News

Suspected drug trafficker jailed without bond

Taylor Nicole Crawford

By Lightning Reports, Published: April 21, 2023

Henderson County sheriff’s deputies, in conjunction with Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, on Wednesday arrested Adrian Oneal Branch and Taylor Nicole Crawford for various controlled substance related crimes, the Sheriff's Office announced.

Detectives had obtained federal indictments for Branch based on his involvement in a previous case, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Branch was taken into custody without incident and found to be in possession of suspected Fentanyl. A subsequent search warrant was served at Crawford's residence where detectives located additional suspected Fentanyl. Both Branch and Crawford were taken into custody and charged with numerous felonies related to the suspected Fentanyl that was seized.
In total, detectives located and seizned Fentanyl, marijuana, methadone, Percocet, cocaine, $2,721 cash and a firearm. Branch was indicted o six counts of possession with intent to sell and deliver fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additional arrest warrants for the items located during Branch's arrest and search of Crawford's home were issued, but have not been served on Branch at this time. Branch is currently being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center under no bond.
Crawford was charged with felony trafficking in opium or heroin level 3, felony conspiracy to traffic opium/heroin, felony trafficking in opium or heroin level 2, felony pwisd marijuana, two counts of felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for purpose of sell/deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of cocaine, felony possession of schedule II controlled substance, simple possession of schedule II controlled substance, simple possession of schedule IV substance and misdemeanor child abuse. Crawford is currently being held at the Henderson County Detention Center under a $1.8 million secured bond.
Fentanyl is a widely available and highly addictive man-made opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially deadly dose. Using this calculation, the amount of fentanyl seized from Branch and Crawford could have potentially been responsible for up to 66,000 deaths.
"I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our detectives and special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration,” Sheriff Lowell Griffin said. “These arrests and seizures will have a significant impact on the distribution of controlled substances in Henderson County and beyond. We remain committed to keeping our community safe by removing dangerous drugs and individuals from our streets."