Federal Search Warrants Served At Adjacent Johnston County Homes
SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Federal authorities executed search warrants at two adjacent homes in Johnston County on Monday morning, leading to the arrests of two men on firearms charges.
The warrants were carried out simultaneously at 1283 and 1345 Preston Road, just outside Smithfield. Johnston County tax records list both properties as owned by Francisco Valadez.
Agencies involved in the operation included Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.
Francisco Valadez, 41, of 1345 Preston Road, and Luby Harold Langley Jr., 48, of 1283 Preston Road, were arrested at the scene and each charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
According to court records, Valadez was allegedly found in possession of a 9mm handgun and a .45-caliber handgun. He was convicted in Johnston County in 2010 of selling cocaine.
Langley was reportedly in possession of a .22-caliber rifle and a .22-caliber revolver. Records indicate he was convicted in Johnston County in 2012 of felony possession of cocaine.
Officials have not released details about the underlying purpose of the federal search warrants. Requests for comment from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Agriculture were not immediately returned.
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I need more information. A federal search warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon? Seems a little over kill to me.
I don’t think the search warrant was for possession of a firearm. I think they’re saying the firearms were found as a result of the search
Exactly, it’s certainly telling something else was of interest.
It’s just that anytime there is a case with a felon in possession of any gun, it’s automatically a federal case atp.
All bc they see that nice house the expect something
God Almighty. You win the Internet for the absolutely, most ignorant comment of the day. Law enforcement and law abiding People are all wrong, not the criminals! SMDH!
People like you are the problem in this world. You should subscribe to the philosophy of, do you want to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid, or do you want to open your mouth and remove all doubt?
So you know, you’ve already answered here today.
Oddly enough I live in a pretty nice gated community, yet I have never been raided by federal authorities. Weird huh?
Exactly. I mean this person makes it sound like the FBI, DHS and other federal agencies are just out driving their big tactical vehicles around JoCo for grind and giggles, then see a nice house and decide to raid the place.
Don’t even get me started that the adjacent site was a single wide mobile home. Must have been the big rooster in front of it that made them choose that place. They must like *** *****… Sheesh.
Cocaine business must be booming!
Im familiar with this property and something illegal is definitely going on here
Seems like the rooster is a hint….
Seems like the rooster decor is a hint….
Seems like the roster might be a hint….
Seems like the rooster might be a hint….
Seems like the rooster might be a hint….
Seems like the rooster might be a hint…
Someone let the cat out the bag. They were there for drugs. Trust and believe they are being watched. I wonder…..did they look in the crawl space.
seems like u know something they should 🤣
Hey…idk abt anyone else but I’m not seeing gang level caliber here…maybe protection…probably a HOA Karen neighbor called for target practicing after looking en up on beenverified…seems like a waste of resources vs threat level