Drug dealers dump 3,000 pounds of pot in yard . . .Posted by Tiger at April 14, 2003 09:51 AMBy MICHAEL SHAW Post-Dispatch
updated: 03/14/2003 08:36 PMApparently not ones for subtlety, drug dealers last week pulled up to an East St. Louis mobile home in a flatbed truck and dumped 3,000 pounds or more of marijuana into the yard, according to charges filed in federal court.
The bundles, each as high as a man's shoulder, were picked up later by others in a rental truck and secured in the basement of a nearby home.
On Friday, police, the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office revealed details of the delivery and the arrest of three East St. Louis residents.
Officials called it an "extremely significant" drug bust. The deal appears to be orchestrated by several Mexican nationals who have not been identified by authorities.
In court documents, FBI Agent John Jimenez said the alleged recipient of the marijuana, Desean Conners, 33, confessed, telling authorities that the Mexican suppliers wanted to increase his usual 50-pound supply; he expected a delivery of no more than 700 pounds.
St. Louis police caught on to the wholesale drug operation after officers stopped a car March 8 with 45 pounds of marijuana, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday against Conners and two others.
The driver agreed to cooperate and told police about the delivery that had been made, the complaint says.
After observing the home and obtaining a search warrant, police seized about 2,000 pounds of marijuana Tuesday from the home's basement.
Facing charges of drug distribution are Conners, Montrell Wilson, 32, a resident of the home in the 3300 block of Market Street where police say marijuana was found, and Montrez Wilson, 28, who allegedly pulled a package of marijuana from the mobile home while police observed.
The investigation involved U.S. marshals and police officers from East St. Louis, Belleville and O'Fallon, Ill.
The charges carry a minimum 10-year prison term. The three are expected to appear for a detention hearing Wednesday in federal court in East St. Louis.
Reporter Michael Shaw:
E-mail: mshaw@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 618-235-3988