Over the course of the last few days, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office has responded to several reports in reference to motor vehicles being broken into at our County Parks and Recreation areas.  From these events, the victims have had their windows broken and purses stolen. The suspects then travel to local retail and grocery stores to use the victims’ credit cards to purchase thousands of dollars in gift cards and money orders.  The suspects are known to law enforcement agencies as the Felony Lane Gang. 

The suspects are typically driving rental vehicles with out-of-state tags or they attempt to conceal the true registration by utilizing a fake paper temporary tag.  The majority of the suspects are not local to Alamance County or to North Carolina.  These individuals are known to commit these crimes in numerous states up and down the east coast looking for cars in parks to victimize.  As the number of visitors to the park areas increases as citizens enjoy the nicer Spring and Summer weather, these types of crimes will typically increase in volume.    

The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that citizens who choose to visit these locations keep valuables with them, hide them in a location that cannot be seen from the outside of their vehicle, put them in the trunk, or leave those items that are not needed at that time at home.  As always remain vigilant of your surroundings and if you see anything suspicious, contact the Sheriff’s Office.  If you happen to become a victim, it is imperative that you immediately contact law enforcement and your bank to report the incident.  After this, share what you can with law enforcement.  Credit card numbers, fraudulent purchase amounts and time frames, and other items that were stolen during the incident.  The suspects are very fast and will use the credit cards within minutes of the break-in.  The quicker this information can be shared with law enforcement, the quicker the response, and hopeful apprehension of the suspects.

The Sheriff’s Office is also requesting that all retail stores verify the identity of those individuals who are purchasing large amounts of gift cards to the names on the credit cards.  The majority of the suspects are concealing their identities from surveillance video footage by wearing hoodies, along with COVID masks.

Attached is the most recent vehicle involved in Cedar Rock Park and Shallowford Recreation Park and the suspect who used one of the most recent victim’s cards at Walmart on Garden Road in Burlington, N.C.

On Monday, May 15, 2023, Special Victims Unit Investigators received a report of a sexual assault in the 2100 block of James Boswell Rd., Green Level, N.C. SVU Investigators and an on call DSS Social Worker made contact with the juvenile who identified the suspect as Rico Snow Richardson.

A forensic interview was conducted with the victim at Crossroads in Burlington, N.C. Based on the results of the forensic interview and evidence gathered by SVU Investigators, warrants were granted by the Magistrate’s Office for the arrest of Mr. Richardson.

On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Mr. Richardson was arrested and transported to the Alamance County Detention Center. This case remains under investigation.

Name:             Rico Snow Richardson   B/M/42        2100blk James Boswell Rd., Green Level, N.C.

Charges:         1ct: Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1ct: Felony Statutory Sexual Offense with a Child Under 15 Years Old. 

Bond:              $150,000 Secured

On Wednesday, April 26,2023, Investigators with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Street Crime Division and Special Victims Unit began an investigation after receiving a cyber tip. An individual was believed to have uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files to the internet. The investigation lead to a suspect living south of Burlington, N.C. near the community of Belmont.

After review of the suspect’s uploads, Investigators determined that probable cause existed to charge Adam Douglas Short with uploading a file containing CSAM to the internet.

On Friday, May 5^th 2023, Investigators executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence where electronic devices were seized. During the search of the home narcotics were located.

Also arrested was Michael Howard Short, of the same residence and brother of Adam Douglas Short, on narcotics charges. Both were transported to the Alamance County Detention Center.

This case remains under investigation with more charges possible.

Name:            Adam Douglas Short           I/M/30            4013 Markwood Dr., Burlington, N.C.

Charges:       11cts: Felony 2^nd Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 1ct: Felony Possession with intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, 1ct: Felony Conspire to Maintain a Dwelling for the Purpose to Keep/Sell Controlled Substance, 1ct Felony Possession of Marijuana, 1ct: Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.       

Bond:             $530,000 Secured

Name:            Michael Howard Short        I/M/24            4013 Markwood Dr., Burlington, N.C.

Charges:       1ct: Felony Possession with intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana, 1ct: Felony Conspire to Maintain a Dwelling for the Purpose to Keep/Sell Controlled Substance, 1ct: Felony Possession of Marijuana, 1ct: Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Bond:             $10,000 Unsecured

On Wednesday, April 24, 2023, Special Victims Unit Detectives (SVU) began an investigation of an alleged sexual assault.  SVU Investigators conducted multiple interviews and determined the sexual assault took place in the 2100 block of North NC HWY 62 north of Burlington. Investigators identified the suspect as Dwight Osmund Marable of the residence where the alleged sexual assault took place.  

Investigators found probable cause to arrest Mr. Marable who was taken into custody on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Mr. Marable was transported to the Alamance County Detention Center.

Name:             Dwight Osmund Marable       B/M/39

Address:          2109 North NC Hwy 62, Burlington, N.C.

Charge:           1ct: Felony 2^nd Degree Forcible Rape

Bond:              $80,000 unsecured

On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen credit card with four fraudulent charges. The victim stated their brother, identified as Geoni McNeil, stole the card and made several purchases. The card had been used at a gas station, an ABC Store, and a vape shop. The card was also used online to pay off the suspect’s cellular bill. The total charges on the card were $448.80.

Investigators were able to obtain surveillance footage which confirmed that Mr. McNeil made these purchases with the stolen credit card. Mr. McNeil was arrested on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 and booked into the Alamance County Detention Center where he remains.

Name:            Geoni Montrel McNeil   B/M/21   2414 Albert Circle, Haw River, N.C.

