On December 20, Florida officials announced the arrests of dozens of defendants as the result of two drug operations aimed at reducing drug activity in Fernandina Beach. The operations were coined “Operation City Sweep” and “Operation Ice Breaker” by authorities.
According to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the 30 individuals arrested during Operation City Sweep, which ran for four months, were drug dealers and repeat drug offenders. In total, the defendants have been charged with 97 felonies and 21 misdemeanor crimes involving cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, cash, handguns and vehicles. They range in age from 18 to 53, and most are residents of Fernandina Beach. One of the defendants, a 20-year-old man, is accused of being a member of the “Folk Nation” street gang and selling drugs in and around Central Park. A search of his Fernandina Beach home allegedly yielded a sawed-off shotgun, two handguns, brass knuckles and bong masks.
Operation Ice Breaker was developed using information gathered from Operation City Sweep and led to the arrest of four people, including one Georgia resident. The defendants, ages 31, 34, 40 and 50, are accused of trafficking methamphetamine from Georgia to Fernandina Beach for sale. During the course of the operation, authorities allegedly seized meth and firearms from the defendants. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers took part in the investigation.
Individuals facing drug charges may want the assistance of a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer could review the facts of the case and help craft a defense to the allegations, which could cause the charges to be dropped. If the case is solid, legal counsel could still help the defendant obtain a lighter sentence by negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.
Source: News Leader, “City Sweep and Ice Breaker Bust Drug Sales,” Gary Morgan, December 20, 2018