St. Johns County deputies arrested eight people after finding gambling machines, drug paraphernalia and $400,000 cash inside a Hastings convenience store.
The raid was the culmination of a six-month undercover investigation into tips of rampant criminality at 207 Express on West Church Street, the department announced.
“Detectives initiated an investigation and discovered evidence of narcotics and illegal gambling related activity on the property and inside the business,” the sheriff’s office said in a release. “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 [on May 31].”
Police released the names of six people associated with the business who were placed under arrest on drug use and sales raps, and said more busts are expected.
- Hui Fang Iris Liu, 40
- Reginald Smith, 64
- James Patterson, 49
- Yvonne Hall, 66
- Phillip Myers, 66
- Sherry Williams, 60
