Manatee Drug Raid Results In Arrest For Crack Cocaine

While the details are sketchy at the moment, Bradenton.com is reporting that drug charges have been filed against a Manatee County man following a SWAT raid at his duplex. The raid took place early this morning and the arrest was made after discovering crack cocaine in the duplex. There was an ongoing investigation into drug activity at the duplex. Detectives obtained a search warrant to conduct the raid. The man who was arrested on the drug charges was being booked into Manatee County Jail. His name has not been released yet nor have the specific drug charges. The raid took place at a duplex on 19th Street West and 57th Avenue West.…

Bradenton Drug And Weapon Charges Filed Against A Man Passed Out In Front Of A Nightclub

A Cadillac parked in front of a Manatee bar after 3:00 a.m. drew the suspicion of a sheriff’s deputy early Friday morning. A Manatee County Sheriff’s deputy spotted the car parked outside the Distellery. When she pulled up the engine was running and Adam C. McDemid was passed out behind the wheel. According to the deputy, she saw a marijuana pipe in plain view and then had the 32-year-old exit his car. At that point she reported smelling burnt marijuana. The deputy searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun under the seat. The gun was reported stolen according to the report on Bradenton.com.…

Pasco Fire Started At Meth Lab According To Sheriff’s Office

A December 29 mobile home fire in Pasco County has led to two arrests for arson but there have been no drug manufacturing charges filed yet despite the fact one of the suspects allegedly admitted the fire started while the pair were cooking meth on a hot plate. John Lewis Cummings and Richard Alan Smith have both been charged with arson. At the time of his arrest Cummings reportedly had meth in his possession and was charged with that crime as well. Smith posted $25,000 bail while Cummings was booked into jail and had his bail set at $30,000.

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Prescription Drug Fraud Charges Filed Against Hernando Corrections Officer

Chris Abare is under arrest for collecting prescriptions for more than 2,000 oxycodone pills from nine doctors in a period of just over six months. The Hudson man was arrested on prescription fraud charges for not informing the doctors he had received prescriptions for oxycodone from other physicians as well. Abare is an employee of Corrections Corporation of America, a private company with workers serving at the Hernando County Jail. According to TBO.com Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies have sworn statements from five doctors that they were unaware Abare had contacted other doctors and received oxycodone prescriptions.…

Buju Banton’s Lawyer Claims Inhumane Treatment As The Reggae Star Awaits His Drug Trial

It has been a few months since any news came out surrounding the federal drug case against Grammy-nominated Reggae star Buju Banton. There is nothing to new report on Banton’s cocaine distribution charges but his lawyer is claiming that Banton is being mistreated in the Pinellas County Jail. According to the reggae musician’s Florida Criminal Defense Attorney, Banton is being treated inhumanely for nothing more than sharing his food with another prisoner. Pinellas sheriffs deny that assertion saying Banton is in “closed custody” because he violated prison rules and used food as currency.…

Homosassa Meth Lab Busted Up By Local And Federal Law Enforcement

Federal and local officials who raided a Citrus County found a meth lab and three children under the age of 10 living in what they described as deplorable conditions. Two men and one woman were all arrested on drug charges in connection with the meth lab. James Bole and Crystal Dennis of Homosassa are both facing federal drug charges according to TBO.com. Federal agents and Citrus County Sheriff’s officers found residue of methamphetamines on almost every surface in the home but that wasn’t all they found. According to reports three children were living in the home that had trenches of human waste, an open septic well, dangerous wiring and holes in the floor.…

St Pete Police Arrest Three Brothers And Their Mother During A Drug Raid

St Pete police arrested seven people including four members of one family during a drug raid this weekend. According to TampaBay.com, three Casteel brothers were arrested on charges ranging from possession of crack cocaine, felony possession of marijuana, operating a drug house and being a felon in possession of a gun. The mother of the three Casteel brothers was also arrested for disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor charge. The drug raid and subsequent arrests drew a large crowd in Wildwood Heights, which led to a brawl in the street that resulted in three arrests including Casteel’s mother.…

Prescription Drug Fraud And Trafficking Charges Filed in Pinellas Against Twin Brothers

Pinellas County Sheriff’s arrested three people on charges of prescription drug fraud, two of which were twin brothers. TBO.com is reporting that Alberto and Aldo Jogan have been charged with conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone. Aldo Jogan’s girlfriend was also arrested on trafficking charges. Other charges for the brother’s included possession of cocaine, prescription fraud and possession of other controlled substances. According to the newspaper report, the trio created fake prescription forms, forged signatures and then had others fill the prescriptions for them.…

Medical Marijuana Suppliers And Users Becoming Targets Of Crime

A disturbing trend is being reported in the 14 states that allow medical marijuana. According to an Associated Press story, the users and suppliers of medical marijuana are becoming the target of pot thieves who are robbing, shooting and even murdering those who are involved with the legal growing and supplying of marijuana. In recent months there have been dozens of cases that show criminals targeting legal marijuana growers, users and suppliers according to the AP. In California in a one-year period there were at least 50 crimes related to medical marijuana. Seven of those were classified as homicides.…

81-Year-Old Marion County Man Busted For Selling Marijuana

The Ocala Star Banner is reporting that an 81-year-old Marion County man has been arrested for marijuana possession with intent to sell and possession of a firearm that doesn’t have a serial number. The man was booked into Marion County jail and released. According to the story Carlton Griggs admitted to selling pot for the last two years. He sold it out of his home just south of Ocala in Ocklawaha. The marijuana was reportedly found in his cellar in a cooler. There was no comment from the man or his wife, both of whom the newspaper tried to question.

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