Arrest of Jarvis Vaughn is the latest in Drug Task Force investigation

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Jarvis Michael Vaughn, 32, was arrested yesterday on warrants for 19 charges plus failure to pay child support. The charges spanned five criminal cases from 2020 and 2021 that included selling drugs, robbery, burglary, racketeering, and domestic battery.

The drug investigation by the Gainesville Alachua County Drug Task Force began in April of 2019 when the Task Force was investigating a group of individuals suspected of distributing cocaine, cathinones, MDMA, cannabis, prescription pills, promethazine, and codeine from a house in the 1700 block of NE 20th Place. Confidential sources were used to purchase various drugs from Vaughn and his associates, who either lived or spent time at the residence owned by Vaughn’s brother, Johntavis Vaughn. The drug sales took place within 1000 feet of Rising Star Academy, a daycare facility, and the University of Florida East Campus on Waldo Road.

According to the First Appearance Order, Jarvis Vaughn has 3 felony convictions (2 for drug charges), 7 misdemeanor convictions, and 12 traffic violations. He was released from prison in 2014 after serving time for cocaine possession. Vaughn was arrested in July 2020 on drug charges from the same investigation and released on bond, but the bond was revoked in August 2021 because there was probable cause that he had committed other crimes (domestic batter, robbery, burglary, and tampering with a witness) while out on bail.

The others who have been charged in the drug sales associated with Johntavis Vaughn’s house are Johntavis Vaughn, currently serving a 5-year sentence on charges of selling drugs within 1000 feet of a daycare, racketeering, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and other charges; Derrick Rutledge, currently serving a 7-year sentence on similar charges; Garrett Phillips, who failed to appear at a hearing for his case on possession charges on September 14, 2021; and George Fort, who is currently serving an 18-month sentence after violating probation on drug charges.