THREE NABBED IN STING TARGETING ALCOHOL SALES TO MINORS

Three store clerks are facing criminal charges following an undercover sting operation Friday night in the DeBary area aimed at combating the sale of alcohol to minors. The operation was conducted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

A total of 22 businesses were targeted during the operation. Of the 22 businesses, 18 were in compliance with state laws prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21 as well as the prohibition against selling tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. Three of the businesses sold alcohol to an underage operative who was working with officers as part of the sting operation.

Charges were filed against the following people:

Jayson Guest, Kangaroo Store, 399 S. Charles R. Beall Blvd., DeBary.
Moxia Patel, Lil Sammy’s, 2135 S. Volusia Ave., Orange City.
Giri Santosh, Citgo Express, 14 S. Charles R. Beall Blvd., DeBary.

In addition to the three violations above, one store clerk -- Amanda Janocha at Martins Oil, 515 S. Volusia Ave., Orange City -- was cited for selling tobacco to a minor. All four clerks were issued notices to appear in court. After the sting operation, sheriff’s deputies fanned out into the community in a proactive enforcement operation targeting street crimes in the area. Among those arrested during the operation were 30-year-old Justin Lott of Orange City for possession of Oxycodone and 21-year-old Victor Olvera-Gamero of Astor on an open warrant for a probation violation associated with a prior charge of driving without a valid license.