Halifax-South Boston task force makes 30 arrests

The Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotics and Gang Task Force arrested 30 people on 156 charges Thursday, according to a news release from Special Agent Mark Campbell of the Virginia State Police.

Campbell, who serves as the task force coordinator, said the mass arrest operation was the result of ongoing investigations and was a collaborative effort between the Virginia State Police, U.S. Marshals, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, South Boston Police Department, Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Farmville Police Department and Department of Corrections.

Most of the charges were drug-related, with 46 charges of distribution of cocaine, 16 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and 34 for a dozen other drug charges.

Additional charges included 22 for money laundering, 15 for gang participation, four for felony child neglect and a number of other charges. Two vehicles, marijuana and cocaine were seized during the arrests.

Twenty South Boston residents were among those arrested. They are James Albert Bailey, Eddie “Bear” Brown, Pamela Faulkner Brown, William Allen Chappell, Dushan “Du Rock” Trovoe Duncan, Eddie “Jewels” Dunkley, Lee Sherome Foster, Ann Debra Hill, Andrew “Drew” Depaul Howerton, Courtney Barnette Lipscomb, Zerita “Z” Helen Newman, Kevin Demario Powell, Lamar “Lil Loaf” Douglas Ragland, John “Binkie” Ronald Shotwell, Christopher Terry, Marshall Antwan Traynham, Reginald Lavar Traynham, Laron “Fresh” Justin Watkins, Joshua Kyle Webster and Tawanda Wood.

The 10 others arrested were Bernard Blanding of Halifax County; Mary Snow Cash of Alton; Samuel Ora Cosner of Virgilina; Larry “LA” Dean Easley of Sutherlin, William Tyrone Faulkner of Alton, Jonathan “Hooks” Kent Guy of Halifax County, Davis Ryan Humphries of Alton, Lisa McGregor Overby of Halifax County, Joyce Michelle Wilborn of Clover and Shannon Thomas Wilborn of Clover.

Campbell noted that additional charges are pending.