IRCSO: A dozen arrests, seizure of drugs and guns with Operation Dark Source

Last week, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit concluded a three month investigation with the execution of three search warrants and twelve arrests. Detectives learned that Travis Remling (33) and Christopher Stokes (31) were purchasing fentanyl, black tar heroin, and methamphetamine from the “dark web.”

Deemed Operation Dark Source, detectives purchased narcotics from a ring of individuals associated with Remling and Stokes. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), K-9, Detectives, and Agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) served search warrants at 2305 84th Court, 8445 104th Court, and 305 17th Avenue.

The searches resulted in the seizure of a Taurus .32 caliber handgun, a Bersa Thunder .380 caliber handgun, a Ruger .22 Semi-automatic rifle, 40.5 grams of fentanyl/heroin, two pounds of pharmaceutical cut used to make counterfeit prescription pills, 11.1 grams of crystal meth, 27.5 grams of cocaine, 13.3 grams of ecstasy (MDMA), 12.7 grams of Suboxin, 20.1 grams of marijuana, $2,910.00 in drug money, and various scales, pipes, and drug paraphernalia. The following individuals were arrested as part of this operation:

• Travis Remling, DOB 7/18/1985, (sale of fentanyl and conspiracy to sell fentanyl, trafficking fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia)
• Christopher Stokes, DOB 7/20/1987 (sale of fentanyl within 1000 feet of a convenience business, possession of fentanyl, conspiracy to sell fentanyl, sale of cocaine within 1000 feet of a convenience business, possession of cocaine, trafficking fentanyl, sale and possession of MDMA).
• Heather Nowak, DOB 02/17/1984, (sale of fentanyl and conspiracy to sell fentanyl)
• Ricky Thompson, DOB 08/31/1970, (sale of fentanyl, poss. of fentanyl, and conspiracy to sell fentanyl)
• Wayde Crawford, DOB 1/22/1992, (sale of fentanyl, poss. of fentanyl and conspiracy to sell fentanyl)

• Cody McGraw, DOB 02/07/1993, (sale of fentanyl and possession of fentanyl)
• Gerald Newman, DOB 03/24/1964, (sale of fentanyl and possession of fentanyl)
• Robert Parker, DOB 5/10/1990, (sale of meth, poss. of meth, poss. of a firearm by a convicted felon)
• Shannon Whitfield, DOB 11/5/1973 (poss. Controlled substance and drug paraphernalia)
• Carrissa Campbell, DOB 4/29/1977 (poss. Heroin, poss. Cocaine, poss. Of meth and drug parahernalia)
• Curtis Chupik, DOB 01/08/1967 (operating a drug house, poss. Marijuana -20 grams)
• Scott Frantz, DOB 01/27/1963 (poss. Of heroin, cocaine and meth)

Four of the above listed individuals were arrested on probable cause charges stemming from the search warrants. Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar stated, “The DEA Clandestine Lab team assisted our agency during this search, as the fentanyl in this case is so dangerous it must be handled with care. We are grateful to our team of detectives for getting these illegal and dangerous substances off the streets. The opioid epidemic is very real and is here in our county. We will continue to battle against those who would peddle these illegal substances in our community.”