Pubdate: Thu, 12 Apr 2001
Source: Florida Times-Union (FL)
Copyright: 2001 The Florida Times-Union
Contact:  http://www.times-union.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/155
Author: By Diana Marrero, Times-Union staff writer

46 NABBED IN CLAY DRUG RAID

10 Linked To Funneling $2 Million In Cocaine

About 50 law enforcement officers in Clay County descended upon the streets 
in Green Cove Springs, Middleburg and Orange Park in the early morning 
hours yesterday scouring neighborhoods for drug dealers they've been 
following for a year.

By the time the raid was done, police had arrested 46 people, including 10 
believed to be responsible for helping distribute about $2 million in 
cocaine throughout Northeast Florida and the state, according to Clay 
County Sheriff Scott Lancaster. The 10 were charged with six-count federal 
indictments that could land them in jail for the rest of their lives.

Officials say many of those arrested were involved in a loosely organized 
narcotics organization that developed in the 1980s, which reaches into 
Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Though most operated in Clay County, some were 
based in Duval and Bradford near the Clay County line.

Police had warrants for 57 people. Officials say the bust, Operation Triple 
Threat, will clean up the streets.

"It will have a tremendous impact," said Green Cove Springs Police Chief 
Gail Russell, whose town saw the majority of arrests. "I thank God for the 
cooperation I had."

Middleburg Avenue has been notorious for drug activity since the late 
1980s, though local law enforcement periodically conducts raids. 
Cooperation from the federal government allowed for a more intricate 
operation that would have strained the tiny agency.

Despite the extent of arrests, Russell realizes the drug problem is not 
close to an end.

"We'll go right back to other investigations," he said. "There will be some 
others to replace these folks, but for the meantime ... "

But just a few blocks away, in the blighted areas of Green Cove where 
abandoned cars rust and houses crumble, residents had mixed emotions about 
the raid.

"I think a lot of people welcome it," said Antonio Coleman, who works for 
the Police Athletic League, coaching neighborhood children in basketball 
and other sports. "It's long overdue."

But Lakeisha Williams, who lives on Center Street, an area officers raided, 
resents the police presence, saying the busts unfairly target black areas.

"They swear everybody's dealing drugs," said Williams, whose cousin was 
arrested.

Lancaster said many residents welcomed the drug bust.

"They were clapping and cheering and applauding what was going on," he said.

The 10 facing federal charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack 
are: Willie Lee Davis, 40; Kelvin Williams, 26; Roy Shane Jackson, 29, and 
Shawn Jackson, 33, all of Starke; Herbert Little, 39; Johnnell Johnson, 43; 
Ben Littles, 25; Willie Boykin, 31, and Andrew Littles, 28, all of 
Middleburg; and Lee Van Walton, 24, Orange Park.

Among the others arrested was Robert Pollard, a former football standout at 
Orange Park High School who is now playing professionally in Canada.
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