Drug Deal at South Chevron

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                December 30, 2010

Time:                9:30 AM

 

On December 27, 2010 the Drug Task Force arrested Randi Lynn Fumea for possession of a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a church.  On December 28, 2010 Fumea's co-defendant, Johnny Lee Welch was arrested for possession of crack cocaine. 

 

On August 25, 2010 Welch delivered crack cocaine to a confidential source at the South Chevron located in Chiefland.  Upon the drug deal Welch had the confidential source pay Fumea $ 40.00 for the crack cocaine.  The drug transaction occurred less than 1000 feet from the Power House Faith & Praise Church of God.

 

Welch is well known to law enforcement.  Welch, 31 years of age has been arrested on 30 felony charges & 21 misdemeanor charges.  Welch has only 2 felony and misdemeanor convictions.

 

 

Defendants:

 

Johnny Lee Welch

809 SE 6^th Street

Chiefland, Fl

Black Male, 09/22/79

 

Randi Lynn Fumea

7571 NW 153 Lane

Chiefland, Fl

White Female, 10/04/87

 

 

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Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell:    352-577-4218

Morriston Man Arrested

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                December 12, 2010

Time:                4:30 PM

 

Gulf Hammock, Florida- On December 10, 2010 the victim was in the woods hunting off Lebanon grade in Gulf Hammock.  The victim noticed that his Primo ground blind was stolen and seen a red Ford Bronco leaving the property.  The victim ran back to his truck to chase the suspect down when the suspect drove through a metal gate when leaving the property.  The subject stopped long enough on Lebanon Grade road to throw the stolen property out of his Bronco and fled the area in a high rate of speed. 

 

The victim was able to obtain a tag number and provided the information to Deputy Scott Stancil and Investigator Jay Crooms.  Later in the day the suspect, Christopher Loren Eckblad was located at 21160 SE 65^TH street in Morriston.  Eckblad stated that he was in the woods looking for snakes when he noticed a ground blind in the woods.  Eckblad admitted to stealing a ground blind, chair and a shovel valued at $ 370.00.  Eckblad was charged with grand theft and criminal mischief.

 

Defendant:

 

Christopher Loren Eckblad

21160 SE 65^TH Street

Morriston, Fl

W/M, 01/05/85

 

 

 

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--
Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell:    352-577-4218

Branford Man Arrested On Firearm Charge

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                December 12, 2010

Time:                4:00 PM

 

Fanning Springs, Florida-On December 10, 2010 Deputy Jason Gallup stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic violation at 17400 NW Hwy 19.  The driver, John Earl Thomas Jr. is a habitual traffic offender and he has a suspended driver's license. 

 

During the traffic stop Deputy Gallup noticed a shotgun in the vehicle.  A criminal history check on Thomas revealed that he is a convicted felon.  Thomas was arrested for driving on a suspended drivers license and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

 

Defendant:

 

John Earl Thomas Jr.

919 Kort Road

Branford, Fl

W/M, 04/22/58

 

 

 

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--
Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell:    352-577-4218

Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested

MEDIA RELEASE

Date:                December 12, 2010

Time:                11:00 AM

 

Fanning Springs, Florida-On December 11, 2010 the Levy County Sheriff's Office received a robbery alarm at Tienda Mexican Store.  The victim advised the Communication Center that the three suspects left in a white Ford Explorer.  Prior to arriving at the store the vehicle was located in the parking lot of Stones BP gas station.   Two suspects were seen entering the store and a third suspect was getting out of the Explorer.  One of the suspects was taken into custody and the other two suspects fled on foot through a heavily wooded area.  Three Sheriff's Office K-9's were utilized in tracking the men over three hours but they were able to elude deputies. 

 

The investigation revealed that the suspects entered the store around 9:50 AM.  The suspects acted like they were going to make a purchase and while at the cash register demanded money armed with a gun.  The clerk and the male customer was pistol whipped and the male was tied up.  The suspects robbed the clerk and the customer of an undisclosed amount of money and fled in the above vehicle. 

 

This is the second time this store has been robbed at gun point.  On October 10, 2010 the store was robbed at gun point and the same modus operandi during that robbery. 

 

Later in the day a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Florida tag 713-WTZ was stolen from Discount Liquor in Chiefland.  The victim left the vehicle running and went into the liquor store only to find their vehicle stolen.  It is believed that that two armed suspects stole the vehicle and may be traveling to the south Florida area.  The two robbery suspects are depicted in the press release. 

