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Gang Members Arrested for Counterfeit Money and Drugs
08/20/08 - 04:50 PM
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Information developed by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the recent Coe Road Homicide investigation has made more arrests.

Investigators have learned that on Friday, August 15, 2008, the local Outlaw Disciples gang contacted Robert Thompson of the Crazy White Boys gang and ordered $1,100.00 of crack cocaine.  Robert Thompson is the brother of murder suspect James David Thompson.  Investigators now believe that when the Outlaw Disciples received the crack cocaine, they paid the Crazy White Boys in eleven counterfeit $100 dollar bills.  When the Crazy White Boys discovered the fake bills, gang members Robert Thompson, James David Thompson, and Michael Anthony Flesch, aka “Worm” retaliated by kidnapping a member of the Outlaw Disciples gang and holding him for three and a half hours at Flesch’s residence and then a motel on Panama City Beach.  The Outlaw Disciples gang responded by telling the Crazy White Boys they had no idea the bills were counterfeit and that they themselves had been victimized and given the fake money by a man in Bayou George.  The Outlaw Disciples gang is not affiliated with the Outlaw Motorcycle gang or the Gangster Disciples. 

As a result of this new information, two search warrants were served this morning.  The first search warrant was done at 2309 Laurie Avenue Lot 4 on Panama City Beach, the residence of Michael Anthony Flesch and Ashley Nicole Freeman, both arrested on Monday, August 18, 2008, for assisting murder suspect James David Thompson in evading law enforcement.  James David Thompson is charged with shooting Stephen Weed on Coe Road in Bayou George on Sunday, August 17, 2008. 

Additional charges were put on Flesch, Robert Thompson, and James Thompson Wednesday.  The three are charged with Kidnapping and Aggravated Assault.  James Thompson also has an additional charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  Michael Anthony Flesch was charged with an additional count of Aggravated Assault as a result of a female who was accosted with a firearm at the time of the kidnapping of the Outlaw Disciples gang.

The second search warrant was done at 2209-A E. 17th Street in Cedar Grove.  Evidence found in this location was a large amount of counterfeit bills and counterfeiting equipment.  Counterfeit equipment was also recovered by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team in the waters of East Bay.  Suspects stated that after watching the story on television of yesterday’s Press Conference with Sheriff McKeithen on the Coe Road Homicide, Outlaw Disciple gang members were afraid of being discovered and threw the equipment into the waters of East Bay.  In connection with this search warrant, Gregory Allen Rhodes, DOB 10/31/82, was arrested and charged with Forgery of a Bank Bill and Tampering with Physical Evidence.  Samantha Ellis, 7/24/90, of 5714 Pine Tree, and Tiffany Nicole Melvin, 9/18/91 was arrested and charged with Uttering a Forged Bill.

Investigators are now searching for Justin Flannagan, 2/23/81 on charges of Forgery of a Bank Bill and Procuring a Minor for Prostitution, and Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Certain Minor and Michael Engebretson, 5/17/80, on charges of Forgery of a Bank Bill, and Jessica Sims, 6/11/81, for Uttering a Forged Bill.

The investigation continues and additional arrests and charges are expected.

Law enforcement agencies participating in Wednesday’s investigation were the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, FDLE, SAO, Cedar Grove Police Department, US Marshall’s Office, Secret Service, and the Florida Highway Patrol.