Guns and Drugs Found in Gwinnett County Daycare

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - An assault rifle, cocaine and lots of cash-- not the kind of items you associate with an in-home child care center, but Gwinnett Police said they found lots of contraband in a Snellville home on Ashington Drive November 19 following a tip about drugs being sold from the home.

A neighbor told FOX 5's Portia Bruner, "I figured something was going on over there. There's always cars coming in and out all times of the day and night. In the morning, you see people dropping little kids and in the evening they get picked up. There's a lot of activity."

Investigators said they found cocaine inside a vehicle when they stopped Jimmy Simpkins from pulling out of the driveway. Police secured a search warrant and that's when the said they found contraband throughout the home. Cpl. Michele Pihera said the cash, drugs, guns and many items used to distribute drugs were found in rooms near the common area where four to six children are cared for during the day.

Simpkins, 41, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving on a suspended license and a tag violation. His brother, 39-year-old Joseph Simpkins, was charged possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of drug related items and other charges.

Police charged Eric Zavare Ray possession with intent to distribute, marijuana possession and possession of drug related items.

Friday afternoon, police escorted a woman from Bright from the Start into the house. She stayed for 30 minutes and left without commenting about the case. Investigators called in state officials after Knishasa Ray told police she cares for four to six children in the home during the day. Cpl. Michele Pihera told FOX 5 many of the guns, drugs and items commonly used to distribute drugs were found in rooms near the common area where the children are kept.

Investigators secured an arrest warrant for Ms. Ray for reckless conduct, but as of Friday evening, she was still inside the home refusing to comment about what police found in her home and the three men who were arrested. According to booking records, all 3 men list 4575 Ashington Drive in Snellville as their address. The suspects remain in custody at the Gwinnett County jail.