Staff Report
ROCKINGHAM — More than a dozen individuals have been charged in a three-month undercover narcotics investigation by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Community Impact Team.
According to a May 14 press release issued by the sheriff’s office, the operation — initiated in February — has been “aimed at targeting known high drug areas within Richmond County and drug trafficking networks with the goal to reduce the illegal narcotics activity within this county.”
Investigators have so far arrested 15 individuals, both men and women, on a total of 55 felony and four misdemeanor charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
Through “several coordinated raids” — involving the RCSO’s Community Impact Team, Criminal Investigation Division, Special Response Team and Patrol Division, with assistance from other state and local agencies —the sheriff’s office has reportedly seized:
- 373.92 grams of methamphetamine
- 253.14 grams of a mixture of crack and powder cocaine
- 40.84 grams of fentanyl
In addition to those drugs, investigators have also seized an unspecified quantity of other narcotics, numerous illegal firearms, and an unspecified amount of cash that the sheriff’s office considers “drug proceeds.”
Those charged include:
- Stephon Jewlton Easterling, 30 - felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; selling a schedule II controlled substance; delivering a Schedule II controlled substance; felony possession of methamphetamine; selling methamphetamine; delivering methamphetamine ($25,000 secured bond)
- Brittany Short Branch, 35 – conspiracy to sell methamphetamine; conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine ($75,000 secured bond)
- Leslie Suzanna Snell – possession of methamphetamine; selling methamphetamine, delivering methamphetamine ($15,000 secured bond)
- Steven Thomas Langley, 42 – two counts each of possession of methamphetamine, selling methamphetamine and delivering methamphetamine; one count of maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance ($15,000 secured bond)
- Christopher Todd Greene, 56 – possession of methamphetamine; selling methamphetamine; delivering methamphetamine ($15,000 secured bond)
- Diamante Dijon Wood, 32 – two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine; maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance; altering a removing a gun’s serial number; possession of drug paraphernalia ($100,000 secured bond)
- D’Andre Kashad Swinnie, 32 – two counts each of trafficking opium or heroin and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; one count each of trafficking in methamphetamine, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver methamphetamine; possession of a stolen firearm; possession of a firearm by a felon ($315,000 secured bond)
- Jimmy Edward Chavis Jr., 47 - two counts possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; selling a Schedule II controlled substance; delivering a Schedule II controlled substance; simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (Percocet); possession of drug paraphernalia ($15,000 secured bond)
- Mark Edward Basford, 44 - possession of methamphetamine; selling methamphetamine; delivering methamphetamine ($15,000 secured bond; also under $25,000 secured bond on breaking and entering charges)
- Wayne Lee Davis, 63 - possession of methamphetamine; selling methamphetamine; delivering methamphetamine ($1,000 secured bond; no bond for probation violation)
- Timothy Allen Braddock, 51 – conspiracy to sell methamphetamine; obtaining property by false pretenses (released on bail)
- Courtney Anne Chance, 44 - conspiracy to sell methamphetamine; obtaining property by false pretenses ($1,000 secured bond; additional bonds for unrelated charges)
- Wesley Charles Lesesne Jr., 21 - possession of methamphetamine; selling methamphetamine; delivering methamphetamine ($20,000 secured bond)
- Perry Donald Kistler Jr., 39 - possession of methamphetamine; selling methamphetamine; delivering methamphetamine ($10,000 secured bond)
- Ernest Jarod Brewington, 37 - trafficking in cocaine; possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine; maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia (released on bail)
(Note: The RO has previously written about several of these cases individually.)
"This operation underscores our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our community from the perils of illegal drug activities," Sheriff Mark B. Gulledge said in the release. "Through strategic planning and collaboration, we've made substantial progress in curbing the distribution of dangerous substances in our neighborhoods."
According to the press release, additional charges will be filed in the ongoing investigation “to clean up our communities.”
The sheriff’s office encourages residents to report suspicious activities through the P3 Tips app or through the department’s website.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
