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Local Police Aid Interstate Drug Bust

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 30, 2008

PLANT CITY - Plant City police contributed in a multi-agency investigation that last week broke up a drug ring that stretched as far as Texas and Mexico and led to multiple arrests, including several in the Plant City area.

The local suspects included Kenny Kelly, a volunteer football coach at Plant City High and former restaurant owner.

The five month investigation included wire taps, undercover observation, confidential informants and ground and air surveillance, officers said.

Seven Plant City area suspects have been arrested or are being sought by officers, Plant City police Capt. Carl Lane said.

The local suspects, who allegedly have ties with suspected drug suppliers and dealers in Tampa and Dade City, are among a group of about 70 suspects who have or will be charged, authorities said.

According to authorities, here are the local suspects and the charges they face:

•Kelly, of 1318 Louisiana St., a three-sport athlete at Tampa Catholic High in the mid-1990s, was charged with solicitation to deliver, possess and purchase marijuana. Kelly, recently named an unpaid quarterbacks coach at Plant City High, is banned from returning to the campus while the charges are pending, a school board spokeswoman said. Kelly, a former baseball player in the minor and major leagues, turned himself in to Plant City police at about 8:50 a.m. July 23. Kelly, 29, was being held last week at the Orient Road Jail with bail set at $45,000.

•Clyde Videl Coffee, 43, 2814 Nesmith Estates Lane, was charged with trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Coffee was released from custody after posting $52,500 bail.

•James Johnson, 34, 408 Hickory St., was charged with two counts of purchase of marijuana, racketeering and conspiracy. He was being held last week at Orient Road Jail with bail set at $60,000.

•Willie Knighten, 47, 1402 Neil St., was charged with trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, racketeering and conspiracy. He was being held last week at Orient Road Jail, with bail set at $100,000.

•Geddes Willis, 35, 3017 S. Willow Drive, was charged with trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, racketeering, conspiracy, trafficking in illegal drugs and sale of marijuana. His was being held last week at Orient Road Jail with his bail set at $150,000.

Lane said Taurance Hill, 29, 2007 Willis Drive, and Christopher Green, 28, 1320 Alabama St., have arrest warrants against them but remain at large.

Plant City police worked with Tampa police, federal authorities and the sheriff's offices in Hillsborough, Pasco and Lee counties in the investigation, Lane said.

Tampa police spokesman Sgt. Pete Brevi said investigators had seized about 16 kilograms of powder cocaine, 100 grams of crack cocaine, 25 pounds of marijuana, 16 firearms, 23 vehicles and about $239,000.

Reporter Dave Nicholson contributed to this report. Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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