The Lee County Sheriff’s Office today reported the arrests of five people involved in a cocaine operation. Investigators said on January 29, members of the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Division Narcotics Unit wrapped up a nearly two-month long investigation into area cocaine trafficking. In the early weeks of December 2008, undercover operatives purchased Oxycontin pills from an individual identified as Shaun Brandt, 36, Brandt informed investigators he could help facilitate cocaine purchases through a contact of his, later identified as Danielle Martin, 18.

Undercover operatives arranged to purchase two ounces of cocaine from Martin. Through this transaction, detectives learned that Martin’s supplier’s name was Jessie James Peterson, 23. Through Brandt and Martin, detectives were able to set up a meeting with Peterson, who agreed to sell detectives whatever amount of cocaine they wanted for one-thousand dollars per ounce, provided they go through Brandt and Martin when conducting future purchases, investigators said. This arrangement led to a series of additional cocaine purchases between undercover operatives and Brandt, Martin and Peterson, they said.

On January 29, undercover detectives set up another transaction to purchase cocaine from Brandt and Martin. Peterson was also expected to be present during the transaction. This transaction was set to take place at the Davis Boat Ramp in the Fort Myers Shores area. Once all three suspects were present on scene, arrest teams moved in and took all three individuals into custody, investigators said. As Peterson was secured, detectives located a firearm in his front pocket. Some 145 grams of cocaine was also.

A passenger who rode to the scene with Peterson, identified as Arnold Andrews, 24, was also arrested. Andrews informed deputies the gun found on Peterson actually belonged to him, investigators said. This was a violation of the terms of Andrews’ probation. He was arrested and taken into custody.

A fifth person on scene, William Martin, 20, the brother of Danielle Martin, was found to be in possession of marijuana. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives recovered approximately 220 grams of cocaine with an estimated street value of $6,000, investigators said.

Arrested and charged are the following:

Jesse Peterson – Sale and possession of cocaine; 2 counts of trafficking in cocaine; possession of firearm during the commission of a felony; resisting arrest without violence

Danielle Martin – Conspiracy to sell cocaine; 2 counts of conspiracy to traffic cocaine

Shaun Brandt – Trafficking in opiates; conspiracy to sell cocaine; 2 counts of conspiracy to traffic cocaine

William Martin – Possession of marijuana under 20 grams

Arnold Andrews – Violation of probation