Flagler County Sheriff Arrests 12 Drug Dealers in Operation Silent Night

By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has concluded Operation Silent Night, a 10-month undercover operation targeting drug dealers throughout Flagler County. The operation ended with a warrant sweep on the morning of December 19, during which 12 arrests were made.

From January 3 to November 7, the FCSO Special Investigations Unit conducted over 20 undercover operations, which resulted in the controlled purchase of 16.1 kilograms of illegal narcotics. This includes 164 grams of cocaine; 261 grams of methamphetamine; 109 grams of fentanyl, which is enough to kill 54,500 people; and 14 kilograms of marijuana.

The operations also resulted in the seizures of seven firearms and $16,705 in cash profits from drug dealers.

Arrest warrants were obtained, and the SIU, SWAT team, Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit, and K-9 Unit conducted a warrant sweep of the operation’s targets starting on the morning of December 19.

Those arrested during Operation Silent Night include:

Luis Gil, 56, Palm Coast: Trafficking in Cocaine, Sale of Cocaine
Robert Cone, 50, Bunnell: Sale of Methamphetamine
John Harris, 35, Palm Coast: Sale of Cocaine, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Devarus Bethea, 37, Palm Coast: Trafficking in Fentanyl, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
James Forbes, 55, Bunnell: Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Michael Allison, 37, Palm Coast: Sale of a Fentanyl, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Winston Rawlings, 34, Palm Coast: Sale of Fentanyl, Sale of Cocaine, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device
Jerry Spates, 69, Bunnell: Two counts of Sale of Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Specified Area
Samuel Johnson Jr., 63, Bunnell: Sale of Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Park
Lizzette Johnson, 50, Palm Coast: Sale of Cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Park
Spencer Sarmento, 32, Bunnell: Sale of Heroin
Jarvis Warren, 47, Palm Coast: Sale of Cocaine

“I commend our SIU team for working hard over the last 10 months getting this poison off our streets,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Thanks to their efforts and help from our SWAT team, K-9 teams, PACE, CPD, and Communications team, these poison peddlers were swept up this morning and will be spending the holiday season in the Green Roof Inn.”