Investigation leads to arrests, deportation

Updated at 7:15 p.m.

PELETIER — A case of collaboration resulted in the arrest of three Carteret County residents and the deportation of a Yugoslavia man.

The Emerald Isle Police Department, Carteret County Sheriff’s Office and N.C. Probation and Parole worked together on an investigation that led them Wednesday night to a home in western Carteret County, where they found more than suspects in a larceny case.

Arrested were: Kevin Mallette, 36; Renee Zeller, 29; Dragan Vukicevic, 48, all of Stoney Brook Drive, Peletier; and Richard “Richie” Echavez, 18, of 105 Stoney Brook Drive, according to a news release from the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday night, investigators arrived at the residence on Stoney Brook Drive with arrest warrants for Mallette and Zeller on charges of larceny and possession of stolen property related to a previous investigation by Emerald Isle police.

Emerald Isle Chief Bill Hargett said the charges against Mallette and Zeller stem from an investigation into a larceny from a construction site, but investigators also had information about suspected activity that brought them together on the case.

“That’s what happens when you work together; you get a lot done,” he said.

A search of the residence revealed narcotics and resulted in the apprehension of Vukicevic, an illegal alien from Yugoslavia.

Vukicevic gave authorities the fictitious name of Thomas O’Neal but was later identified after being fingerprinted at the Emerald Isle Police Department using its Automated Fingerprint Identification system. Investigators received a identification on the fingerprint and information indicating that Vukicevic was to be detained for deportation, the news release said.

Vukicevic spent the night in custody at the Carteret County Jail and was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Thursday morning

As a result of the narcotics found, Echavez was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II narcotic, and underage consumption of alcohol.

Franklin “Frankie” Jenkins, 18, who also resides at the Stoney Brook address, was issued citations for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and underage possession and consumption of alcohol, the news release said.

Contact Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jpippin@freedomenc.com. 

An investigation by three area law enforcement agencies led to multiple arrests and one deportation, authorities say.

Kevin Mallette, 36; Renee Zeller, 29; Dragan Vukicevic, 48; and Richard Echavez, 18, all of Stoney Brook Drive in Pelletier; were arrested Wednesday night when investigators with the Carteret County Sheriff's Office, Emerald Isle Police Department and the N.C. Department of Probation and Parole arrived at their residence with arrest warrants for Mallette and Zeller, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Office.

Mallette and Zeller were charged with larceny and possession of stolen property from a previous investigation by the EIPD, according to the release. Their bonds were set at $2,000.

A search of the residence revealed narcotics and Vukicevic, an illegal alien from Yugoslavia, according to the release.

Echavez was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a schedule II narcotic and underage consumption of alcohol. His bond was set at $1,000. 

Franklin Jenkins, 18 also of Stoney Brook Drive, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and underage possession and consumption of alcohol.

Vukicevic, who initially gave investigators a fictitious name, was identified after being fingerprinted at the EIPD. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System identified him within seven minutes, according to the release, and indicated that he was to be held for deportation. He'd been on the run since 1995.

He was detained Wednesday night on an order issued by the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service. He was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Thursday morning.