In a nation that has been plagued by illegal drugs and the associated violence, citizens turn to cops for assistance and protection, Now, once again, the nation’s faith has been misplaced as more than a dozen cops have been busted in a multistate drug ring in Virginia and North Carolina. The undercover operation, called “Operation Rockfish,” has been ongoing for about a year and a half.
Thomas Walker, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, said multiple people were arrested in a major sting of cocaine and heroin operations. They were charged with trafficking cocaine and heroin up and down the I-95 corridor in North Carolina. Among those arrested were eight current or former officers, three correctional officers, two Virginia prison employees and a 911 dispatcher.
Northampton County, North Carolina, Sheriff Jack Smith was shocked as 11 of his officers were caught in the sting by the FBI, DEA and other agencies. “I’m hurt and surprised. I’m shocked and appalled at these types of indictments. We can’t tolerate this type of behavior, especially from law enforcement. They’ve let me down. They’ve let the sheriff’s office down. They’ve let the citizens down as well as their families. Most of them have children and they’ve let them down as well,” Smith told the media.
More arrests are anticipated as the investigation is ongoing. The blow to the Northampton County Sheriff’s office was particularly devastating since the staff consists of 35 deputies and the arrest of five deputies was shocking.
The names of those arrested are as follows:
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Ikeisha Jacobs, 32, a deputy with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office
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Jason Boon, 29, a Northampton deputy
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Jimmy Pair, 48, a Northampton deputy
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Curtis Boone, 31, a Northampton deputy
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Thomas Jefferson Allen II, 37, a Northampton deputy
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Wardie Vincent Jr., 35, a former Northampton deputy
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Cory Jackson, 43, formerly with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office
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Antonio Tillmon, 31, a Windsor City policeman
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Adrienne Moody, 39, a North Carolina correctional officer
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Alaina Sue Kamling, 27, a North Carolina correctional officer
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Kavon Phillips, 25, a North Carolina correctional officer
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Lann Tjuan Clanton, 36, a correctional officer with the Virginia Department of Corrections
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Alphonso Ponton, 42, a Virginia correctional officer
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Tohsa Dailey, 31, a 911 dispatch operator for Northampton County
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Crystal Pierce, 31, of Raleigh, North Carolina