 

 

Defendant:

 

Norbin Dejuses Medina

Almar Road Apt#B 8717

West Palm Beach, Fl

Honduras Male, 02/05/75

Charges:  Two Counts Armed Robbery

 

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--
Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell:    352-577-4218

Two Arrested On Drug Offenses

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                December 3, 2010

Time:                12:15 PM

 

On December 2, 2010 Agent Jay Bolton arrested Melvin Alday and Walter Burns in the Chiefland area.  In August 2010 Agent Jay Bolton utilized a confidential source and purchased 19.1 grams of vicodin.  The listed threshold for trafficking in vicodin is 4 grams.  Alday, 76 years of age was arrested and transported to the Levy County Jail and has a $ 50,000 bond.

 

In an unrelated drug deal Walter Burns was arrested for possession of cocaine and sale of cocaine.  Burns sold .6 grams of cocaine to a confidential source for $ 70.00.  Burns is a convicted felon for drug related offenses.  Burns was lodged into the Levy County Jail and has a $ 30,000 bond.

 

 

Defendant:

 

Melvin Alday

7951 NW 147 Place

Chiefland, Fl.

W/M, 01/01/34

 

Walter Alexander Burns

2830 NW 31 Ave

Gainesville, Fl

B/M, 03/22/71

 

 

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--
Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell:    352-577-4218

Williston Man Arrested

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                November 30, 2010

Time:                4:15 PM

 

On November 29, 2010 Investigator Mike Wilkinson responded with Marion authorities to arrest William Edward Carter for a Marion County warrant.  Carter had an outstanding arrest warrant for grand theft for stealing property from the Lowell Prison construction site.  Upon arriving at Carter's residence Investigator's noticed in plain view two rifles by the front door and Carter was immediately located and arrested.  Carter is known to law enforcement and he is convicted felon for drug possession. 

 

Investigator Wilkinson obtained a search warrant to search the residence and recovered two rifles, one shotgun, ammunition, 7 grams crystal methamphetamine and over $ 5,000 worth of stolen property from the Marion County case.  Carter was transported to the Levy County Jail and charged with possession of a firearm by convicted felon, possession methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and the grand theft warrant.

 

Defendant:

 

William Edward Carter

15751 NE 60 Street

Williston, Fl.

 

 

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--
Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell:    352-577-4218

Archer Man Threatens Deputy With A Gun

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Date:                November 29, 2010

Time:                10:30 AM

 

On November 27, 2010 Corporal Todd Houchin responded to the Discount Food Mart located at 9931 NE SR-24 to meet with a complainant from a previous call.  While in the parking lot Cpl Houchin was approached by a white male that was later identified as Jimmie Saunders from Archer.  Saunders wanted to know why Cpl Houchin was at the store and who called law enforcement on him.  Cpl Houchin explained that he was at the store in reference to another call but he would gladly help him if he needed assistance.  Saunders behavior got more bizarre and he started speaking in Spanish and French.  Due to his behavior Cpl Houchin asked him for identification and Saunders produced a Florida driver's license.  Saunders had no warrants for his arrest and Cpl Houchin gave him his driver license back and told him he was free to leave.  Cpl Houchin worked the original call but noticed that Saunders remained in the parking lot. 

 

Upon completing the assigned call Cpl Houchin was walking back to his patrol car when Saunders stepped in his path and produced a Florida concealed firearm permit.  Cpl Houchin advised Saunders that he did not need to see his permit and went to walk away when Saunders said that Houchin was yanking his chain so he was going to yank his chain.  Saunders then reached in his rear pants pocket and started pulling something out.  Cpl Houchin immediately recognized that Saunders had a pistol and grabbed his arm and placed Saunders in custody.  Cpl Houchin arrested Saunders for aggravated assault & improper exhibition of a firearm.  Saunders had a fully loaded .380 pistol in his back pocket which was placed into evidence.

 

Defendant:

 

Jimmie Clint Saunders

10851 NE 128 Lane

Archer, Florida

White Male

12/24/41

 

 

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--
Major Evan Sullivan
Levy County Sheriff's Office
FBI-National Academy 183rd Session
Office: 352-486-5446
Cell:    352-577-4218