CRIME

Brunswick authorities arrest 5 on drug charges

Cammie Bellamy StarNews Staff
Audrey Simpson. [BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE]

BRUNSWICK COUNTY -- Five people are facing felony drug charges in Brunswick County after a slate of recent arrests.

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests in a news release Tuesday:

  • Devon Levester Hawkins, 28, of Ocean Highway East, Sunset Beach was arrested Sunday and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, manufacture or distribute; possession of drug paraphernalia; and destroying criminal evidence. He was booked into the Brunswick County jail with bail set at $66,500.
  • Audrey Simpson, 50, of Newpenny Lane, Ocean Isle Beach, was arrested Friday and charged with felony possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was processed into the Brunswick County jail under $2,500's bail.
  • Diane Brosnan, 24, of Old Shallotte Road, Shallotte, was arrested on Monday and charged with felony possession of cocaine, felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was booked into the Brunswick County jail on $15,000's bail.
  • Damien Lee Espinoza, 39, of Brokeford Lane SW, Supply was arrested on Nov. 28 and charged with felony possession of cocaine; two counts of simple possession of a schedule II controlled substance; possession of marijuana with intent to sell, manufacture or distribute; and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was processed into the Brunswick County Detention Facility on $15,000's bail.
  • Nicholas Griffin, 39, of Marlon Street, Longwood, was arrested Friday and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, manufacture or distribute; maintaining a vehicle used for selling cocaine; conspiring to deliver cocaine; two counts of trafficking in cocaine; and conspiring to traffic in cocaine. Griffin was arrested in South Carolina and is in custody at J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway.

According to warrants, all five arrestees were found with some amount of cocaine. In addition, deputies found Brosnan in possession of methamphetamine, and found Espinoza with the narcotic Buprenorphine, the sedative Alprazolam (marketed under brand names such an Xanax), and 4.6 grams of marijuana, warrants state.

At the time of Hawkins' arrest, warrants state that he destroyed a mobile phone, leading to the felony destroying criminal evidence charge. According to warrants, Griffin allegedly crossed the South Carolina state line to deliver cocaine after conspiring with another man.

All five remained in jail Tuesday, according to the sheriff's office.

Reporter Cammie Bellamy can be reached at Cammie.Bellamy@StarNewsOnline.com.