A joint operation between federal and state investigators of a drug trafficking organization has resulted in eight Burlington residents facing federal charges
Gilbert Lee Ellis, Christopher Jerome Ellis, Honesty Knotts, Hardy Pegues, Joshua Adam Townsen, and Michael Demetrius Brown made their initial appearance in federal court on Thursday. Theodis Bagby and Larry Keith Knotts were also charged but have not yet made their initial appearance.
According to the Department of Justice, law enforcement executed federal search warrants at the following locations:
• 200 block of Ballard Street, West Burlington
• 300 block of Locust Street, Burlington
• 3200 block of Division Street, Burlington
• 900 block of Locust Street, Burlington
• 1400 block of Lucas Street, Burlington
• 1500 block of Gnahn Street, Burlington
• 1600 block of South 14th Street, Burlington
• 1300 block of Aetna Street, Burlington
The exact charges the eight suspects face were not disclosed in a press release.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, West Burlington Police Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Lee County Task Force, Muscatine Task Force, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Johnson County Drug Task Force, Ottumwa Drug Task Force, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team in Illinois.
