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County successfully seizes
$270,210 in drug money
Wayne White
Managing Editor
LYNDON—Drug money from the major drug corridor that passes
through the county, I-35, has now been deposited in a local bank.
Osage County Attorney Brandon Jones announced last week that forfeiture
proceedings for $270,210 confiscated from a Mexican citizen July
22 were successful, resulting in 85 percent of the funds being distributed
to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and 15 percent going
to the county attorney’s office.
According to an affidavit filed in Osage County District Court,
Osage County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Kirkpatrick stopped Lucas
Castro Garcia, 30, of Mexico, about 11:30 a.m. on July 22, for an
obstructed license tag. Garcia was southbound on I-35 when stopped
at mile marker 157.
In the affidavit, Osage County Sheriff’s Deputy Wallace H.
Long said Kirkpatrick smelled a strong odor of fresh paint and body
putty in the 1998 Ford F-150 pickup. In addition, Garcia would not
make eye contact with him and his hands were shaking uncontrollably,
leading Kirkpatrick to believe the truck was involved in criminal
activity. Kirkpatrick requested assistance, with Long arriving at
the scene.
According to the affidavit, Kirkpatrick issued Garcia a verbal warning
for the obstructed tag and no insurance and told him he was free
to leave. After Garcia began trying to fix his tag, Long asked to
search the vehicle and Garcia consented.
When the deputies looked under the hood of the truck, they could
see through a hole in the firewall what appeared to be money wrapped
in clear plastic.
The truck was taken to Lebo Garage, where a false compartment was
found in the firewall of the truck. Inside the false compartment,
23 bundles of U.S. currency were located that totaled $270,210.
A drug dog detected the odor of drugs on the money.
When asked about the money, Garcia denied any knowledge of it. His
cell phone was seized; Long’s affidavit said it contained
the names and numbers of numerous known drug dealers in the Kansas
City area.
Garcia was booked into the Osage County Jail suspected of being
in possession of drug proceeds, but no formal charges or traffic
offenses were filed in the case. He was held in custody for the
Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Jones filed the forfeiture notice July 23 in Osage County District
Court, alleging the cash and pickup were property and proceeds of
felony violations of drug laws.
“It’s drug money,” Jones said at the time.
Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn confirmed Tuesday that the money
had been safely deposited in a local bank in a county account. While
awaiting disposition of the case, the money had been safely stored
at the bank.
Dunn said she was pleased with the result of the traffic stop, noting
drug money could now be put to good use.
“I do believe it’s our largest one-time seizure, to
the best of my recollection,” she said.
She said she had no specific plans for the funds, but state statute
defines the manner in which the money can be used.
“The money can be used for anything other than salaries or
normal budget items,” Jones said this week.
Dunn said she expects to use some of the funds to help pay for the
just-completed jail project. She said the sheriff’s department
is also in need of some new bulletproof vests.
“It takes a lot of burden off for things you can’t always
purchase,” Dunn said. “We also use that money to do
other narcotic-related things.”
Dunn’s department will also receive the confiscated pickup,
although she said she does not yet know the condition of that vehicle
or whether it can be of value to the sheriff’s office. In
court documents, the pickup was valued at $3,250.
According to Long’s affidavit, it is known that Mexican and
South American drug cartels send large quantities of drugs into
major cities in the United States, such as Kansas City, by way of
I-35. Large quantities of drugs travel north, and when the drugs
arrive at their destination, they are exchanged for large amounts
of cash. The cash is then transported south on I-35 to the cartels
in Mexico and South America. |
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