NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – More than a dozen people in Hampton Roads were indicted on drugs and firearms charges as the result of Operation High Tide.

“Operation High Tide is the latest highly-coordinated effort from federal, state, and local law enforcement to tackle violent crime in Hampton Roads,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. 

According to U.S. Attorney Terwilliger, more than 65 firearms and narcotics with a street value of nearly $1 million were recovered.

The coordinated operation involved 100 law enforcement agents and other officials with a singular goal: to apprehend individuals putting the safety of our communities in danger by illegally selling drugs and guns.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiated Operation High Tide in collaboration with the Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth Police Departments and Virginia State Police.

“Criminals often utilize firearms as tools of their trade causing harm to our communities.  This case illustrates ATF’s commitment to effective law enforcement partnerships and dedication to keeping our cities safe,” said Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division. 

  • Jelami M. Smith, 43. Charges: 1 Count of Distribution of Heroin; 1 Count of Distribution of Fentanyl
  • Jameel M. Simmons, 37. Charges: 1 Count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin; 1 Count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
  • Jermaine Parker, 35. Charges: 6 Counts of Distribution of Fentanyl; 2 Counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime; 5 Counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm; 1 Count of Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises

Defendants in state custody awaiting transfer to federal custody are not listed in the table below:

Name, Age Hometown Charges
Brian D. Best, 34 Virginia Beach 1 Count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess Methamphetamine; 1 Count of Distribution of Methamphetamine
Antisha Carrington, 25 Virginia Beach 1 Count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, Fentanyl, and Marijuana; 1 Count of Distribution of Marijuana; 3 Counts of Distribution of Heroin
Kawanta D. Epps, 40 Norfolk 1 Count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, Fentanyl, and Marijuana; 9 Counts of Distribution of Heroin; 4 Counts of Distribution of Fentanyl
Anthony L. Green, 48 Chesapeake 1 Count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, Fentanyl, and Marijuana; 5 Counts of Distribution of Heroin; 1 Count of Distribution of Fentanyl
Corey L. Jones, 50 Portsmouth 1 Count of Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Manufacture and Distribute Heroin; 11 Counts of Distribution of Heroin, Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl, and Cocaine; 3 Counts of Distribution of 10 Grams or more of Acetyl Fentanyl
Dominic D. Jones, 26 Portsmouth 1 Count of Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Manufacture and Distribute Heroin; 3 Counts of Distribution of Heroin, Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl, and Cocaine; 1 Count of Possess, Use, and Carry Firearm in Furtherance and in Relation to Drug-Trafficking Crime; 1 Count of Felon in Possession of Firearm
Malcolm D. Jones, 45 Portsmouth 1 Count of Conspiracy to Manufacture, Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Manufacture and Distribute Heroin; 13 Counts of Distribution of Heroin, Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl, and Cocaine; 3 Counts of Distribution of 10 Grams or More of Acetyl Fentanyl;
Shon E. Melton, 30 Portsmouth 3 Counts of Distribution of Heroin; 1 Count of Possession of Firearms During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; 1 Count of Possession of an Unregistered National Firearms Act Firearm
Gary Norfleet, 52 Chesapeake 1 Count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; 1 Count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Jermaine Parker, 35 Chesapeake 6 Counts of Distribution of Fentanyl; 2 Counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime; 5 Counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm; 1 Count of Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises
Corey S. Reed, 38 Norfolk 3 Counts of Distribution of Controlled Substances; 2 Counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances
Jameel M. Simmons, 37 Portsmouth 1 Count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin; 1 Count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Jelami M. Smith, 43 Portsmouth 1 Count of Distribution of Heroin; 1 Count of Distribution of Fentanyl
Robert Spruill, 39 Chesapeake 1 Count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess Methamphetamine; 1 Count of Distribution of Methamphetamine