ASHEVILLE -More than two dozen people have been arrested on charges connected to cocaine trafficking, collectively accused of possessing thousands ofgrams of the drug as part of a larger criminal enterprise.
The North Carolina SBI said in an Oct. 25 news releasethat 26 people were arrested after aninvestigation spanning seven months. The arrests on Oct. 23-24 were part of an operation that also involved Asheville Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
"This large-scale narcotics investigation began in Henderson County and expanded into Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties," the release stated.
"The primary targets of this ongoing investigation, Fabian Carrillo Blas, Abel Carbajal and Mark Leman Tobe, conspired to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine in western North Carolina, and utilized a large network of associates to do so," SBI spokeswoman Angie Grube said."As a result of the investigation, approximately 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1½ kilograms of cocaine, smaller amounts of heroin pills and marijuana in addition to several firearms and more than $90,000 were seized."
Many of those arrestedwere booked into Buncombe County jail. They range in age from 24 to 74 years old.
Together, their initial bonds totaled more than $7 million. Some of the amounts have since been lowered, according to the Buncombe County digital inmate database.
Theindividuals are allcharged with continuing criminal enterprise, a class C felony reserved for people acting as overseers in a crime ring.
Specifically, the arrestees are charged with beinginvolved in a continuing series of violations in concert with five or more other people;acting as an organizer, supervisor or in another management position in the violations;andobtaining substantial income or resources through the activity.
For most of those arrested, the date of offense spans from May 1-Oct. 22. For a few, only an individual dateof offense within that time frame is listed.
Specific charges and initial bonds in Buncombe County included:
- Fabian Carrillo Blas, 34, of Mars Hill: 8 counts trafficking in cocaine for possessing 400 grams or more of the drug;continuing criminal enterprise while occupying the position of "organizer";$740,000secured bond
- Kinta Phenique Bowditch, 42, of Asheville: 2 counts trafficking in cocaine for transporting between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $200,000 unsecured bond
- Angela Crystal Clemmons, 47, of Asheville: 2 counts trafficking in cocaine for transporting between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $260,000 secured bond
- Stephen Lamont Evans, 47, of Asheville: 2 counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $300,000 secured bond
- Jonathan Winston Flowers, 41, of Asheville: 2counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $260,000 secured bond
- Emanuel McClendon Graves, 42, of Asheville:2counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $260,000 secured bond
- Brandon Louis Houston, 31, of Candler:continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $100,000 secured bond
- Terrence Dermain-D An Lynch, 24, Asheville:4counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 200 and 400 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $500,000 secured bond
- Reginald Tyrone Logan, 42, Asheville:2counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $260,000 secured bond
- Daniel Castro Luna, 35, of Waynesville: 4counts trafficking in cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise; $1,250,000 secured bond
- Omar Arrendondo Moreno, 35, Leicester:continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $100,000 unsecured bond
- Rodney Deshawn McDay, 39, of Gastonia: 2counts trafficking in cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise; $100,000secured bond
- Jose Octavio Navarro, 28, of Weaverville: 2counts trafficking in cocainefor transporting between 200 and 400 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $260,000 secured bond
- Tony Darnell Peppers, 49, of Asheville:2counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $300,000 secured bond
- Jazmin Jauregui Ruelas, 28, or Mars Hill:continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $100,000 secured bond
- Salvador Jaime Blas Ramirez, 43, of Weaverville:6counts trafficking in cocainefor transporting more than 400 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $750,000 secured bond
- Crystal Surrett Shaw, 37, of Asheville:conspiring to traffic in cocaine with Mark Tobe by transporting and possessing 400 grams or more of the drug, 2counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $340,000 secured bond
- Mark Leman Tobe, 43, of Asheville: 6counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing 400 grams or moreof the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying the position of "organizer"; $750,000 secured bond
- Purvis Mack Tobe, 74, of Asheville:continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $100,000secured bond
- Dezmon Kenzil Woodyard, 31, of Arden:2counts trafficking in cocainefor possessing between 28 and 200 grams of the drug, continuing criminal enterprise while occupying a "management" position; $350,000 secured bond
- David Anaya, 36: Conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
Individuals arrested elsewhere included:
- Abel Carbajal, 46: arrested in Henderson County and charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
- Alonso Carbajal, 31: arrested in Henderson County and charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
- Marisela Mendoza, 40: arrested in Henderson County and charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
- Luis Christopher Alatorre Raygoza, 26: arrested in Henderson County and charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
- Miguel Angel Martinez Salgado: arrested in Henderson County and charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine
The investigation is ongoing, according to SBI's release. Additional charges and arrests may be forthcoming.