Drug Investigation Nets Three Arrests

FLAGLER COUNTY, FL -- The plot to arrange a drug deal then rob the customer didn't work out for three suspects, who now find themselves in jail since the "customer" identified himself as a detective.

The arrests came as the Flagler County Sheriff's Office and a drug task force wrapped up a two-month investigation into ecstasy and cocaine distribution in Flagler County.

The Sheriff's Office says it has used an undercover officer to buy the drugs a few times during the investigation, and Monday the main target, 20-year-old Chasio Chevon Graham, contacted the officer once again.

The deal the two arranged was for the officer to buy 500 ecstasy pills for $5,000 at a house in Palm Coast.

The officer got there at the arranged time, with other agents posted nearby.

Graham didn't show up, but two other men did -- 19-year-old John Theophilus Harris and 22-year-old Maurice Quintell Patterson, both from Palm Coast.

The detectives outside realized it looked like a robbery setup, so they arrested the two men, who both agreed it was supposed to be a robbery and they were working with Graham.

Harris and Patterson both face charges including conspiracy to traffic more than 10 grams of MDMA (ecstacy), conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling.

Harris faces an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Graham was arrested after turning himself in later, and said the arrangement was set up to rob the man who turned out to be an officer.

He further admitted that he was working with Harris and Patterson on the robbery and that he had been distributing ecstacy.

Graham faces charges including conspiracy to traffic more than 10 grams of MDMA and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

All three men are being held in Flagler County awaiting bond.

"These are some very dangerous young people. They put law enforcement officers' lives at risk and now they are where they need to be - off the street and in jail," said Flagler County Sheriff Donald Fleming.

©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.