Press Release
Operation Valley View
                                           
DeFuniak Springs, FL (January 7, 2010) –

A nine-month undercover operation culminated in a series of pre-dawn raids across the Florida Panhandle and Southeast Alabama.  Walton County Sheriff’s Office Case Agent Billy Dozier says “Operation Valley View targeted those who manufacture and distribute crystal-methamphetamine.”  The predominant charges are conspiracy to manufacture crystal-methamphetamine, and conspiracy to possess the listed chemicals to make the drug.

Agent Dozier with the Sheriff’s Office Vice and Drug Unit says the main portion of the investigation took place in the Valley View Community of eastern Walton County. That’s where suspects Donna Querry and Debra Sheppard were taken into custody.  A third suspect, Rebecca Jo Kendrick, was arrested at her home on Colquitt Street.

In neighboring Holmes County, the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office along with Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agents picked-up Darryl Lamar Yates on Walton County charges.  Once inside the Ponce de Leon residence, they located a meth lab and firearms.  Ashley Wilson was also arrested at the home and faces drug charges.  Yates will be transferred to the Walton County Jail facility. 

In Samson, Alabama, the U.S. Marshal’s Office arrested Kayla Kendrick.  She has now been transferred from the Geneva County Jail back to DeFuniak Springs.

Two other suspects, Kenneth Davidson and Deana Leavins, were already “behind bars” on trafficking and manufacture of methamphetamine charges at the Covington County Jail in Andalusia.  They now face similar charges from Florida.  They each are being held on bonds of 900-thousand dollars.

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Meth Bust Spans 2 States
01/07/10 - 06:51 PM
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A meth investigation lands 13 suspects behind bars and leaves authorities searching for more.  It’s one of the largest and longest drug busts led by Walton County, called Operation Valley View. 

“This is what makes me proud to wear the star on my chest this is the reason I come to work every day,” said Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson, “is to have an opportunity to come out here and represent the folks who lay it on the line for the citizens of this county.”

Adkinson’s men and women have been investigating a large meth operation since April and began a sweep of arrests at 5a.m Thursday.  Coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, eight were arrested Thursday, and 5 suspects believed to be involved are already in jail.  Two more remain wanted, including the suspected leader of the operation 55-year-old Billy Ray Blane and 29-year-old Chrissy Nicole Clark.

“We’re doing everything we can to put a boot in it and that’s what they’re going to get, they’re going to get our boot,” said Adkinson.

Their efforts couldn’t have succeeded without surrounding agencies from Holmes County, and Alabama’s Geneva and Covington counties.  The FDLE also assisted.

“When you start working something as large scale as this is, you’ve got to have coordination,” said lead investigator William Chapman.  Authorities say their work isn’t over yet.

“This is just day one,” said Adkinson, “We’re going to do what we can to put these guys out of business.”

Walton is one of Florida’s top 5 counties for meth, with 22 meth lab busts in 2009.

“We understand and recognize that this is a serious problem,” said Adkinson, “We are fully committed to try and bringing all assets of this agency to try and bring this problem to bear.”

Adkinson hopes with the help of neighboring law enforcement, it’s a problem they can solve.