Camden bust rounds up drugs, guns and illegals
By Lake Sun Publications staff

April 14, 2008

CAMDEN COUNTY — An ongoing undercover narcotics investigation led to a warrant sweep led by the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group and the newly created Camden County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit last week. Officers confiscated dope, guns and rounded up a couple of illegal immigrants.

LANEG investigators, sheriff’s deputies and the special operations unit detectives hit Camden County on Wednesday, April 9, and served warrants for arrests stemming from an investigation into alleged drug distribution.

As a result of the investigation, Justino M. Hernandez, 35, and Rufino S. Gonzalez, 43, were arrested at their residence at 257 Bumper Hill Road, Camdenton. Gonzalez was arrested on warrants from Camden County for three counts of distribution of cocaine and was found to be in possession of forged citizenship documents. Hernandez was arrested for forged citizenship documents.

A loaded rifle was also located in the residence. Both men may face federal firearms charges.

Two agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement also assisted in the arrests. Hernandez is being held without bond and Gonzalez is being held in lieu of bonds totaling $150,000.

Officers also showed up at a home on Panoramic Drive with a warrant for Douglas A. Ritchey, 21, for distribution of methamphetamine. Ritchey posted a $50,000 bond and was released.

Allen K. Shelton, 53, of Wilson Trailer Court near Richland was arrested on three warrants, one for distribution of marijuana, distribution of an imitation controlled substance, and distribution of hydrocodone. Bond totaling $67,500 has been set.

A large amount of marijuana packaged for sale was located during a search of the residence. The owner of the residence, Alfred E. Miller, was later arrested for possession with intent to distribute marijuana after he gave deputies a false name at the time of Shelton’s arrest. Miller was found to have outstanding warrants from both Camden and Pulaski Counties.



The Camden County warrant has a bond of $4,000, and the Pulaski County warrant has a bond of $643.50 for failure to pay a fine. On the class B felony charge of possession of marijuana, bond has been set in the amount of $7,500 cash and $150,000 surety.

LANEG is a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement task force consisting of agencies from six counties and two cities.

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