Several drug charges were leveled by Sampson County Sheriff’s authorities in three separate cases Tuesday, including a traffic stop on Interstate 40 that yielded nearly 40 pounds of hybrid marijuana.
Deputies with the Sampson County Criminal Interdiction Team conducted a traffic stop on I-40 near mile marker 352 for a registration violation Tuesday. During the stop, a K-9 provided a positive alert on a 2015 Nissan Sentra being driven by Rowell Ordanes, 27, of 8412 Saltwood Road, Raleigh.
A probable cause search was conducted, netting 36 pounds of hybrid marijuana. Marijuana strains are either pure breeds or hybrid varieties of cannabis, typically of the indica or sativa strains. Authorities said this seizure had a street value of $150,000, roughly $4,200 a pound or $260 an ounce.
Ordanes was taken into custody and charged with trafficking marijuana by possession, trafficking marijuana by transport, maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance.
He was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under $105,000 secured bond. He was scheduled to appear in court this Friday, Nov. 4.
Other drug arrests
Also on Tuesday, agents with the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Division investigated a complaint into the sale of prescription drugs. Through their investigation enough probable cause was established to obtain warrants on two Sampson residents, who were arrested on Royal Lane.
Henry Lewis Hobbs, 23, of 531 Edgar St., Clinton, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, selling and delivering marijuana, two counts of conspiring to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of conspiring to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance and selling a Schedule II controlled substance.
Additionally, Hobbs was charged with selling and delivering a Schedule II controlled substance, as well as trafficking opiates by selling, delivering, possession and transport.
According to reports, there was 15 dosage units of hydrocodone, seven units of oxycodone and a gram of marijuana seized.
Cadedra Joyce Hickmond, 22, of 519 Gibbs Road, Garland, was also charged with conspiring to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, conspiring to deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, selling a Schedule II controlled substance, delivering a Schedule II controlled substance and possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.
Her arrest report indicates she was charged in connection with the oxycodone seized.
Hobbs was placed under $150,000 secured bond. Hickmond received $35,000 secured bond.
In a third drug case, an Autryville man received additional charges in connection with a traffic stop earlier this year.
William Colton Beard, 27, of 11 Calico Road, Autryville, was charged with two counts each of trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in opium or heroin and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance.
The new charges against Beard stem from a traffic stop by Criminal Interdictions Officers in March.
“The drugs were sent off to the lab and they came back positive for 50 grams of meth,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Marcus Smith. “As a result these new charges were issued.”
Beard was taken into custody at a residence on Jernigan Trail, Dunn, and placed in the Detention Center under $125,000 bond.