A joint three-month undercover investigation by local and federal authorities led to three drug arrests during a coordinated operation in Johnston County. On June 10, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office SAFE Team and Narcotics Division conducted two simultaneous traffic stops on NC Highway 50 in the McGee’s Crossroads area.
Agents pulled over a black Audi sedan and a blue SUV traveling together. The Audi’s driver attempted to flee but got stuck, and one of the occupants was seen throwing bags from the vehicle containing around 9 ounces of cocaine.
The Audi’s occupants, identified as Chazmonte Louis Brown, 37, and Qwentin Marcel Smalls, 35, both of Raleigh, were detained on the scene. During a search of the blue SUV, agents reportedly found 1.2 pounds of marijuana and detained the driver, 50-year-old Tinita Ernestine Vick of Zebulon.
Brown and Smalls face four counts of cocaine trafficking and one count of conspiracy to deliver cocaine. Brown was already out on bond awaiting trial on similar charges in Wake County. Smalls, a convicted felon with a past armed robbery conviction in South Carolina, remains in custody.
Vick was charged with four counts of trafficking cocaine, conspiracy to sell cocaine, and possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana.
All three suspects are being held at the Johnston County Detention Center under $1 million bonds.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Johnston County and Harnett County Sheriff’s Offices, Dunn Police Department, and federal ATF agents.
