Published: September 03, 2008 12:06 pm         

Operation Thunderbolt defendants head to trial

Six defendants arrested during Operation Thunderbolt are set to go on trial at the federal courthouse in Sherman next week Gainesville Police Investigator Tim Green said Tuesday.

The six headed for trial are Chauncy Purvey, Noah Haley, Carley Mims, Faith Stevenson and Morris Biggers.

Thirteen people were arrested Aug. 17 during Operation Thunderbolt —a multi-agency drug investigation operation.

Several other individuals were arrested in the days and weeks following the raids.

Eleven agencies participated in Operation Thunderbolt including Gainesville Police Department, Gainesville City Marshall's Office, Gainesville Fire Department, Cooke County EMS, Denton County Sheriff's Office, Denton Police Department, Lewisville Police Department, University of North Texas Police Department, McKinney Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI’s High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), according to a press release issued shortly after the operation.

Officers conducted early morning raids at residences on Belmont Street, Denton Street, Bird Street, Field Street, Hall Street and at a unit at Woodglen Apartments on East Highway 82.

Then-Police Chief Carl Dunlap said the raids were carried out simultaneously to prevent suspects at the targeted areas from warning other individuals of the impending raids.

“We planned it so that all seven (locations) would be hit at exactly six a.m.,” Dunlap said the morning of the raids.

Police also reportedly seized illegal drugs, cash and vehicles during the operation.

Green said the Aug. 17 raids at seven locations in the city were part of “a long-term crack cocaine distribution conspiracy investigation that has been on going since 2004.”

He said 11 individuals were indicted as a result of Operation Thunderbolt.