Joel Burgess|Asheville Citizen Times
ASHEVILLE - A March fentanyl bust in Buncombe and Mecklenburg counties used a high-level wiretap and netted enough of the potent drug to kill the entire state population, according to updated reportsabout the joint operation involving federal, state and local law enforcement.
New statementsabout the bustsurfaced after aJuly 22 Asheville Police Department search warrant involving two men— Gabe Ray Hogan Jr., 44, and Theodus Laray Hammond, 35,— who had been arrested in March but were out on bond, police said.
The nine-month investigation, announced in March by the State Bureau of Investigation, precededthe arrest of the men and seven other people. Investigatorsseizedcash, "numerous high-end vehicles and jewelry," SBI spokeswoman Angie Grube said.
At the time Grube said the investigation lasted seven months and found 19kilograms of the fentanyl, aswell as $800,000.
But according to the recent warrant and new information from Asheville Police Department spokeswoman Christina Hallingse, the investigation lasted another two months and seizures increased to $900,000 and 23 grams of fentanyl.
The opioid painkiller is many times more powerful than heroin and is typically prescribed to treat severe pain but nowfrequently appears as an illegal street drug mixed with other narcotics.In January, APD warned of fentanyl that was circulating that had led to five suspected overdose deaths in 48 hours.
"According to the DEA's Facts About Fentaynyl1 kilogram of Fentanylcan kill 500,000 people," Hallingse said in an Aug. 5 email. "During that investigation, 23 kilograms of fentanyl was seized. According to the DEA, this would kill 11.5 millionpeople. To put in reference, the state of North Carolina has a population of 10.5 million."
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration joined the SBI and APD in the operation, officials said.
More:Man arrested with 90.6 grams of fentanyl, more than $14,000 in cash
While the initial announcement did not describe any of operation's methods, the July 22 APD search warrant revealed that investigators obtained permission for electronic surveillance that requires high-level approval.
APD Detective Steven Hendricks sought the warrant after he said officers stopped Hogan and Hammond in a car on July 21 while surveilling what a complainant had called "a known drug house" onHoward Street in the East West Asheville neighborhood.
In March, the men had been charged with continuing criminal enterprise and multiple counts of Level IIIconspiracy to traffic opium/heroin, crimes that can carry minimum sentences of decades in prison. Hammond had posted bail for a $50,000 bond and Hogan a$150,000 bond and were released, Hallingse said.
The two men and their attorneys could not be reached for comment.
Hogan admitted to having marijuana, Hendricks said, and officers searched the vehicle but were unable to open the trunk. In the warrant, the detective requested that officers be able to use a portable video scope, or "snake camera, a thermal imaging periscope and other devices.
Hendricks wrote that the men had been arrested in a "Title III wire investigation" in the fentanyl operation.
With a few exceptions, wiretapping without a court order is a felony, according to Jeff Welty, UNC public law professor. The order maybe sought from afederal judge "only if a high-level official within the U.S. attorney general'soffice approves the application in connection with an investigation into certain enumerated crimes," Welty said in a UNC School of Government publication on law enforcement access to electronic communications.
Hendricks said "detectives were able to intercept numerous calls between Hammond" and another man who had been charged, Anthony Corderra Ellison. They described different vehicles that they owned with hidden compartments, he said.
Hogan, who owned the vehicle, had been placed "in charge of drug trafficking operations in Asheville," the detectivesaid.
The July 22 search revealed no illegal substances, Hallingse said. Hammond was charged with possession with intent to sell/distribute marijuana, she said.
Those charged and arrested as of March 10:
Theodus Hammond
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
- Conspiracy to Traffic Opium/Heroin (Level III) - 7 counts.
Oct. 13 court date.
Anthony Ellison
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
- Conspiracy to Traffic Opium/Heroin (Level III) – 5 counts.
Oct. 13 court date.
Demond Hammond
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
- Conspiracy to Traffic Opium/Heroin (Level III).
No court date listed.
Michael Shands
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
- Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine (Level I).
Aug. 6 court date.
Tyquan Ward
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
- Conspiracy to Traffic Opium/Heroin (Level III).
No court date listed.
Ray Ailes
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
Aug. 6 court date.
Tahja Finley
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
Aug. 6 court date.
Gabe Hogan
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
- Conspiracy to Traffic Opium/Heroin (Level III) – 2 counts.
Aug. 17 court date.
Devone Maceo James
- Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
- Conspiracy to Traffic Opium/Heroin (Level III).
Oct. 7 court date.
Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Please help support this type of journalism with asubscriptionto the Citizen Times.
