Four men were arrested by the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team last week after agents found multiple drugs inside a home in Ocala.
On Thursday, March 30, UDEST agents executed a search warrant at a residence located in the 6600 block of SW 84th Street in Ocala. According to UDEST, the investigation stemmed from previous search warrants that agents executed in the area, which had resulted in several arrests.
During the search of the residence on March 30, 47-year-old Bernard Lantz Easter (owner of the property), 19-year-old Shea Joseph Easter and 24-year-old Bradley Lantz Easter (the property owner’s two sons), and 31-year-old Christopher Andrew Jones were detained.
In a media release, UDEST stated that a Marion County Sheriff’s Office K-9 corporal located Jones on the property and gave him several lawful commands. Jones proceeded to flee from the corporal, and Jones threw a small bag and a larger backpack on the ground. The corporal’s K-9 partner apprehended Jones, and the corporal found multiple baggies containing fentanyl inside the backpack.
Members of the MCSO SWAT team located Shea inside a bathroom near a bedroom. In the bathroom, UDEST agents found bags containing fentanyl and heroin in the toilet. Agents searched the remainder of the property and seized additional fentanyl and heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and ammunition.
Bernard Lantz Easter was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $7,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for keeping or maintaining a dwelling used for drug use/sales, possession of fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, along with a misdemeanor charge for possession of cannabis (less than 20 grams).
Shea Joseph Easter was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $75,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for trafficking in fentanyl, sale of fentanyl (three counts), possession of fentanyl (three counts), sale of heroin, possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell, and tampering with evidence.
Bradley Lantz Easter was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $3,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for possession of a counterfeit controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge for possession of cannabis (less than 20 grams).
Christopher Andrew Jones was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $5,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for possession of fentanyl, along with misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer without violence.
A court date for all four individuals has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2, according to jail records.