'HALLOWEEN HAVOC' NETS 34 DRUG SUSPECTS 'This Was Mainly Small Street Distribution,' Franklin County Sheriff's Officer Says Police are still looking for two suspects, including one juvenile. ROCKY MOUNT - In an operation that sounded like a professional wrestling event, Franklin County authorities Thursday arrested 34 people suspected of dealing drugs in a sweep dubbed "Halloween Havoc." The investigation - based on undercover drug buys and informant tips - consisted of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Rocky Mount police, Virginia State Police and an officer from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. It lasted 13 months and culminated with the early morning raids by five teams. Suspects were indicted by a grand jury Monday. One of two juveniles who were indicted and another suspect are still at large, according to Sheriff's Lt. Ewell Hunt. Most of the 34 arrests were in Rocky Mount - 12 to 15 in the North Main Street area. "The deals took place at other locations," Hunt said of the undercover drug buys. "They just happened to reside in the North Main Street area." No drugs were seized Thursday, and officers met no resistance - most of the suspects were roused from sleep, Hunt said. Most were charged with distributing crack cocaine and marijuana, he said. "This was mainly small street distribution," Hunt continued. "It's not minor, and not major, but a moderate impact." Of those arrested, Hunt singled out Jacoby Labordo Estes, 28, of Sunset Drive and George Samuel Holloway, 22, of Doe Run Road. Estes was indicted on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Hunt said he had 2 ounces of powder cocaine on one occasion and 1 1/2 ounces of powder on a second occasion. Holloway was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after he was caught with more than 1 pound of marijuana, Hunt said. Hunt said the investigation revealed a surprising increase in marijuana sales in Franklin County. That increase seemed to contradict Franklin County's annual marijuana crop enforcement, which seized only 49 plants this year - down from thousands in the past. Hunt said increased interdiction efforts over the last 10 years have made it so "the old-time grow operations have become nonexistent." Now Franklin County officers are seeing an influx of marijuana from Mexico. Just two months ago a seizure netted 29 pounds, Hunt said. "They're bringing it by the bale," Hunt said. "It's cheaper to deal with a bale of imported marijuana than to grow it." One of the two juvenile indictments includes a charge of selling drugs on school property. Hunt would not say which school was involved. Another Rocky Mount resident, whom Hunt declined to identify because he is now a fugitive, is believed to be hiding in upstate New York. That man was caught with a small amount of marijuana and a gun during a search in December and has now been indicted on charges of crack cocaine distribution. Those arrested are not suspected of being part of an organized ring, although some did know one another. "I feel those arrested are a cross section of the populace that deals in drugs in and around Rocky Mount," Hunt said. Of the 34 arrested, eight had not yet bonded out of jail Thursday afternoon. An arraignment was scheduled this morning to set their bond, Hunt said. Hunt said he expected drug sales to dip for a short time and then rebound. "We've got some small-time dealers that will turn into big-time dealers because now there's no competition. They'll be filling the void, you might say. "It's the lure of easy money," Hunt said, quoting a rock 'n' roll song popular in the early '80s.
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