Spring Sweep 2019: Dozens arrested in Iredell County drug bust

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Multiple teams of Iredell County deputies spread out across the county Monday to serve warrants for numerous drug crimes in what they're calling Spring Sweep 2019.

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said deputies made over a dozen drug-related arrests from north Iredell County to the Mecklenburg County line.

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According to Campbell, the people who were targeted in the major bust were directly involved in selling meth, heroin and illegal prescription medications to undercover investigators.

Deputies said they focused the roundup on opioid dealers because of the drug's disastrous impact on the community.

"Opioid-based drugs such as heroin, prescription medications, along with methamphetamine are tremendously devastating to the people who use these drugs, and their effects on the community is also extremely distressing," said Campbell.

Eyewitness News reporter Gina Esposito was there as nearly a dozen people were escorted from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office to jail, including David Yates Jr.

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Law enforcement agencies raided Yates' Statesville home in February after they said it was being used as an adult entertainment club. Agents said they found drugs and weapons.

Monday, Yates was charged with trafficking opiates, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver hydrocodone, and felony sell or deliver hydrocodone.

(David Yates Jr.)

Campbell told Channel 9 they had been investigating Yates and had made contact with him soon after agents stormed his home.

"I do know Mr. Yates was directly involved in the sale to undercover officers, pretty much the day after his arrest for some alcohol violations," Campbell said.

Campbell said he hopes specifically targeting repeat offenders who continue to ignore the law and sell drugs will send a clear message that enough is enough.

SPRING SWEEP ARRESTS: 

• David Lee Yates -- Felony trafficking opiates, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver hydrocodone, and felony sell or deliver hydrocodone
• Dustin Shane Bates -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine and felony sell methamphetamine
• Kenneth Hugh Gobble Jr -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver dilaudid
• Stacy Marie Jones -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, felony sell or deliver heroin, and felony conspire to sell heroin
• Jake Ruben McCann -- Felony conspire to sell controlled substance
• Joshua Shwayne Ramseur -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin
• Tevan Tyrese Turner -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin
• Danny James Byrd -- Felony with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine
• Henry Phillip McHargue -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine and felony sell or deliver methamphetamine
• Jonathan Bruce Shires -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver schedule III controlled substance, felony sell or deliver schedule III controlled substance, felony maintain a vehicle/dwelling or place to sell controlled substances
• Amber Nichole Ellis -- Felony trafficking hydrocodone
• Michael Lee Cupp -- Felony possession with intent to sell or eliver methamphetamine, felony sell and deliver methamphetamine, and felony sell and deliver marijuana
• Bonnie Christine Jackson -- Felony possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine and felony sell methamphetamine
• Howard Todd Sutherland -- Felony conspire to sell or deliver heroin
• Darran DeShawn Lyons -- Felony trafficking in heroin, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, and felony sell heroin

"When you see the vast majority of these suspects’ criminal histories, you can see they need to be dealt with and put away,” he said.

According to deputies, most of the information for the bust was from community members who want Iredell County to be made safer.

Last October, the Iredell County Sheriff's Office did another similar operation, where they arrested 60 people who faced felony drug charges.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

Cox Media Group