SHELBY CRIME RATE DROPS

Cocaine Busts Said Major Police Victory

SHELBY - When the last of 19 drug traffickers was sentenced Aug. 3, it
signaled a major victory for the police department that worked with
several state and federal agencies put them behind bars. This week,
Shelby police officials released more good news - crime overall is
down 19 percent, if you compare the first seven months of 2006 to the
same time period in 2005.

The removal of those 19 people made a huge impact in the drug trade in
Shelby and is one reason the overall crime rate is down so much,
according to Shelby Police Chief Tandy Carter.

Effect on Drug-Related Crime

"It's actually changed drug activity in the city," Carter said, adding
that 90 percent of all crime is drug-related.

For 2006, there are 203 fewer "part 1" crimes during the time period
compared. Those crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault, as
well as burglary, larceny, auto theft and arson.

Getting repeat offenders - who commit most of the crimes - off the
streets makes a big impact, Carter said.

That's one of the focuses of Project Safe Neighborhood, one of many
community initiatives. As part of the project, the police will call
known gang members and people on probation to remind them they are
being watched, Carter said.

Convictions Could Be Deterrent

Those 19 drug traffickers were all sentenced in federal court, which
is more likely to offer tougher sentences. Carter wants that to be the
deterrent that forces the crime rate down even further.

"If you want to sell drugs, we're going to give you the greatest
incentive to move somewhere else," Carter said.

Carter gave credit to the district and U.S. attorneys offices and
citizens for the decrease in crime.

The growth in community-based watches has contributed to the shrinking
crime rate, according to police Capt. Mark Brooks. Five years ago,
there were only two groups. This year, there are 25.

"People are tired of crime and they want to help," Brooks
said.

Coke Bust Sends 19 From Area to Prison

These 19 cocaine traffickers were arrested in October 2004 during an
investigation code-named "Operation P-G" for Putnam and Gardner
Street. All of them have since been convicted in federal court.

Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and officers with the
Shelby and Gastonia police departments conducted the
investigation.

Here's who was arrested and sentenced:

Thurnel Thomas Williams, 40, of 213 E. Ridge St., Kings Mountain: Sentenced
Feb. 27 to 20 years in federal prison followed by 10 years supervised
release

James William Boyd, 35, of 1012 Craig Ave., Gastonia: Sentenced Oct. 11,
2005 to 12 years and 2 months in federal prison followed by 10 years
supervised release

Monica Nicole Floyd, 35, of 5801 Mallard Dr., Unit 1, Charlotte: Sentenced
Jan. 27 to 10 years in federal prison followed by 10 years supervised
release

Frederick Lamar Huskey, 32, of 603 Hillcrest Drive, Shelby: Sentenced Feb.
27 to 20 years in federal prison followed by 10 years supervised release

Tracy Lynn Petty, 42, of 341 Preyer St., Shelby: Sentenced March 30 to 20
years in federal prison followed by 10 years supervised release

Jacques Maurice Degree, 32, of 815 Craig Place, Shelby: Sentenced Dec. 19,
2005 to 17.5 years in federal prison followed by 10 years supervised release

Kenneth Lamont Rudisill, 30, of 2309 Ellis Road, Shelby: Sentenced March 30
to 18 years, 4 months in federal prison followed by 10 years supervised
release

Mary Frances Finney, 52, of 529 S. Mulberry St., Cherryville: Sentenced Feb.
27 to three years and one month in federal prison followed by three years
supervised release

Barry Charles Butler, 45, of 106 Elizabeth Church Road, Shelby: Sentenced
Feb. 27 to life imprisonment

Jeffrey Ezekiel Becks, 30, of 111-2 Victoria Road, Cherryville: Sentenced
Aug. 3 to seven years and three months in federal prison followed by three
years supervised release

Clyde Hoey Jr., 40, of 403 Oakland Drive, Shelby: Sentenced Oct. 31, 2005,
to five years and 10 months in federal prison followed by three years
supervised release

Eddie Gene Gentry, 54, of 406 Garland Place, Shelby: Sentenced March 30 to
10 years in federal prison followed by eight years supervised release

John Michael McDowell, 31, of 2906 Old Cliffside Road No. 4, Shelby:
Sentenced Oct. 18, 2005 to 15 years and eight months in federal prison
followed by four years supervised release

Lenny Lee Craig, 47, of 823 Cleveland Ave., Kings Mountain: Sentenced Oct.
17, 2005, to eight months in federal prison followed by five years'
supervised release

Quavis Tylon Tate, 23, of 397 Seattle St., Apt. 6-B, Shelby: Sentenced Dec.
19, 2005 to five years in federal prison followed by 4 years supervised
release

Justin Obrian Davis, 21, of 341 Preyer St., Shelby: Sentenced March 30 to 10
years in federal prison followed by five years supervised release

Fabion Anton Crosby, 27, of 214 Best St., Shelby: Sentenced Feb. 28 to five
years in federal prison followed by five years supervised release

William Lamont Haynes, 32, of 136 Andrew Drive, Grover: Sentenced March 8 to
two years and three months in federal prison followed by three years
supervised release

Raymond Roger Surratt Jr., 31, of 113 N. Lafayette St., Shelby: Sentenced
Oct. 31, 2005 to life imprisonment