Charges:        1ct: Felony Financial Card Theft, 4cts: Felony Identity Theft, 4cts: Felony Obtain Property by False Pretenses

Bond:              $5,000 secured

On Monday, May 8, 2023, Special Victims Unit Detectives served four additional warrants on former Southern Middle School Teacher Ivan Danilo Ardila-Perez. Mr. Ardila-Perez is charged on each warrant with 1ct: Felony Indecent Liberties with a Student and 1ct: Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child.

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) initiated an investigation at Southern Middle School. Detectives were initially contacted by a concerned parent of a student. The investigation followed an allegation of a teacher acting inappropriately with the student. 

Mr. Ardila-Perez was previously arrested on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 and remains in the Alamance County Detention Center. With the additional charges, Mr. Ardila-Perez’s bond was increased from $100,000 to $300,000.

At present, six students have come forward to speak with Detectives regarding their interactions with Mr. Ardila-Perez. The students range in age from 11 to 13 years old. These victims are receiving advocacy services from Crossroads, the local child advocacy center.

This is an on-going investigation with more charges possible. If anyone has additional information in this case or may have been a victim, please call 911 and ask to speak with a Special Victims Unit Detective.

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at a work session, the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education voted to terminate the employment of Mr. Ardila-Perez.

Name:             Ivan Danilo Ardila-Perez        W/M/37                                  

Address:         Maple Ave, Burlington, N.C.

Charges:         6cts: Felony Indecent Liberties with a Student, 6cts: Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child

Bond:             $300,000 secured

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Deputies began an investigation regarding indecent liberties with a minor which was reported to Child Protective Services. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, a child forensic interview with the victim was completed by Special Victims Unit Detectives (SVU).

During the interview, the victim disclosed that the victim’s step father, Efrain Guzman Mendez, had molested the victim since the victim was six years old. The victim recalled being forced to sleep in the bed with the stepfather and perform sex acts with him while the victim’s mother was out of town. This allegedly occurred nightly over the span of a month and a half.

Working with the District Attorney’s Office and Child Protective Services, Detectives presented evidence to the Magistrate whereby warrants were issued for Mr. Mendez’s arrest.

SVU Detectives discovered that Mr. Mendez was in the Durham area. Detectives made contact with Durham Police Officers who arrested Mr. Mendez on Monday, April 29, 2023, and transported him to the Durham County Detention Center where he was given a $500,000 secured bond.

Mr. Mendez was booked into the Alamance County Detention Center on Monday, April 29, 2023. During a first appearance hearing for his charges, Mr. Mendez’s bond was reduced to $300,000 secured.

This case file is being forwarded to additional counties for further investigation as the family has only resided in Alamance County for just over a year. Additional charges are possible.

Name:             Efrain Guzman Mendez   W/M/39

Address:         Mebane, N.C.

Charges:         1ct: Felony Statutory Rape of a Child Under 15, 1ct: Felony Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1ct: Felony Sex Act by Parent/Custodian

Bond:              $300,000 secured

On Friday, May 5, 2023 at 12:30 a.m., Deputies conducted a traffic stop near Burch Bridge Rd. and Sharpe Rd., Burlington. The driver of the vehicle was known to have an expired license.

During the stop, a K-9 gave a positive alert for contraband from an outer open-air sniff. Deputies then conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle.

After a search of the vehicle, Deputies conducted a search of passenger Anthony Steven Lewis. Two bags of a substance, believed to be methamphetamine, was found on Mr. Lewis’ person.

Mr. Lewis was arrested and transported to the Alamance County Detention Center.

Name:             Anthony Steven Lewis    W/M/45     415 Mitchell St., Burlington, N.C.

Charges:         1ct: Felony Possession of Methamphetamine,

1ct: Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Bond:             Written Promise

On Wednesday, April 24, 2023, Special Victims Unit Detectives were advised that a registered sex offender, Cornelius Daniel Lamar Whitfield, had resided at two prohibited locations from March 2, 2023, thru March 29, 2023. Mr. Whitfield was tracked through his ankle monitor. GPS location tracking along with surveillance indicated that Mr. Whitfield resided in motels in the 2100 block of Hanford Rd., Burlington, N.C. These motels are within 1000 feet of two Daycare Centers.

Following this investigation, warrants were granted for Mr. Whitfield’s arrest. On the evening of Monday, May 1, 2023, Mr. Whitfield was arrested by Burlington Police for Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance.

Extradition papers have also been served on Mr. Whitfield who is wanted by the state of New Mexico for sex offender violations.

Name:             Cornelius Daniel Lamar Whitfield    B/M/36

Address:         Homeless, Burlington, N.C.

Charges:        2cts: Felony Fail to Report Address Change, 2cts: Felony Sex Offender Residence Violation 

Bond:              $20,000 Secured – Subject to change pending probation violations

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, Deputies conducted a routine traffic checkpoint in the 3800 block of Maple Ave., south of the Burlington, N.C. city limit. During the checkpoint, a white Chevrolet Tahoe approached Deputies. The driver, Joseph Carl Jones, was asked for a driver license and registration. While stopped, Deputies observed drug paraphernalia in plain view on Mr. Jones’ person.

Deputies instructed Mr. Jones to pull off the road where a traffic stop and investigation began. During the investigation/traffic stop, a K9 gave a positive alert of contraband on the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted resulting in the discovery of 4.70 grams of a substance believed to be methamphetamine and multiple paraphernalia items.

Because of the items located, Mr. Jones and his passenger, Stevie Aldridge, were placed under arrest.

Name:                  Joseph Carl Jones II          W/M/45         127 Pravas Ln., Graham, N.C.

Charges:              1ct: Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, 1ct: Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Bond:                    $7,000 secured                

Name:                   Stevie Lynn Aldridge      W/F/34             3605 Maple Ave., Burlington, N.C.

Charges:               1ct: Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, 1ct: Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Bond:                     $10,000 secured