Six-Month Drug Probe Leads To Search Warrants, Arrests Outside County Jail

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. – A six-month undercover investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division led to two search warrants, multiple arrests and the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms, including a stolen gun.

The investigation ultimately led deputies to the parking lot of the Johnston County Detention Center, where authorities allege an inmate still being held inside the jail coordinated an illegal firearm exchange involving two people who had arrived to help secure the release of separate inmates.

On Aug. 20, narcotics agents served a search warrant at a home on Lauren Lane near Princeton.

Authorities said they seized hydrocodone, crack cocaine, marijuana and two firearms. One of the guns had been reported stolen.

Tracey Nichole Geddie, 38, of Lauren Lane, Princeton, was arrested and charged with trafficking opium or heroin, possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a controlled substance, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Information gathered during the Lauren Lane search was connected to a traffic stop made the previous night by Selma Police.

Around 10:29 p.m. Aug. 19, Selma officers stopped Brandon Dewayne Stanley, 35, of Faulkner Lane, Benson, in the 300 block of South Pollock Street.

Police charged Stanley with possession of methamphetamine, driving while license revoked and making an improper turn. Approximately 7.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine was reportedly seized during the stop.

Second Search Warrant In Selma

Using information obtained from the Lauren Lane search and the Selma traffic stop, Johnston County narcotics investigators conducted a second search Aug. 20 at a residence in the 700 block of River Run Road near Selma.

A quantity of crystal methamphetamine and a firearm were reportedly seized during that search.

A person at the River Run Road location also taken into custody on an outstanding failure to appear warrant.

Stanley was subsequently charged by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office with possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for a controlled substance, felony conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Alleged Firearm Exchange Outside Detention Center

Investigators allege Stanley continued coordinating activity while being held at the Johnston County Detention Center.

As part of routine detention center protocol, inmate telephone calls are recorded. Detectives allege calls made by Stanley while he was in custody provided additional information that helped agents advance the investigation.

Later Aug. 20, Destinee Adriana Aponte, 25, of West Anderson Street, Selma, arrived at the detention center to help Stanley attempt to post bail, authorities said. Roger Alvester Geddie Sr., 59, of Candor, was also at the detention center to help secure the release of his daughter, Tracey Geddie.

While Stanley remained in custody, investigators allege he conspired with Aponte and Roger Geddie to carry out an illegal firearm exchange while the two were in the detention center parking lot.

Information developed by detectives led deputies to stop two vehicles in the parking lot of the detention center on US 70 East in Smithfield.

Aponte and Roger Geddie were arrested and charged with felony conspiracy.

According to Aponte’s arrest warrant, she allegedly conspired with Stanley and Roger Geddie to commit possession of a firearm by a felon by covertly transferring a firearm to a known convicted felon at Stanley’s direction.

Roger Geddie’s arrest warrant alleges he conspired with Stanley and Aponte to conceal a firearm while being a convicted felon.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing.

Additional arrests and charges are possible.