Law-enforcement officers in Moore, Hoke, Richmond and Scotland counties made numerous arrests and seized drugs and firearms in the first phase of a sex offender registry compliance drive.

The purpose of Operation SCOTS was to ensure that convicted sex offenders currently mandated to meet the requirements of North Carolina sex offender registry statutes in these four counties were fulfilling their obligation under the law, according to Bill Stafford, U.S. marshal for the Middle District of North Carolina.

From Nov. 7-11, investigators from the four agencies, as well as the N.C. Division of Community Corrections, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the State Bureau of Investigation, fanned out across the four counties to conduct compliance checks on all current sex offender registrants.

As a result of the compliance check, 35 people were arrested on assorted charges, including possessing and distributing illegal drugs, firearms violations, violation of probation/parole, sex offender registry violations and various outstanding warrants, a news release said. In addition, investigators seized 18 firearms, more than 400 grams of marijuana, a small amount of cocaine and six computer/video game devices.

Nearly 400 compliance checks were accomplished by visiting the residences of current sex offender registrants in all four counties, the release said.

“This is a great example of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies joining forces for the betterment of our communities,” Stafford said of Operation SCOTS. “Noncompliant registry violators of the Sandhills region of North Carolina have been served notice that their illegal activity will not be tolerated.”

Moore County Sheriff Lane Carter said Operation SCOTS was a big success in Moore County.

“We were able to confirm the addresses of all 105 sex offenders that reside in our county,” Carter said. “I am very proud of my guys for the hard work as well as the long hours they put into this operation. I salute the U.S. marshals, N.C. Division of Community Corrections (probation-parole) and all involved for a job well done.”

In the second phase, investigative efforts will continue by arresting and prosecuting violators who have been identified as being out of compliance with registry requirements, the release said.

Some of these cases could be referred to the U.S. attorney’s office for federal prosecution under the Adam Walsh Act. In 2006, the U.S. Marshals Service was designated by Congress as the lead agency in prosecuting registry violators who disregard their legal responsibilities and do so while residing outside of their state of registry, according to the news release.

Those listed in the press release as arrested in Moore include:

Ricky Allen Moore, West End, possession of firearm by convicted felon.

Jordan Dana Kirk, Jackson Springs, possession of schedule I controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and use of a social networking site by registered sex offender.

Daniel Justin Pardue, Carthage, use of a social networking site by registered sex offender.

Steven Lawrence Gillespie, Carthage, citation for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Justin Lynn Mabe, Eagle Springs, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear in court.

Travis Wayne Mofield, Aberdeen, citation for possession of drug paraphernalia.

James Lawrence Smith Jr., Southern Pines, citations for possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of marijuana.

Melvin Lee Miles, Southern Pines, probation/parole violation.