Arrests in narcotics raid in Gloucester

An investigation by the Tri-Rivers Drug Task Force into the alleged local sale of synthetic narcotics such as “spice” and “bath salts” led to the execution of two search warrants and the arrest of 13 people on federal charges last week, according to Gloucester Sheriff Darrell Warren. Warren said the search warrants were executed Thursday morning at Hazy Dayz located at 3536 George Washington Memorial Highway in Hayes and at A Lil of This N That located at 7558 John Clayton Memorial Highway in Gloucester. The following Gloucester residents were arrested in connection with the investigation: Justin Darrell Pratt, 29, of Hidden Acres Drive; Ryan David Fernandes, 30, of Providence Road; Althea Nicole Hopkins, 22, of Providence Road; Stacie Jo Hopkins, 48, of Linda Circle; Cameron Shawn Rabineau, 33, of Severn Drive; Jessica Rabineau, 31, of Severn Drive; Rachel Ellon Webb-Harvey, 24, of Hornets Nest Road; Also, Sandra Alice Webb, 51, of Hornets Nest Road; Jose Nicholas Alvarado, 34, of Glenns Road; Daniel Carlton Bray, 32, of Hornets Nest Road; Jeffery Allen Fowlkes, 23, of Owl Trap Road; Shawn Ronald Woodlen, 26, of Claudia Drive; and Jeromy Lynn Hawk, 32, of Autry Lane. Warren said each suspect was charged with possession with intent to distribute an analogue of a controlled substance as well as conspiracy to distribute and possess with an intent to distribute and analogue of a controlled substance. Analogue drugs typically have only slightly different chemical structures that Schedule I or II drugs. In addition, A.N. Hopkins, S.J. Hopkins, Webb-Harvey, Alvarado, Bray, Fowlkes, and Hawk were charged with distribution of drug paraphernalia. Also, S.J. Hopkins and Pratt were charged with possessing a firearm during drug trafficking; Pratt was charged with possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Warren said Bray and Webb-Harvey were the owner of A Lil of This N That and Fernandes and Cameron Rabineau were partners in Hazy Dayz. Twelve of those charged were initially transported to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail in Williamsburg. Warren said they appeared in U.S. District Court in Norfolk on Friday and were being held in the Norfolk City Jail pending additional court appearances scheduled for yesterday. Hawk was arrested in North Carolina. The searches and arrests followed a lengthy investigation by the task fore dubbed “Operation Direct Pressure,” Warren said. The Tri-Rivers Task Force is comprised of narcotics investigators from Gloucester, York-Poquoson, Mathews, Middlesex, James City County and Poquoson law enforcement agencies and Virginia State Police. Warren said nearly 50 officers from various agencies participated in the searches and arrests, including the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit and hazardous material officers from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. article reprinted from April 25, 2013 with permission from Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal.