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Manatee Deputies: Raid Nets 11 In Gang Drug Ring

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By BRAD PFANKUCH

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: May 9, 2008

MANATEE COUNTY — Sheriff's officials arrested 11 people in a raid Thursday night that they say broke up a loose-knit but active drug gang.

The gang, known as Third Shift because of the hours members kept, ran a cocaine, crack and pot distribution ring in Manatee County, officials said.

During the raid, authorities seized 17 guns, 2 kilograms of powder cocaine, 250 grams of crack cocaine, 900 grams of marijuana and some heroin and ecstasy, Sheriff Brad Steube said today.

The operation leading to the raid began in July, Steube said, and continues his department's push to rid Manatee of gangs responsible for drug dealing, drive-by shootings and other crimes.

Sixteen people thought to be gang members are in custody, Steube said. Two more — 21-year-old Theophille Telfort and 18-year-old Anthony Brown — are being sought, he said.

Steube said Manatee worked with several agencies to make the busts, including the Florida Attorney General's Office, the local state attorney's office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

Ten of the people arrested Thursday are Jamal Edwards, 19; Terry Green, 20; Brian Johnson, 19; Keith Parhm, 22; Ryan Simmons, 24; Annuel Meranvil, 21; Lucien Alexis, 20; Emmanuel Meranvil, 22; Tija Morgan, 22; and Jerome Williams, 36.

Arrested earlier were Kary Alexis, 24; Jimmy Lee, 26; Dominic Orr, 19; Davidson Petit, 26; and Clifford Saint-Louis, 23.

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