, 2016 at 7:03 pm. Charges filed against 23-year-old Noah Gernes say deputies executed a search warrant at a Lake City residence in the 500 block of North Lakeshore Dr. on November 23. LAKE COUNTY, Fla. . Law enforcement agencies from throughout the region converged Monday to serve warrants on three Polson homes as part of a drug investigation. Updated: Feb 9, 2022 / 05:26 PM MST. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Those arrested . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A Texas man is facing drug charges after a Lake County Sheriff's canine discovers over two kilograms of cocaine during a traffic stop in Waukegan Friday afternoon.Lake County News-Sun Drug cartel linked to 600-pound marijuana bust in Round Lake Park, police say. The Lake County Narcotics . According to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the individuals seen above have been served with arrest warrants or are currently being sought by law enforcement. Lake Worth police made a drug bust on Friday, May 20, which is the department's largest in history. By Frank Abderholden. The Grays Harbor Drug Task Force made an arrest at a South Aberdeen business for an employee selling drugs at work. According to deputies, the seized cannabis had an approximate value of $7 million. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 2023 www.dailycommercial.com. According to the task force, on January 11 around 3pm, they served a Search Warrant at the Boone Street 7-Eleven located in South Aberdeen. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Chicago Tribune. Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. Detectives credited the success of the operation to the hard work, dedication, and inter-agency cooperation between the partners of the County-City Investigative Bureau, which includes the Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, and Mount Dora police departments, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the State Attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit. July 1, 2022. Incriminating Google searches revealed in missing MA mom case, Texas man pleads guilty in $1.6M nationwide romance scam plot. The investigation, dubbed "Operation Sneak-A-Peek," began back in February and . A drug bust in Florida led to the seizure of enough fentanyl to kill at least 500,000 people, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. Later that day, deputies served a search warrant at all three homes. By Charlie Dwyer. Multiple local and federal law-enforcement agencies assisted with the investigation . Richardson was arrested and faces charges of trafficking in cocaine over 400 grams and trafficking of fentanyl over 28 grams. Pierre A. Suzanne, 53, of Saranac Lake was charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (hydromorphone), fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth . He was apprehended a short distance away and arrested on a felony drug possession warrant, according to LCNA. Please enter valid email address to continue. By Becky Jacobs. The investigation at times required detectives to travel throughout the state of Florida, and as far away as Georgia. at 160 Serenity Blvd. He said informants have reported to deputies that more and more dealers and suppliers are hesitant to move either heroin or fentanyl due to the string of arrests. (Lake County Sheriff's Office). Johnson, Carter, and Woodruff are scheduled to appear in Lake County Court on July 18. On November 14, 2019 at approximately 9:04 p.m., Officers with the Groveland Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the area of State Road 50 and Montevista Road. LAKE COUNTY, FL - The Lake County Sheriff's Office initiated Operation Basic Training during recent months, which was a joint investigation into a drug-trafficking organization operating throughout Central Florida. 0. VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL - A drug trafficking organization distributing heroin and fentanyl in Volusia and Lake counties has been dismantled after a six-month investigation that culminated in a series of arrests and seizures of cash and drugs at locations across both counties. A record-setting drug bust has led to more than a dozen arrests in Lake County, and deputies say there could be more to come. August 27, 2015. (Lake County Sheriff's Office) According to a press release . Lake County is a county in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. Two were arrested after a search warrant for illegal . Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. LAKE COUNTY, Fla. A record-setting drug bust has led to more than a dozen arrests in Lake County, and deputies say there could be more to come. Law enforcement from the Clermont, Eustis, and . Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Cliff Desmond Sneak Johnson, 40, of 906 Chelsea Ave. in Fruitland Park, was charged with 21 felonies and two misdemeanors relating to the possession and trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, Adderall, Alprazolam, and Oxycodone, along with racketeering, possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting without violence, and use of a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. According to detectives, the seized drugs had a collective street value of $36,170. . Man arrested, $100,000 in marijuana seized in Gary drug bust. Get todays headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved. Those arrested included people accused of being mid- and high-level suppliers and street-level drug dealers, Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said. Leesburg woman busted in Altoona after deputies receive report of suspicious Mercedes, Driver arrested on DUI charge after sipping craft beer in Mount Dora, Panhandler arrested after throwing hot coffee at Circle K clerk, Bank customer arrested after allegedly pounding ATM with hammer, 77-year-old Leesburg man dies after truck crashes into guardrail and overturns, Parents called to pick up children after consuming THC gummies at Carver Middle School, Unlicensed DUI suspect from Mexico jailed after found urinating in roadway, Slow-moving driver arrested after K-9 alerts on vehicle during traffic stop. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. The daylong operation resulted in the arrest of 13 adults, according to a Polson Police Department press release issued Tuesday morning. 1:07. - Lake County Sheriff Don Bell announced in a Tuesday morning press release that his department made a pair of drug . 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