Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Two Hamilton County residents were arrested in efforts coordinated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) on Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5. As a result of the arrests, a significant amount of drugs were seized.
The arrests began when the Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force (MDTF) with the CCSO began investigating 36-year-old Hamilton County resident Thomas Jerome Johnson, who had allegedly been supplying Columbia County with methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to a press release from CCSO, MDTF investigators identified that he had been selling fentanyl in the form of counterfeit pressed M30 pills.
MDTF investigators began coordinating with HCSO on surveillance efforts to track Johnson. On Tuesday, March 4, FHP conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Johnson was driving in northern Columbia County, where a significant amount of drugs were located inside the car. According to the press release, the following drugs were confiscated by task force investigators: 54.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 595 counts (71.5g) of pressed counterfeit fentanyl pills and 281.2 grams of synthetic marijuana, which is a dangerous hallucinogen.
Following the traffic stop, the MDTF worked with HCSO to secure a search warrant on Johnson’s home in White Springs, where more drugs were discovered as a result. During the execution of the search warrant, 24-year-old White Springs resident Keyvon Daryl Webb was also arrested and charged with multiple drug offenses.
Located inside Johnson’s home were 680.39 grams of crystal meth, 153.8 grams of synthetic marijuana, 6 grams of powder cocaine, 51 count (22 grams) of acetaminophen/hydrocodone bitartrate, 2 grams of acetaminophen/oxycodone hydrochloride and .5 grams of oxycodone hydrochloride.
Johnson was transported to the Columbia County Jail in Lake City on multiple drug offenses, as well as resisting an officer without violence and violating a conditional release order. He is being held on no bond.
Webb remains at the Hamilton County Jail, where he is being held on a $1.5 million bond.