CCSO's 'Operation Deck the Cells' results in 24 drug arrests
Citrus County, Florida - During the previous month, members of the Citrus County Sheriff Office's (CCSO's) Tactical Impact Unit conducted a covert operation to target drug dealers within Citrus County, during which 26 warrants were issued for 25 people as a result of undercover purchases of narcotics. Prior to these recent arrests, these individuals had already amassed a combined total of 117 felony convictions.
These arrest warrants were served over the span of two days by the CCSO, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Homeland Security), and the U.S. Marshals Service Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Operation Deck the Cells concluded on Friday, December 3, 2021, with the arrests of 24 people within Citrus County for an array of narcotics charges, which included drug trafficking. As a result of these arrests, drugs with an approximate street value of $18,195 were seized that included more that 319.7 grams of methamphetamine, 44.4 grams of fentanyl, and 45 grams of cocaine.
The following 24 arrests were made during Operation Deck the Cells. The arrests are numbered to correspond with the mugshots of those arrested (see photos above):
(1) Anthony Murphy, 28, was charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell. Murphy has an extensive criminal record that includes two previous felony convictions and charges of robbery with a firearm, burglary with battery, grand theft, battery, and loitering.
(2) Corey Ross, 31, was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and sale of heroin. Ross has been arrested on charges that include narcotics, theft, failure to appear in court, and violation of probation.
(3) Clifford Marcy, 40, was charged with 2 counts of trafficking in methamphetamine. Marcy has an extensive criminal record that includes 14 felony convictions and arrests on charges that include battery, burglary, dealing in stolen property, narcotics, theft, trespassing, fraud, failure to appear in court and violation of probation.
(4) Richard Harkleroad, 50, was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine. Harkleroad has an extensive criminal record that includes 3 felony convictions and arrests that include charges of felonious assault, aggravated robbery, narcotics, and violation of probation. He also has two active warrants for violation of probation, one from Tennessee and the other from Ohio.
(5) Salima Sibblies, 40, was charged with trafficking in fentanyl and sale of methamphetamine. Sibblies has 3 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of theft, narcotics, and dealing in stolen property.
(6) Joshua Moretz, 31, was charged with trafficking in fentanyl and trafficking in methamphetamine. Moretz has 3 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of trafficking amphetamine, trafficking heroin, fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence, operating a vehicle with no valid driver's license, battery, narcotics, and failure to appear in court.
(7) Tyler Pennington, 28, was charged with 2 counts of sale of fentanyl and sale of methamphetamine. Pennington has been arrested, numerous times, on various narcotics charges.
(8) Patricia Clair, 51, was charged with sale of methamphetamine. Clair has 2 previous felony convictions and arrests that include exploitation of the elderly, resisting arrest, narcotics, theft, driving under the influence, battery, and dealing in stolen property.
(9) William Wood, 40, was charged with sale of fentanyl. Wood has 10 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of trafficking amphetamine, sex offenses, soliciting prostitution, theft, narcotics, resisting arrest with violence, driving with a suspended license, and failure to appear in court.
(10) Craig Richmond, 47, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while license knowingly suspended or revoked. Richmond has 4 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of narcotics, drug trafficking, aggravated battery, grand theft and failure to appear in court.
(11) Nichole Mandat, 33, was charged with sale of fentanyl. Mandat has 6 previous felony convictions and arrests ithat include charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, narcotics, theft, dealing in stolen property, fraud, violation of probation, and driving with a suspended license.
(12) Brandon Harder, 36, was charged with sale of heroin. Harder has 12 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of burglary, theft, dealing in stolen property, narcotics, forgery, and failure to appear in court.
(13) Destiny Beasley, 25, was charged with sale of fentanyl. Beasley has 8 previous felony convictions and arrests on charges of felony battery, battery of emergency medical services personnel, resisting arrest, narcotics, driving under the influence, violation of probation, driving with a suspended license, and contempt of court.
(14) Ryan Dipetrillo, 30, was charged with sale of fentanyl. Dipetrillo has 7 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of habitually driving with a suspended license, narcotics, violation of probation, and failure to appear in court.
(15) Kyle Ross, 29, was charged with sale of methamphetamine. Ross has 8 previous felony convictions and arrests that include trafficking in amphetamine, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, narcotics, theft, driving with a suspended license, and failure to appear in court.
(16) Sierra Wilkerson, 26, was charged with sale of fentanyl. Wilkerson has 4 previous felony convictions and arrests that include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, obstruction, theft, narcotics, and failure to appear in court.
(17) Christopher Adams, 37, was charged with sale of fentanyl. Adams has previous arrests that include charges of burglary, grand theft, battery, and disorderly conduct.
(18) Robert Schaefer, 50, was charged with sale of fentanyl and sale of methamphetamine. Schaefer has 8 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of theft, fraud, driving under the influence, narcotics, assault, violation of probation, and failure to appear in court.
(19) Brittany Ansin, 32, was charged with trafficking and sale of fentanyl. Ansin has 4 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of aggravated battery, battery, theft, and violation of probation.
(20) Elliot Ansin, 35, was charged with trafficking and sale of fentanyl. Ansin has 1 previous felony conviction and arrests that include charges of grand theft, narcotics, and violation of probation.
(21) Cynthia Smith, 57, was charged with sale of methamphetamine. Smith has 5 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed firearm, theft, fraud, and failure to appear in court.
(22) Taiwan Bacome, 45, was charged with sale of methamphetamine. Bacome has 1 previous felony conviction and arrests that include charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, narcotics, and battery.
(23) Randall Renes, 32, was charged with sale of methamphetamine. Renes has 2 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, arson, burglary, and fraud.
(24) Joseph Singh, II, 41, was charged with sale of fentanyl, resisting an officer, possession of cannabis and THC wax, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Singh has 10 previous felony convictions and arrests that include charges of sale of cocaine, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery, forgery, and failure to appear in court.
"We are humbled to have served beside our law enforcement partners as we work to combat the sales of illegal narcotics in our community," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "These deadly substances contribute to a person's crippling addiction, and eventually their death. Through the apprehension of traffickers of these deadly, illegal narcotics - such as fentanyl and heroin - we hope to have stunted the overdose rate in Citrus County. The fight against illegal narcotics, addiction, and overdoses doesn't stop here; we must come together as a community to safeguard those who are caught in the vicious cycle of addiction, and to report those who contribute to it. Thank you to those who have already stepped forward, and to those who will find the courage to do so now."
If you know of anyone who may be dealing in illegal narcotics or know of someone struggling with addiction, call the CCSO's non-emergency line at 352-249-2790 to make a report, or to speak with a member of the agency's Behavioral Health Unit for assistance.