WLBT.com - Jackson, MS$500K in marijuana seized, 3 Hinds County men arrested

$500K in marijuana seized, 3 Hinds County men arrested

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David Earl Jones Courtesy: MBN David Earl Jones Courtesy: MBN
Jeremy Stambaugh Courtesy: MBN Jeremy Stambaugh Courtesy: MBN
Johnny Earl Course Courtesy: MBN Johnny Earl Course Courtesy: MBN
JACKSON, MS (WLBT) -

A multi-jurisdictional task force led by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics seized a major shipment of drugs.

The marijuana was headed to the streets of Jackson with a value of $500,000.

Four hundred and sixteen pounds of mid-grade pot was confiscated here at an auto detail shop next to Paradise Auto Sales.

Agents of the Bureau of Narcotics developed information that led them to the car lot at the corner of Gallatin and West Streets in south Jackson. There they found more than 400 pounds of pot intended for distribution in the Capital City.

Lawmen call the bust significant. "This is a mid-grade marijuana, which is not the best but not the worst. It's a good grade. Four hundred, sixteen pounds is a significant amount anywhere but here in Jackson, it's very significant," said MBN's Lt. Col. Mike Perkins.

Arrested were 38-year-old Johnny Earl Course of Jack son, the alleged ring-leader. He has a drug trafficking conviction in Texas and a pending drug trial in Arizona. Also in jail, 53-year-old David Jones of Edwards and 42-year-old Jeremy Stambaugh of Clinton, who owns Paradise Auto Sales.

There are a handful of businesses in the area. And workers say they were surprised to find out the detail shop at Paradise Auto was the front for a dope operation. "He'd send guys over here to pick up materials, hose ends and stuff to clean cars with and see him over at the station all the time. He comes in and gets packs of cigarettes and cokes, whatever and I had no idea, you know, of course a lot of times you can't tell about people," said Rodney Craddock, an area businessman.

 Lawmen say the bust will make a dent in Jackson's drug traffic. "This is going to hurt the addicts looking for marijuana this weekend in Jackson. It's going to definitely put a curve in it and hopefully stop one source of marijuana that's been coming into the Jackson area," Perkins added.

The United States Attorney will prosecute the case because of Johnny Course's history of drug charges and conviction.

All three are being held in the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond awaiting their arraignments before a federal magistrate.

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