HAMLET — Police charged 18 people — including a mother and son —in a month-long undercover investigation into narctotics distribution.

The operation, dubbed “March Madness,” was spearheaded by Detective Sgt. Chris Lampley to crack down on the city’s gang and drug problem, and resulted in police serving five search warrants — two of which were at a duplex — with help from the Rockingham Police Department’s vice/narcotics unit and SWAT Team.

The largest score came on March 31 when police say they seized more than 19 pounds of marijuana from a home on Freeman Mill Road.

Chadwick Alan O’Neal, 29, and his mother, 53-year-old Gloria Gene O’Neal were each charged with one felony count each of: selling or delivering a Schedule VI controlled substance; maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; trafficking in marijuana; and conspiracy to sell or deliver marijuana.

Chadwick O’Neal’s wife, Joni O’Neal, is also facing a felony conspiracy charge.

Gloria O’Neal was booked into the Richmond County Jail under a $55,000 secured bond; Chadwick O’Neal was given a $57,500 secured bond. All three are scheduled to appear in court April 20.

On March 24, police served a warrant at 125 Spring Street, charging 22-year-old Damond Aukeze Short, of Washington Avenue in Hamlet, with possession with intent to sell or deliver six grams of marijuana, according to an arrest report. 23-year-old Tyshawn Karon Riley, who lives at the address, was charged with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance.

They were each given a $10,000 secured bond.

The same day, at 127 Spring Street, police arrested and charged: 39-year-old Jerry Lee Shepard with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; 38-year-old Emma Dixon Warren with selling or delivering a Schedule II controlled substance and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; and 62-year-old William Eugene Dixon with possession of a weapon of mass destruction for allegedly having a shotgun.

Shepard and Warren were each given a $10,000 secured bond; Dixon was given a $5,000 unsecured bond.

On March 21, police served a warrant on Thomas Street, charging 25-year-old Alexander Vamper with possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine.

Vamper was given a $5,000 secured bond

Jessica Lynn Dillon, 24 of Champlain Street in Hamlet, was arrested March 15 and charged with two possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance and maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place with a controlled substance.

Dillon was given a $5,000 unsecured bond and has a court appearance scheduled for May 11.

Shepard, Dixon, Warren, Short, Riley and Vamper are all scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

All other charges were the results of citations.

“There will be more undercover investigations going on,” said Detective Lt. Randy Dover. “So drug dealers need to be aware in Hamlet.”

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Chadwick O’Neal was previously convicted on misdemeanor assault, drug and property damage charges in Cumberland County, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.

Shepard’s criminal history includes convictions of assault on a female, communicating threats and multiple counts of writing worthless checks.

Short was convicted of first-degree burglary in 2013, spending three years behind bars. Records show he is still on parole until Oct. 23.

None of the other defendants have any past criminal convictions in North Carolina.

Reach William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_Toler.

Courtesy photo Detective Sgt. Richard Jordan,left, Detective Lt. Randy Dover and Detective Sgt. Chris Lampley of the Hamlet Police Department stand behind a table of pot and cash following an month-long narcotics investigation.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_hamletpot.jpegCourtesy photo Detective Sgt. Richard Jordan,left, Detective Lt. Randy Dover and Detective Sgt. Chris Lampley of the Hamlet Police Department stand behind a table of pot and cash following an month-long narcotics investigation.

By William R. Toler

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