GREENEVILLE-A Newport man was arrested Friday on drug charges and appeared Monday before Judge Dennis Inman in U.S. District Court.

Ronnie L. Davidson of Newport is charged with "knowingly, intentionally and without authority possess with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine," according to court records.

The complaint states that, "On Nov. 2, as a result of a continuing investigation into illegal activities in Cocke County by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force, agents executed a federal search warrant with the assistance of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office, Newport Police Department and a Morristown Police Department K-9 unit at a residence at 301 White Oak St. in Newport.

During the search of the residence, "agents found a plastic bag in the laundry room containing over 8 grams of cocaine base. Davidson was in the residence at the time of the execution of the search warrant and was initially seen in the vicinity of the residence's laundry room."

The complaint further states that Davidson "agreed to speak to FBI agent and indicated that any illegal narcotics found in the residence belonged to him. Davidson also admitted to purchasing quantities of cocaine and cocaine base and reselling cocaine and cocaine base for a period of two to three months, during which time he was selling approximately '8 ball' to 1/4 ounce quantities of cocaine and cocaine base approximately 10 times per week.

Davidson waived a detention hearing and is being detained until further orders.