15 arrested as result of major narcotics investigation

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia Bureau of Investigation held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to announce the results of a six-month long major narcotics investigation.

Officials said 15 individuals that were part of a major prescription pill ring were arrested, but the lead individual has not been found. Officials said they're searching for at least another 15 people.

The leader of the ring is Ra'Keem Thomas, 21, and his main pill supplier was Jason Ashe, 28, according to officials.

“Today is a very good day for the citizens of Volusia County and beyond,” Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Dietrich said. “With the help of all of our VBI partners, an entire drug distribution operation has been dismantled and put out of business.”

Dietrich told remaining suspects to "turn yourself in, because we will find you.”

Authorities believe the ring moved 4,000 to 5,000 pills, including oxycodone and Dilaudid, each month. Officials said undercover agents were involved in about 10 drug buys involving Thomas.

Officers pulled over Thomas on April 6 in a traffic stop along State Road 472 near Orange City and arrested him after finding a loaded .357 revolver on the seat next to him. After searching his vehicle, agents found 597 oxycodone pills. After bonding out of jail on a charge of carrying a concealed firearm, the investigation showed that Thomas’ drug dealing went on unabated.

Thomas will face more than 15 charges once arrested, including armed trafficking in oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone, conspiracy to traffic in hydromorphone, six counts each of delivery of oxycodone and delivery of hydromorphone and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device to facilitate the commission of a crime.

Before the arrests on Tuesday, officials had seized 700 pills with a street value of $30 a pill. Officials said they aren't sure where the pills were originating from.

“There’s hardly a family around that hasn’t been touched by this plague,” Dietrich said. “Clearly, this isn’t just a supply problem. As a society, we need to do much more to address the demand for illegal prescription pills. For those who want to get off of them, we want to make sure that they get the services they need to help break the cycle of addiction. But we must not, and we will not, let up on those who are feeding the demand.

"To me, these illegal pill pushers are nothing more than merchants of pain, merchants of suffering and merchants of death. And that’s why we’re so pleased that they are now behind bars, going through the justice system and hopefully on the way towards lengthy prison sentences.”

The investigation targeted a drug distribution ring operating primarily in western Volusia County. The investigation culminated Tuesday in a series of raids that resulted in multiple arrests.

The defendants arrested Tuesday and their charges are as follows:

Dawn Marie Barton, (DOB: 10/4/1983), DeBary. Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Robert James Belling, Jr. (DOB: 4/1/1958), St. Augustine. Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Christopher Francis Ciullo (DOB: 11/17/1985), Deltona. Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Ginger Morris Garren (DOB: 7/18/1965), DeLand. Conspiracy to deliver hydromorphone, possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Tyrone Henderson (DOB: 4/25/1979), Sanford. Conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Shaunna Lynn Jones (DOB: 2/6/1978), Casselberry. Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Travis Michael Lodato (DOB: 6/16/1990), Palm Coast. Purchase of oxycodone, solicitation to deliver hydromorphone,  use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Cassandra Jeanelle Marcus (DOB: 5/6/1992), Pierson. Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Precious Ross (DOB: 4/16/87), DeLand. Conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Robert Clyde Thomas (DOB: 12/6/1965), DeLand. Conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone, conspiracy to deliver hydromorphone, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Kayla Rayne Vermillion (DOB: 1/25/1990), DeLand. Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Stanley Michael Vermillion (DOB: 4/1/1964), DeLand. Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Shane Leary Wahl (DOB: 6/18/1984), DeLand. Conspiracy to deliver hydromorphone, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Robert John Zammit III (DOB: 4/7/93), Bunnell. Conspiracy to traffic in oxycodone, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

Fredrick Roy McDaniel III (DOB: 11/17/1988). Possession of oxycodone with intent to sell or deliver, use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony.

For more information on this story, contact Blaine Tolison. 

Cox Media Group