The Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) has been conducting surveillance around the downtown area of Ocala after receiving complaints about suspected drug use and sale of a synthetic cannabinoid known as “K2.”
Based upon information the team had gathered, agents recently undertook an undercover buy/bust operation. During the sting, UDEST embedded an undercover agent that targeted suspected dealers identified during weekly surveillance missions.
UDEST successfully executed the operation without any issues. The sting resulted in the following arrests:
- Marcus Jerome Kent, 46 – Charged with sale of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a community center, possession of synthetic cannabinoids and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Darrell Tirrell Guyton, 45 – Charged with possession of synthetic cannabinoids, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- Sara Lynn Bushong, 27 – Charged with possession of synthetic cannabinoids.
- Lester Justin Range, 30 – Charged with possession of synthetic cannabinoids.
UDEST is an initiative of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It is comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement from the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security.