JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Thirteen arrests were announced Tuesday afternoon by Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters following the conclusion of a long-term undercover narcotics investigation given the name 'Operation Knight Fall.'
The sheriff said in a press conference the operation spanned 18 months, beginning in February 2023, and was started after a concerned citizen made several complaints to police.
The 13 people taken into custody were arrested on charges related to drug trafficking, resisting arrest, illegal firearm possession and more; their names are below.
- Shawn Walker
- Zevion Collins
- Rayshan McLaurn
- Jernardo Hall
- Michael Jones
- Javonte Wilson
- Hakeem Boyette
- Maudrik Alexander
- Cordell Burt
- Durelle Daniels
- Rhyeaul Cairwell
- Anthony Norman
- Randolph Ashley II
Between April and October, Waters said JSO's narcotics detectives, SWAT operators and patrol officers, as well as FBI agents, served several search warrants at homes in the area of Ken Knight Drive, which is located in Northwest Jacksonville.
Waters said the results of the seizure of drugs are "staggering."
The following was seized during the operation, according to Waters:
- 79 grams of fentanyl
- 489 grams of powder cocaine
- 68 grams of crack cocaine
- 300 grams of methamphetamine
- 1,849 grams of MDMA
- 352 grams of ecstasy
- 32 pounds of marijuana
- Five pounds of marijuana wax
- Seven pounds of psychedelic mushrooms
- 68 grams of oxycodone
- Approximately $15,000 in cash
- $35,000 worth of jewelry
- Two vehicles that were used in the distribution of narcotics
- 16 firearms
Waters said JSO's firearms experts found that one of the firearms seized (a handgun) was fitted with an illegal gun switch, "which rendered it a fully automatic machine gun." The sheriff said two other guns seized "were confirmed as crime guns from past incidents" — one being a 9mm handgun used in an August 2022 shooting, and the other being a .40cal Glock-model handgun used in an August 2019 shooting in which one person was non-fatally shot.