Ten local residents were arrested Tuesday on charges of distributing drugs including LSD, opioids and cocaine after a monthslong investigation by the Williamsburg Police Department and the Tri-Rivers Drug Task Force, police said.
Most of those arrested are students at the College of William & Mary, police said.
One of those arrested — Gi Sang Yoon, 40 — is a visiting assistant professor of immunology in the college’s biology department, according to the William & Mary website.
Another person who was arrested, 27-year-old Timothy Tyrone Pryor, is also a college employee, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Williamsburg-James City County General District Court.
The investigation began when information was received about unreported sexual assaults because of increased drug activity on or around the campus, police said.
Court records show a confidential informant worked with police to set up controlled buys of the drugs at various locations, including on the William & Mary campus.
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests and charges are possible.
Drugs seized during the investigation included LSD, cocaine, psilocybin
(mushrooms), opioids, amphetamines, steroids, hashish and marijuana.
About $14,000 in cash also was recovered, according to police.
The 10 people were arrested Tuesday and taken to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail, where they were booked and processed:
Keegan Paugh, 22, charged with one count of marijuana distribution, one count of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, four counts of possession of a Schedule II drug, one count of possession of a Schedule III drug and one count of marijuana possession.
Daniel Jacob McBride, 20, charged with two counts of distribution of a schedule II drug and two counts of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
Biloliddin Tulamirza, 18, charged with one count of felony distribution of marijuana and 1 county of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
Shannon Cannaday, 20, charged with one count of felony distribution of marijuana and one count of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
Nicolas George Manuel, 22, charged with one count of distribution of a Schedule I drug and one count of selling drugs with 1,000 feet of a school.
Timothy Tyrone Pryor, 27, charged with one count of felony distribution of marijuana.
Jacob Selmonosky, 18, charged with two counts of distribution of Schedule II drug and two counts of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
Devin Moore, 20, charged with five counts of distribution of a Schedule I drug, two counts of distribution of a Schedule II drug and five counts of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
Alexander Patrick Foley, 20, one count of distribution of a Schedule II drug and one count of selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
Gi Sang Yoon, 40, charged with two counts of felony distribution of marijuana and one count of possession of hashish.
William & Mary spokeswoman Suzanne Seurattan said William & Mary Police were not involved in the investigation and were not aware of it until the arrests were made.
“The news of these arrests was both surprising and disappointing,” Seurattan said. “We know the university is not immune to crimes that affect all of society but as an institution and a member of this community, we take the issue of drugs – and all matters of crime prevention and safety — seriously. When we learn about issues on our campus we investigate promptly, take legal action as necessary and provide resources to anyone in our community dealing with a drug use problem or addiction. It is an issue we must and will continue to focus on as a university.”
When asked about Yoon, Seurattan said university practice is to not to make specific comments regarding personnel matters.
The Tri-Rivers Task Force is a regional law enforcement drug task force and includes the following jurisdictions: Mathews County Sheriff’s Office, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, James City County Police, Williamsburg Police, Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, Poquoson Police and the Virginia State Police.
