RALEIGH– Law enforcement officials executed four search warrants and arrested six people in Montgomery County July 21 at locations known to be distributing alcoholic beverages without proper permits.
Working undercover, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents purchased alcoholic beverages at establishments that do not hold Alcoholic Beverage Control permits. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Troy Police Department and ALE worked jointly on the operation and seized illegal alcoholic beverages, drugs and firearms.
A consensual search was conducted at 196 McRae Road, Mount Gilead, and agents found cocaine, marijuana and guns. No criminal charges had been filed at this time and the case is still under investigation.
Other locations searched were Lot 100 Faduma Street, Troy, and 113 Rudio Drive, Biscoe; Ernest Paul Bennett Jr, 401 South Russell Street, Troy; Perry Gainey III, 329 Rush Avenue, Troy.
The investigation was conducted as part of ALE’s Community Betterment Initiative which identifies communities in North Carolina where the quality of life for the citizens is disrupted by illegal establishments that cause drugs, gangs and violence in their neighborhoods.
“We continue to stay committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address the needs of neighborhoods and communities with proactive, efficient enforcement strategies that rid the communities of crimes and violence,” said ALE Special Agent in Charge Mike Yates. “We hope the cooperative law enforcement efforts seen today ensure these communities are afforded an improved quality of life. These searches were a direct result of complaints from the citizens of Montgomery County.”
“The value of our existing partnerships with other law enforcement agencies is very important to our county and it is through these partnerships that allow us to continue to address these types of illegal establishments and improve our overall quality,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Chris Watkins.
Special Operations and Intelligence Unit with the Department of Public Safety and Biscoe Police Department assisted with the raids.
The following people were charged with the criminal violations listed:
Lee Roy Smith, 75, 113 Rubio Drive, Biscoe
Possess and sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit (four counts).
Ernest Paul Bennett, 44, 401 Russell Street, Troy
Possess and sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit (four counts).
Possession of firearm by felon.
Adam Lewis, 32, 436 Russell Street, Troy
Possession of marijuana.
Jonathan Ray Horne, 36, 579 North Carolina Highway 109 South, Mount Gilead
Possess and sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit (two counts).
Perry Gainey III, 51, 329 Rush Avenue, Mount Gilead
Possess and sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit (four counts).
Perry Gainey Jr., 76, 329 Rush Avenue, Mount Gilead
Possess and sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit (four counts).
Special agents with ALE, a branch of the State Bureau of Investigation, have the authority to arrest and take investigatory action for any criminal offense. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of ABC and state lottery laws.