Undercover Drug Stings Lead To 28 Arrests In Iredell: ICSO

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — In the age of COVID-19, Iredell County narcotic investigators have been forced to adapt, according to Sheriff Darren Campbell, who announced dozens of drug arrests Thursday.

Since January, undercover drug operations have netted 28 arrests in Iredell County, according to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office.

“We have had to be creative in how we conduct undercover drug investigations, and suspect round up operations during the Covid-19 outbreak," Campbell said in a statement. "We never stopped responding to complaints and community concerns about this type of information."

ICSO did, however, shift its strategy to arresting suspects in smaller, and more frequent groups, which Campbell said "builds mistrust" among suspects.

"It also insures we keep our detention center, and the staff member’s safe during these times," he said. "Make no mistake, there are undercover drug operations going on right now, and we will continue to keep using the information gathered from these arrests as well as the information the community continues to provide to make additional arrests in the future."

Here's a rundown of those arrested on felony drug charges as of April 1, 2021, according to ICSO:

• Edward Lee Walkup, 45, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell of deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance. $7,500 secured bond
• Austin Tykim Morrison, 19, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell of deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance "crack cocaine." $25,000 secured bond.
• Theodore Thomas Steele, 39, of Statesville: charged with five counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; two counts of sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule III controlled substance; two counts of sell or deliver Schedule III controlled substance; felony maintain a dwelling or vehicle to sell controlled substance. $12,500 secured bond
• Gina Ann Hastings, 38, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine. $2,500 secured bond.
• Chino Steven Smith, 43, of Statesville: charged with felony obtain property by false pretense; felony conspire to sell or deliver controlled substance. $5,000 secured bond.
• Catherine Welch, 30, of Statesville: charged with felony obtain property by false pretense; felony conspire to sell or deliver controlled substance. $3,000 secured bond.
• David Ray Morgan, 49, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule III controlled substance. $15,000 secured bond.
• Joseph Scott Pergerson, 44, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule III controlled substance; felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule IV controlled substance. $2,500 secured bond.
• Ryan Wade Yoder, 44, of Mooresville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule I controlled substance; felony sell or deliver Schedule I controlled substance. $400,000 secured bond.
• Cameron Max Burleyson, 19, or Troutman: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance. $5,000 secured bond.
• James Robert Keaton, Jr., 53, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance. $5,000 secured bond.
• Darryl Cameron Padgett, 24, of Statesville: charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule IV controlled substance; two counties of felony sell or deliver Schedule IV controlled substance. $5,000 secured bond.
• Christopher Edmond Gaither, 34, of Statesville: charged with felony obtain property by false pretense. $7,500 secured bond.
• Jamar Harvin, 38, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule I controlled substance; felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule IV controlled substance. $7,500 secured bond.
• Crystal Rae Weber, 37, of Harmony: charged with two countys of felony trafficking by possession of heroin; two counts of felony trafficking by transport or heroin; two counts of trafficking by sale of heroin. $150,000 secured bond.
• Michael Derek Hopkins, 31, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance. $2,000 secured bond.
• Cheryl Martin Chiodo, 52, of Mooresville: charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony conspiracy to sell controlled substance; felony obtaining property by false presence. $10,000 secured bond.
• Heather Nicole Chiodo, 32, of Cleveland: charged with felony conspiracy to sell controlled substantial felony trafficking heroin; felony possession of methamphetamine. $200,000 secured bond.
• Whitney Martina Lipscomb, 26, of Statesville: charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Scheduled VI controlled substance; two counts of felony sell or deliver Schedule VI controlled substance. $10,000 secured bond.
• Kasey Allen Randol, 30, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver counterfeit controlled substance. $5,000 secured bond.
• Adam Joseph Smart, 41, of Cleveland: charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule I controlled substance; felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule III controlled substance. $10,000 secured bond.
• Conner Shane Stillson, 24, of Mooresville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance. $10,000 secured bond.
• Corry Tionne Summers, 37, of Statesville: charged with felony obtain property by false pretense; felony conspire to sell or deliver controlled substance.
• James Christopher Hammond, 28, of Statesville: charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance.
• Bobby Darnell Campbell, 43, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver Schedule II controlled substance; felony sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.
• Swailon Jakeon Quantrez Tucker, 22, of Statesville: charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin; felony sell or deliver heroin.
• Leonard Roy Dean Holland, 48, of Mocksville: charged with two counts of felony sell or deliver a controlled substance
• Corbin Labron Brandon, 28, of Statesville: charged with two counts of felony sell or deliver a Schedule II controlled substance

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