A three-month investigation into a Knightdale pizzeria and a sports bar and grill resulted charges against nine people—eight for drug offenses—the State Bureau of Investigation is reporting.
Rudino’s Pizza and Grinders, located at 4022 Village Park Dr., and The Sports Page, located at 835 N. Smithfield Rd., had come under investigation by the SBI’s Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch after the Knightdale Police Department alerted them to consistent violations of drug and alcohol laws.
A team of about 20 agents and officers executed the search warrant at about 11 p.m. yesterday.
In an interview, SBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Josh Batten said that the bureau relied on confidential informants to investigate the drug activity, and used undercover agents to make the buys.
Rudino’s and Sports Page are two “common hotspots” in Knightdale and attracted some of the same buyers, said Batten.
Both businesses are still open for business.
According to the SBI, the following individuals at Sports Page were charged:
—Owner William Joseph McGee, 52, was charged with conspiring to sell cocaine, and allowing controlled substance violations to occur on the licensed premises
—Manager Brian Keith Davis, 38, was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver a counterfeit controlled substance; sale of a counterfeit controlled substance; and allowing controlled substance violations to occur on the licensed premises
—Employee Jonathan Williford, 30, was arrested on an outstanding warrant
—Adrian Obrien Bobo, 27, was charged with possession of cocaine
The following individuals with Rudinos were charged:
—Manager Daphne Lee Turner, 38, was charged with conspiring to sell Valium/Diazepam; allowing controlled substance violations to occur on the licensed premises; possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine; conspiring to sell cocaine; and sale of cocaine
—Employee Joseph Frank Currin III, 39, was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver codeine; and sale of Tylenol with codeine
—Jennifer Caroline Brown, 37, was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine; sale of cocaine; possession with the intent to sell and deliver hydrocodone; and sale of hydrocodone
Shawn Bunce, 43, was charged with possession with the intent to sell and deliver Valium/Diazepam; sale of Valium/Diazepam; and conspiring to sell Valium/Diazepam
Wesley Cesnik, 32, was charged with conspiring to sell Valium/Diazepam; and possession with the intent to sell and deliver Valium/Diazepam
