Scott County officers bust local drug pipeline

By: Greg Bird

A Stearns man arrested in Scott County Monday on drug trafficking charges was allegedly carrying $10,000 in cash to be used to purchase crystal meth being transported from Georgia.

The Independent Herald reports the sequence of events started around 1:30 a.m. Monday morning after a traffic stop turned up a large amount of crystal meth being transported to McCreary County.

Jeffery “Brownie” Jones, of Stearns was arrested early Monday morning on drug trafficking charges after officers intercepted a drug shipment allegedly on its way to Jones’ residence.

A broken registration light over a license plate led to Scott County Deputy pulling over a vehicle just north of Oneida. The officer found the pair, identified as Garold David Sexton and Deleisha Owens, “extremely nervous, ” and discovered Sexton was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Georgia.

The vehicle was searched and a camouflage container with 13.76 ounces of crystal meth with an estimated street value of more than $10,000 was found.

In questioning the suspects, Owens allegedly said the pair were on their way to Kentucky to deliver the meth to a man known as “Brownie” in exchange for $10,000. Apparently this was the second trip that was made, and the cash was for payment of the first shipment.

Owens apparently further stated she was to be paid $1,000 to ride with Sexton from Chatsworth, Georgia to McCreary County.

Authorities identified Jeffery “Brownie” Jones, of Stearns, and had the suspects contact him to arrange a meeting in Scott County.

Jones’ vehicle was stopped and searched where $10,000 in cash was discovered and seized.

Sheriff Randy Waters stated he was notified of the incident that morning and was prepared to assist the Scott County officers in arresting Jones at his residence in Stearns, but was not needed after Jones went to Scott County instead.

The Independent Herald quotes Scott County Sheriff’s Drug Agent Kris Lewallen as stating the meth originated in Mexico, as meth manufacturing in Scott County is down since efforts by former District Attorney Lori Phillips-Jones convinced local pharmacies to replace Sudafed with alternates making the pseudoephedrine more difficult to extract.

In addition to the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, officers from the Oneida Police Department assisted in the investigation.