“Deputies contacted the FBI on day one and since day one have had an active role,” Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said this afternoon.

Chief Deputy Bruce Temple, Major Scott Hall and Captain Anzell Harris all had an active role in what is being called Operation Rockfish.

“We received numerous tips and information from confidential informants. We follow up on every lead and every tip to make sure it's credible,” Tripp said. “I have a sick feeling in my stomach right now because we all take an oath to defend and protect the state and federal constitution. We're not supposed to break the law. We will continue to work closely my friend (Northampton County) Sheriff Jack Smith. Words cannot express how many man hours and time away from their families our deputies worked with the federal government in this case.”

Tripp described Operation Rockfish as a major corruption sting operation centering on officers involved in the drug trade. “No drugs made it to anybody in the public. This is huge. This is the biggest police corruption case since Tarnished Badge in Robeson County. It was much bigger than that.”

In all, the United States Attorney's Office said in a statement 13 current and former law enforcement officers and two other individuals have been indicted and arrested for allegedly protecting narcotics shipments and cash proceeds during transit along the East Coast for what they believed was a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was actually an undercover operation by the FBI.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker of the Eastern District of North Carolina and Special Agent in Charge John A. Strong of the FBI’s Charlotte office made the announcement today.

“Corruption in local government – especially involving law enforcement – threatens the social compact that binds our communities together,” said Caldwell. “When the officer with a gun and a badge is no different from the trafficker peddling drugs in the street, we all suffer. That is why the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners in North Carolina and throughout the country are determined to root out corruption, wherever and in whatever form it may be found.”

“The actions by these individuals are particularly troubling due to their current and past affiliation with law enforcement,” said Walker. “Their alleged conduct was reprehensible and my office will not tolerate this kind of corruption in our district. I am grateful for the outstanding work of the FBI Special Agents who investigated this case.”

“They vowed to protect and serve, but instead these deputies and correctional officers sold their badges and used their law enforcement positions to line their own pockets,” said Strong. “Public corruption at any level is the number one criminal priority of the FBI and we will work aggressively to protect the public trust.”

The following individuals were indicted in the Eastern District of North Carolina and arrested today in a coordinated operation by the FBI:

•Lann Tjuan Clanton, 36, a correctional officer with the Virginia Department of Corrections and former Weldon police officer.

•Ikeisha Jacobs, 32, a deputy with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

• Jason Boone, 29, a deputy with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

• Wardie Vincent Jr., 35, formerly of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

• Adrienne Moody, 39, a correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

• Cory Jackson, 43, formerly of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

• Jimmy Pair Jr., 48, a deputy with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

• Curtis Boone, 31, a deputy with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

• Antonio Tillmon, 31, a police officer with the Windsor City Police Department.

• Alaina Sue Kamling, 27, a correctional officer with the North Carolina
Department of Public Safety.

• Kavon Phillips, 25, a correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of
Public Safety.

• Crystal Pierce, 31, of Raleigh, North Carolina.

•Alphonso Ponton, 42, a correctional officer with the Virginia Department of Corrections.

•Thomas Jefferson Allen II, 37, a deputy with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

• Tosha Dailey, 31, a 911 dispatch operator for Northampton County.

All 15 defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute controlled substances and conspiring to use and carry firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking offenses.

Other charges against certain defendants include attempted extortion, attempted possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, money laundering, federal programs bribery and use and carry of firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence and drug trafficking offenses.

Tripp said the case remains under investigation.