Drug sting nets 500 pounds of pot and fancy cars


@@facebook=

@@

Staff Writer

HAMILTON — The large-scale drug seizure last week by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office is “just a needle in a haystack,” said Sheriff Richard K. Jones.

More than 500 pounds of marijuana tucked inside the sleeping quarters of a semi-trailer traveling from Arizona were seized March 3 along Symmes Road in Fairfield. The marijuana has a street value of more than $600,000.

Jones said it’s believed the drugs originated in Mexico.

While arriving to pick up the shipment of drugs, deputies arrested Thomas E. King, 31, of Fort Wayne, Ind. The state has charged King with second-degree felony possession of drugs but additional federal charges are pending, Jones said.

King posted bail after being booked into Butler County Jail. An arraignment in Fairfield Municipal Court was scheduled March 8.

The investigation is ongoing between the sheriff’s Butler Undercover Regional Narcotics Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and more arrests are expected in the coming weeks.

Lt. Mike Craft said King also has a residence in Butler County and has been a target of the sheriff’s office and other agencies for many months. No further information about the arrest was released.

In total, the sheriff’s office seized from King more than 500 pounds of marijuana, a loaded Kel-Tec semi-automatic rifle, a Freightliner semi-trailer, a Lexus, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a GMC Denali, a Dodge Ram, a Chrysler Aspen, and most notably a “green machine” Chevrolet Caprice painted and detailed with an Incredible Hulk theme.

“Police officer shootings are up more than ever and when the bad guys have better guns than the officers that’s crazy,” Jones said of the weapon.

The vehicles are worth $500,000, according to Jones.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or Hannah.Poturalski@coxinc.com.

About the Author