Undercover operation nets 3 drug arrests in Williamson County

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – Three people were arrested and face drug charges after Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies conducted an undercover operation.

Tiffany J. Rivera faces charges of methamphetamine delivery, possession of methamphetamine, possession of adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jui T. Barnes faces a charges of possession of methamphetamine.

Diego D. Nevith faces charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were conducting undercover operations saw a suspicious vehicle at the fuel pump of an area truck stop at 12:48 a.m. on Thursday, January 4.

The driver relocated to a parking stall on the north side of the business. Deputies saw a second vehicle enter the parking lot and park in the stall next to the first vehicle.

Occupants from both vehicles got and were seen by nearby deputies engaged in activity consistent with an illicit narcotics transaction, according to the deputies.

The vehicles left and the drivers drove onto Interstate 57 traveling in opposite directions.

Marked patrol units supporting the operation conducted traffic stops on both vehicles at the same time.

Tiffiany J. Rivera was identified as the driver of the vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 57. The passenger was identified as Jui T. Barnes.

A Williamson County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit arrived on scene and K9 “Roxy” conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle. K9 “Roxy” provided a positive alert to the odor of narcotics.

A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. Deputies found methamphetamine in the front passenger floorboard, according to the sheriff’s deputies. They saw they also found a digital scale and packaging materials which are commonly used in the distribution of illegal narcotics.

The vehicle traveling northbound on Interstate 57 was stopped and a passenger was identified as Diego D. Nevith. Nevith had an outstanding Williamson County arrest warrant for possession of methamphetamine.

Nevith was searched and deputies found a hypodermic syringe containing methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s deputies.

A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. Deputies found a wallet. Inside the wallet, deputies found Nevith’s Illinois Identification Card, two credit cards with Nevith’s name on them, and a red bag that contained the methamphetamine Nevith purchased in the parking lot of the truck stop, according to the deputies.

Deputies say Nevith arrived at the truck stop to purchase methamphetamine from Rivera. Rivera and Barnes had a digital scale, packaging materials and loose methamphetamine, according to the deputies. They say Nevith purchased methamphetamine from Rivera and left the truck stop.

Rivera, Barnes, and Nevith were taken to the Williamson County Jail.