BY PORTSIA SMITH
Two Northern Neck Regional Jail inmates are facing new charges as part of a yearlong Westmoreland County drug investigation.
Dwayne C. West, 27, of Colonial Beach was charged with distribution of cocaine, two counts of conspiracy and two counts of actively participating in gang activity.
Hayes J. Johnson, 30, of Hague, is charged with distribution of oxycodone and conspiracy.
Both men were served with warrants at the jail Friday, according to Westmoreland Sheriff C.O. Balderson.
He said the arrests were part of Operation Impact, a yearlong drug investigation by the Tri-County Drug Task Force, which consists of the Westmoreland, Caroline and King George sheriff's offices, Virginia State Police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The operation began on Tuesday when Angelo's Pizza owner George "Bryan" Oliff, 49, a former District 3 School Board member, and two of his employees were arrested and charged with distribution of imitation drugs.
On Thursday, 18 other people were arrested on charges that included distribution of cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana, Balderson said.
West had recently been released from jail on a manslaughter charge, before he was arrested again on drug charges in another locality, Balderson said.
He has ties to Pound Property, a Colonial Beach gang that Balderson said was responsible for a lot of drug activity and a few murders. While many of the members are serving life sentences in prison, Balderson said West was trying to initiate new members to re-start the gang.
West and Carter are scheduled to appear in Westmoreland Circuit Court on June 1.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Email: psmith@fredericksburg.com