Drug raid nets 7 pounds of marijuana,
nearly $5,000 cash
By Kathy Helms-Hughes
STAR STAFF
khughes@starhq.com
As long as there is supply and demand, illegal
drug trafficking, like alcohol during the days of Prohibition,
will continue to be a profitable sideline business.
How profitable? Take 7 pounds of high-grade marijuana,
divide it into ounces (16 x 7) and multiply the total by $160
to $180. Not a bad haul. Unless the supplier gets caught,
as was the case Wednesday night when agents from the First
Judicial District Drug Task Force and officers from Carter
County Sheriff's Department, including K-9 Unit, Deputy Sarah
Ryan and Sgt. Kabor, executed a search warrant in the Blue
Springs area.
Now, to determine profit margin, subtract: the
cost of four cars, one motorcycle, $5,000 in cash, $42,500
bond, attorney fees, fines, court costs, and jail time. OK,
so maybe it's not that profitable.
DTF Director Kenneth Phillips said during a press
conference Thursday that his agency was contacted about a
month ago by Carter County Sheriff John Henson to discuss
"a problem he was having in the Blue Springs area of the county;
a subject that was supposed to be bringing in large amounts
of marijuana and selling to residents of Carter County and
the surrounding area.
"We started an investigation which culminated
last night [Wednesday] with the execution of a search warrant
at 227 Bishop Hollow Road, which was the residence of James
Steve Shelton. At the time that we executed the search warrant,
we found approximately 7 pounds of marijuana, close to $5,000
in cash, seized four cars and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle,"
Phillips said.
Among the vehicles seized were a 2002 Pontiac
Trans Am, a 1995 Geo Tracker, a 1993 Pontiac Grand Prix, a
1979 Pontiac Trans Am, and a 1976 Harley. Total currency amounted
to $4,944.
Officers also found digital scales, packaging
material, and some pills believed to be Xanax. Shelton, 33,
was charged with possession of Schedule VI for resale, possession
of Schedule IV for resale, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Timothy Shaun Rutherford, 19, who lived at the
residence with Shelton, was charged with possession of marijuana
and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at
$7,500.
Both men have been released on bond from Carter
County Jail, Phillips said.
According to Sheriff Henson, "I received information
through a concerned citizen ... and they advised me that this
person was bringing in large amounts of marijuana and dealing
in drugs." The sheriff then notified DTF.
Phillips said the drug operation probably would
be classified as
"upper level" for the Carter County area.
Henson agreed. "This person has been moving quite
a bit of drugs. As you can see, that's quite a bit of marijuana
when you get to breaking it down and bagging it up. If you
catch a person with this much, you can pretty well figure
he's moving quite a bit. And from the information that I got
through a concerned citizen, quite a bit of drug activity
was going on," the sheriff said.
The marijuana was described as "imported" rather
than "homegrown" variety. DTF is still working to determine
point of origin.
Monetary value of the marijuana was estimated
at $20,000-plus. "Usually people pay about $1,300 to $1,500
a pound for it and then they sell it for $160 to $180 an ounce,"
Phillips said. Profit depends on "how you break it down,"
he said, with $20,000 the median between the two.
Henson said the tip from a concerned resident
paid off. "Neighbors notice more than you think. You get a
lot of traffic in and out, and they don't stay but a few minutes,
it's a good possibility you've got a drug dealer living in
the community," he said.
"With the DTF and all of the sheriff's departments
working together, we are getting something done; we're making
a difference. That's the only way that we're ever going to
get ahead on this thing, is everybody pulling together and
everybody working together."
The sheriff said drug eradication is No. 1 on
his priority list. "I've always been dead-set against drugs
and always will be," he said.
