Drugs, stolen firearms, five suspects picked up in second drug raid on home.
Five suspects were arrested after the second investigation into alleged drug activity on Northwood Drive.
The sheriff’s office reported that the investigation into 234 Northwood Drive began June 10 after an undercover buy there. Vice Narcotics investigators seized methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, needles, scales and hypodermic needles.
One of the three suspects arrested in the June raid, Tiffany Michelle Long, was arrested when deputies returned for another raid Aug. 28.
Vice Narcotics officers and the SWAT team hit the Northwood Drive home while five people, including Long, were in the home. The most recent raid turned up 4.4 grams of heroin, 200 grams of marijuana, 25.7 grams of crack cocaine, Suboxone tablets, Tramadol tablets, a glass pipe, digital scales, packaging materials, and an amount of cash. Investigators also confiscated three handguns, one of which was reported stolen in Bladen county.
Arrested in the most recent raid were
• Tiffany Michelle Long, 45, of 234 Northwood dr., Whiteville. Long was charged with maintaining a dwelling for drug activities, and felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver narcotics. Her bond was set at $5,000 secured.
• Thelbert Junior Grainger, 47, also of the same address, was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver narcotics, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,000. He also listed a Clarendon address on jail records.
• Marquez Montel Cherry, 24, of 704 Nolan Ave., Whiteville, was charged with sale and delivery of narcotics, trafficking in opiates, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver narcotics and marijuana, and paraphernalia. His bond was set at $55,000.
• Maurice Eugene Nesmith Jr., 25, of 704 Nolan Ave., Whiteville, was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver narcotics, heroin, and marijuana, trafficking in heroin, possession of a stolen firearm, and misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia. His bond was set at $350,000.
• Samuel Elijah Jenrette, 26, of 530 Clifford Ave., Fayetteville, was charged with maintaining a vehicle for drug activities, possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver narcotics, heroin and marijuana, and possession of drugs in a jail. His bond was set at $410,000.
Cherry was out on bond at the time of his arrest. He was captured by U.S. Marshals in Lumberton after fleeing the area during Operation Carnivore, a major narcotics sweep in September of 2019.
Cherry lived at 667 Twin Pines Road at the time of the killings, with Latrese Vereen. Cherry and Vereen were eventually both charged with possession of a stolen .380 handgun, and maintaining the Twin Pines home for drug activities. Cherry was released on $80,000 secured bond.
Cherry was initially arrested after authorities discovered a drug house he allegedly helped operate during a hunt for two murderers. The slain Noyola family’s Ford Fusion automobile was found at the alleged drug house shortly after the killing, investigators said.
Cherry not charged in the murder case.
On Sept. 7, 2019, authorities discovered the execution style slayings of Leonel Ciprian Noyola, five year old Alexis Ciprian Trujillo, and Nancy Trujillo Espinoza. Leonel’s mother, Rafaela Noyola Jaramillo, was shot and left for dead in the early morning home invasion on Brittany Lane. The motive for the alleged crime was robbery. Prentis Deshawne McDuffie, 30, and Darieus Rashad Washington, 18, were arrested and charged with the first degree murder in February in that case.
The investigation is continuing.
