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Last updated on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
(GREENE COUNTY) - The Greene County Drug Task Force’s (GCDTF) work with confidential informants in February led to six drug-related arrests.
Sabrina Westfall, of Greene County Daily World reports, Erika M. Smith, 28, and Michael R. McQuillen, 38, both of Linton, were arrested on warrants for preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine in an amount of more than three grams, class A felonies.
During an ongoing drug investigation, officer's met with a confidential informant who had indicated he/she had been purchasing methamphetamine from McQuillen and Smith, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with Greene Superior Court by Linton Police Department Det. Josh Goodman.
The informant was provided with pre-recorded money and kept under constant surveillance as he/she went to meet with McQuillen and Smith.
According to the probable cause, McQuillen indicated to the informant he was out of methamphetamine, and Smith allegedly said she was waiting to hear back from her source.
Police surveillance showed Smith left her residence shortly after meeting with the informant and traveled to another residence.
Once Smith left the residence, Jasonville Police Officer Andrew Duguay and LPD K-9 Officer Michael Watts conducted a traffic stop on Smith for a speeding infraction.
LPD K-9 Luke gave a positive alert for narcotics in the vehicle, and Officer Duguay could smell the scent of marijuana.
"Officer Duguay spoke with Ms. Smith about the odor of marijuana and her response was to reach in her pocket and hand him three plastic bags containing a clear/white crystal-like substance. This substance later field tested positive for methamphetamine," Goodman wrote in the report.
Smith also handed officers two plastic bags containing a total of two ounces of a green plant-like material, believed to be marijuana.
She indicated McQuillen uses methamphetamine and together they sell it for a second income. McQuillen had allegedly told her to pick up the methamphetamine from the residence.
Keith O. McKee, 53, and Barbara S. Nugent, 50, both of Sullivan, were picked up on warrants for preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine, class A felonies.
According to a probable cause filed with Greene Superior Court, the GCDTF spoke with two confidential informants, who indicated McKee had provided them with methamphetamine on a "front" and still owed McKee money.
"A 'front' is when a dealer delivers controlled substances to a customer first and then receives payment for those substances at a later time or date," Goodman explained in the probable cause.
Officers supplied the confidential informants with marked currency to meet with McKee to pay for the "fronted" controlled substance.
The first informant also noted sometimes McKee brings along his girlfriend, Nugent, to meet his supplier.
The informant arranged a time to meet to pay for the "fronted" substances, and Nugent accepted the money on McKee's behalf.
Nugent allegedly indicated to the informant she and McKee had plans later in the day to meet with their supplier in Indianapolis to get more methamphetamine.
Surveillance by the GCDTF confirmed their trip to Indianapolis, and the informants contacted McKee to deliver methamphetamine at the informant's residence.
JPD Officer Ryan Van Horn stayed in the residence to observe the transaction.
McKee allegedly supplied the informant with approximately one-eighth ounce of a white crystal-like substance, which Goodman believed was methamphetamine.
"During the deal, Mr. McKee indicated to the informants that he had picked up a quarter pound of methamphetamine at a time," Goodman wrote.
Based on another contact with the couple by the informant, officers believed they were in possession of more than three grams of methamphetamine with an intent to deliver.
Upon receiving a search warrant for McKee's residence, vehicle and property, officers located one-half ounce of what appeared to be methamphetamine and more than 30 grams of a what appeared to be marijuana, according to Goodman.
In an interview with McKee, he allegedly told officers he had been selling methamphetamine and marijuana for several months, typically picking up one-fourth ounce of methamphetamine every couple days and had distributed to several Indiana counties, as well as Illinois.
Smith, McQuillen, McKee and Nugent are in Greene County Jail, with their pretrial conferences set for June 4 at 2:30 p.m.
Linton Police Department, Jasonville Police Department, Worthington Police Department, Indiana State Police and a member of the U.S. Marshals office assisted in the investigation.
Debra A. Ducan, 54, of Linton, was arrested on a warrant for preliminary charges of two counts of dealing a schedule I, II or III controlled substance, class B felonies; and dealing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a youth program center, a class A felony.
Jimmy D. Modesitt, 51, of Linton, was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing marijuana, a class C felony; and maintaining a common nuisance, a class D felony.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with Greene Circuit Court by LPD Officer Brock Garrison, the GCDTF met with an informant who advised he/she was able to buy prescription medication from Duncan.
The informant noted Duncan lived with Modesitt, who sold marijuana.
Equipped with pre-recorded currency and a digital recording device, three controlled buys provided officers with several Hydrocodone pills.
During the second controlled buy, Duncan did not have change for one of the $20 bills, so Modesitt provided the informant with two "joints."
At the time of the transaction, a day care was within 1,000 feet and operating.
Duncan and Modesitt are in Greene County Jail with no bond set pending a court appearance.
Linton Police Department, Indiana State Police and the U.S. Marshall's service participated in the investigation.
Duncan has a pretrial conference set for Sept. 5 at 8:30 a.m., and a jury trial Oct. 2 at 9 a.m.
Modesitt has a pretrial conference set for Sept. 5 at 8:30 a.m. and a jury trial Sept. 25 at 9 a.m.
"The cooperation amongst (police) agencies is better today than it has ever been. We are sharing information and cooperating more than we ever have," LPD Chief Troy Jerrell noted.
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