OPERATION EXPRESS JACKPOT: THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH, GAMBLING MACHINES, AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA RECOVERED BY SJSO DETECTIVES AT HASTINGS BUSINESS; NUMEROUS ARRESTS MADE IN CONNECTION TO THE INVESTIGATION.
- June 10, 2024
On May 31, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit Detectives and K9 Unit Deputies executed a narcotics and gambling related search warrant at the 207 Express Mart on West Church Street in Hastings.
For more than six months, SJSO received numerous tips from the community about illegal activity occurring at the gas station and convenience store. Detectives initiated an investigation and discovered evidence of narcotics and illegal gambling related activity on the property and inside the business.
Undercover detectives purchased drug paraphernalia, participated in electronic gambling activity inside the business numerous times, and participated in several narcotics transactions in the parking lot. Using this information, deputies executed a search warrant for the business. This is Operation Express Jackpot.
Inside the business, detectives located four gambling machines, a large amount of drug paraphernalia, gambling payout equipment, and about $400,000 in cash.
SJSO obtained multiple arrest warrants for suspects who sold and possessed narcotics. So far, with the help of the SJSO Special Investigations Unit, K9 Unit, Task Force, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, numerous arrests have been made.
- 40-year-old Hui Fang Iris Liu is charged with the Use, possession, manufacture, delivery, transportation, advertisement, or retail sale of drug paraphernalia
- 64-year-old Reginald Smith is charged with the Distribution of Cocaine within 1000 feet of specified area
- 49-year-old James Patterson is charged with the Possession of Cocaine, Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- 66-year-old Yvonne Hall is charged with the Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription
- 59-year-old Silas Green is charged with the Distribution of Cocaine within 1000 feet of specified area
- 66-year-old Phillip Myers is charged with the Possession of Cocaine, Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- 60-year-old Sherry Williams is charged with the Distribution of Cocaine within 1000 feet of specified area and Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
- 36-year-old William Peeples is charged with the Distribution of Cocaine within 1000 feet of specified area and Unlawful use of a two-way communications device
The Multi-agency Drug Abatement Response Team, which includes members of code enforcement, fire marshals and the health department, also visited the business and identified numerous electrical, food storage, and cleanliness issues that could affect the health and welfare of customers and received numerous citations.
“This investigation highlights the strong relationship the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office shares with our community. Our citizens reached out to us with concerns and our detectives responded immediately with a professional and well executed plan. This investigation is just one example of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office commitment to provide first-class customer service to our entire community. Please remember, if you see something, say something,” Sheriff Robert Hardwick said.
This is still an active investigation. If you have any information that can help detectives, please contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 824-8304; Crimetips@sjso.org. Or contact Crime Stoppers 1(888) 277-TIPS.
