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Feds raid 14 Hampton Roads properties in federal heroin trafficking investigation; 5 arrested

Posted at 8:16 AM, Jul 15, 2015
and last updated 2015-07-18 09:16:28-04

Portsmouth, Va. - Five people were arrested early Tuesday during a federal drug raid on 14 properties in Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk.

Alonzo Outten, 35; Jerald Outten, 26; Jermaine Jones, 38; and Deyonta Hinton, 31, all from Portsmouth, and Garnett Brown, 34, from Chesapeake, were arrested on federal conspiracy charges of manufacturing, distributing, and possession with intent to distribute heroin.

They were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 8th.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office and the Chesapeake Police Department with the assistance of the Portsmouth Police Department, the Virginia State Police, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Court documents say the investigation involved more than 75 kilos of heroin that was sold from November of 2013 to July of 2015. That amount of heroin has an approximate street value of $3.75 million.

More than 250 law enforcement officials from three states and Washington, D.C. assisted with the execution of the search warrants.

Authorities believe the bust has effectively disrupted what is alleged to be a significant heroin trafficking network in the region.

Jerald Outten was the only one to request bond at a detention hearing on Friday afternoon.

A prosecutor called the group "sophisticated" and "disciplined," and said five people overdosed on heroin the group sold them, putting them in the hospital.

Outten's attorney argued accusations against his client weren't substantiated, but a judge ruled against Outten, not allowing Jerald to be released.

Federal agents are still looking for another person wanted in the case, named Sherita Nicks. Nicks is also wanted in Delaware.