Task force breaks up alleged drug operation, arrests Keysville man

Residents from Charlotte, Lunenburg counties are all facing charges after a task force operation this week. Search warrants were served in Keysville and in the Barnes Road area of Lunenburg County on Wednesday, Sept. 13. 

According to information provided by the Tri-County Drug and Gang Task Force, the operation resulted in multiple ounces of cocaine, methamphetamine, firearms, narcotics paraphernalia and U.S. currency being seized. 

The investigation also discovered “evidence of the distribution and manufacturing of crack cocaine,” task force officials said in a statement. “The search warrants were the result of a long-term investigation by task force investigators.” 

As a result of Wednesday’s operation, multiple people were arrested and charged. That includes 44-year-old Christopher Lamont Jackson of Keysville, who faces charges of possession with the intent to manufacture a schedule I/II controlled substance. Also arrested was 41-year-old Meherrin resident Kristin McWayne Greene, who faces two counts of distribution of a schedule I/II controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

Assisting the Tri-County Drug and Gang Task Force were members of the Southside Drug and Gang Task Force, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, Bureau of Field Operations, Area 22 Office, Altavista Police Department K-9 unit, and the Lunenburg County Department of Social Services. 

Looking at criminal history 

According to state records, this is the first major charge for Jackson. Previously in Charlotte County General District Court, he’s only been charged with illegal window tint and failure to wear a seatbelt.

It’s a different story for Greene, however. He was in Charlotte County General District Court back in August, facing two counts of manufacturing and distributing a schedule I/II controlled substance. Ironically, he was scheduled to be in court this Friday, Sept. 15, for a hearing on those August charges. 

A look at court records shows back in 2016, Greene was charged with manufacturing and distributing, along with selling drugs near a school, in Mecklenburg County. He was found guilty of the charges and sentenced to seven years in prison, of which he served three, with the rest suspended. In 2020 and 2021, he was arrested and charged again with manufacturing and distributing in Mecklenburg and Newport News, respectively. Both of those cases were dismissed, however. 

Investigation is ongoing beyond Keysville

Task force officials said in a statement that the work isn’t over, adding that more arrests are expected in the weeks to come. Task force officials also thanked the Lunenburg and Charlotte sheriff’s offices for their cooperation. 

The Tri-County Drug and Gang Task Force is composed of narcotics investigators from the Charlotte and Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Offices and Virginia Department of State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office. 

Anyone with information on illegal drug use and distribution in the region is asked to contact the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office at 434-542-5141, Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office at 434-696-4452, Lunenburg Crime Solvers at 434-696-3100, or the Virginia State Police Drug Hotline at 1-800-553-DOPE

SportsPlus

High School

Randolph-Henry golf team secures regular season district title

Education

Randolph-Henry High students, staff reflect on 9-11 attacks

Business

Internet outages caused by hunters, Firefly Fiber officials warn

Business

Charlotte County supervisors asked to consider amending budget

Local

Jordaine Penick wins HEAT Hornets title, sets new goal

Lifestyle Main

Charlotte County FFA Alumni celebrate with annual dinner

Columns

Mike Wilson: Need help hunting? It’s a how-to guide to gearing up

High School

Football Preview: Fully healthy, Statesmen ready to get to work

Local

Charlotte County Library system gets some help from the Assembly

Local

Jordaine Penick takes aim at history this coming Saturday

Education

Randolph-Henry High ‘Noted Statesmen’ selected for August

Church & Community

Gazette Church and Community Calendar: week of Aug. 28

Education

Fuqua rolls out construction plans, will build new Upper School

Business

Quarter Horse Solar project approved. Here’s the final agreement.

College

Trustees take a vote on Hampden-Sydney shooting range plan

Local

Angels, Ponytails honored: County celebrates World Series teams

Local

Randolph-Henry golf team remains unbeaten, picks up road win

Business

Charlotte Court House gets new businesses approved by county

Local

Phone call leads to arrest in Charlotte County air conditioning case

Education

Charlotte County schools see SOL pass rates continue to climb

Local

Charlotte County man arrested as a suspect in multi-county thefts

Lifestyles

Food bank returns to Mt. Zion

Church & Community

Gazette Church and Community Calendar: week of Aug. 14

Local

As Tropical Storm Debby shifts, what will that mean for Charlotte?