Four men were jailed Friday on a multitude of charges when a special drug enforcement strike team raided an Ocala home.
The Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), assisted by SWAT teams from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, along with investigative and patrol officers, executed a search warrant at 232 NW 8th Place. Shortly before 1 p.m.
The combined SWAT teams quickly descended upon the residence while the sheriff’s office’s aviation unit provided air support. SWAT team members encountered several people who quickly went inside the residence. Once the scene was secured, the seven people inside the home – including an infant – were identified, a report states.
During the raid, UDEST agents seized cocaine, MDMA, THC oil, marijuana, illegally diverted pharmaceutical drugs (Oxycodone and Alprazolam) and assorted drug paraphernalia (digital scales, packaging materials, etc.). They also found:
- A Freedom Ordinance FX-9 multi-caliber rifle with a fully loaded high-capacity magazine;
- A Springfield Saint multi-caliber rifle with a fully loaded high-capacity magazine;
- A fully loaded North American Arms .22 Magnum revolver;
- A cache of varied caliber ammunitions; and
- A PS4 gaming system that had been reported stolen to the sheriff’s office.
The people who were arrested included:
- Servando Ferguson Sr., 47 – Charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, renting a structure for the sale/manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substances (Alprazolam and Oxycodone) and possession of cocaine. Released Sunday on $40,000 bond. Due in court June 16 at 9 a.m.
- Nelson Servando Ferguson, 20 – Charged with possession of THC oil with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and child neglect. Released Saturday on $13,000 bond. Next court date hasn’t yet been set.
- Alonza C. Taylor, 23 – Charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Released Saturday on $15,000 bond. Due in court June 16 at 9 a.m.
- Elkanah O. Dillon, 24 – Charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Released Saturday on $15,000 bond. Next court date hasn’t yet been set.
UDEST is an initiative of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It is comprised of local, state and federal law enforcement professionals from the Ocala Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. The investigation was part of an ongoing effort to rid the Ocala/Marion County community of dangerous, armed drug traffickers.