Sheriff's office wraps up designer drug investigation

STATESVILLE, NC - A Bostic man was arrested as a result of an investigation into a designer drug operation, Iredell County Sheriff Phil Redmond said Friday.
Franklin Scott Crook, 31, was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to traffick LSD. He was on bond for drug trafficking charges in Henderson County and Rutherford County at the time of his arrest, Redmond said.
The investigation began in December, when the sheriff's office, in conjunction with the State Bureau of Investigation, targeted a designer drug ring based in northern Iredell County, the sheriff said. In the course of the investigation, Redmond said, it was learned this ring had been operating for five years and was distributing quantities of LSD, MDMA (ecstasy), DMT (dimethyltryptamine),a psychedelic drug, mescaline, psilocybin and high grade marijuana in various counties in the Piedmont.
The sheriff's office infiltrated the organization, using undercover operatives. Between December and February, undercover officers purchased different types of LSD, MDMA, mescaline, psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana from a residence in northern Iredell County, Redmond said.
The investigation also led to Yadkin County, where undercover operatives bought cocaine from several individuals, Redmond said.
Investigators seized approximately 230 dosages of LSD, 43 grams of powder MDMA, 56 grams of cocaine and 10 grams of mushrooms, Redmond said. The value of these drugs, he said, was $12,000.
Last month, deputies arrested a man who tried to purchase a substantial quantity of oxycontin, Redmond said. That occurred in northern Iredell County and resulted in a search warrant being executed at that residence.
During the search, officers located 1,000 units of LSD in the form of paper, liquid and gel tabs, Redmond said. Also seized was approximately 1/2 ounce of power MDMA, 10 grams of DMT, 1/2 pound of marijuana, 1/2 pound of mushrooms, mescaline tablets and 20,000 tablets of various controlled substances, the sheriff said. The value of those drugs was approximately $125,000. An additional $3,000 in currency, numerous handguns and assault weapons were also seized.
Redmond said the investigation revealed that between January 2005 and February 2010, Crook, had been supplying the organization in Iredell County.
He was arrested on Wednesday by members of the sheriff's office narcotics division, criminal enforcement unit and the SBI after a payment for drugs, Redmond said.
On that day, the Iredell Sheriff's Office provided information to authorities in Rowan County about a residence on 3rd Street in Salisbury.
A search was conducted of that residence and authorities located 50 units of LSD, an additional quantity of MDMA and suspected DMT, Redmond said.
Information was also given to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office about a residence there and a search revealed a quart jar containing a mixture of white liquor and LSD, Redmond said.
Based on information gathered during the investigation, authorities with the Iredell and Rowan sheriff's offices, SBI and Salisbury Police Department executed search warrants at two residences in Rockwell.
An indoor marijuana growing operation was found at a residence on Dutch Farm Road, Rockwell, Redmond said. Officers found 31 growing marijuana plants under two 400-watt lights, he said.
William Eugene Taylor, 60, and his son, William Derrick Taylor, 40, were both charged with drug violations related to the growing operation, Redmond said.
The sheriff's office infiltrated the organization, using undercover operatives. Between December and February, undercover officers purchased different types of LSD, MDMA, mescaline, psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana from a residence in northern Iredell County, Redmond said.
The investigation also led to Yadkin County, where undercover operatives bought cocaine from several individuals, Redmond said.
Investigators seized approximately 230 dosages of LSD, 43 grams of powder MDMA, 56 grams of cocaine and 10 grams of mushrooms, Redmond said. The value of these drugs, he said, was $12,000.
Last month, deputies arrested a man who tried to purchase a substantial quantity of oxycontin, Redmond said. That occurred in northern Iredell County and resulted in a search warrant being executed at that residence.
During the search, officers located 1,000 units of LSD in the form of paper, liquid and gel tabs, Redmond said. Also seized was approximately 1/2 ounce of power MDMA, 10 grams of DMT, 1/2 pound of marijuana, 1/2 pound of mushrooms, mescaline tablets and 20,000 tablets of various controlled substances, the sheriff said. The value of those drugs was approximately $125,000. An additional $3,000 in currency, numerous handguns and assault weapons were also seized.
Redmond said the investigation revealed that between January 2005 and February 2010, Crook, had been supplying the organization in Iredell County.
He was arrested on Wednesday by members of the sheriff's office narcotics division, criminal enforcement unit and the SBI after a payment for drugs, Redmond said.
On that day, the Iredell Sheriff's Office provided information to authorities in Rowan County about a residence on 3rd Street in Salisbury.
A search was conducted of that residence and authorities located 50 units of LSD, an additional quantity of MDMA and suspected DMT, Redmond said.
Information was also given to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office about a residence there and a search revealed a quart jar containing a mixture of white liquor and LSD, Redmond said.
Based on information gathered during the investigation, authorities with the Iredell and Rowan sheriff's offices, SBI and Salisbury Police Department executed search warrants at two residences in Rockwell.
An indoor marijuana growing operation was found at a residence on Dutch Farm Road, Rockwell, Redmond said. Officers found 31 growing marijuana plants under two 400-watt lights, he said.
William Eugene Taylor, 60, and his son, William Derrick Taylor, 40, were both charged with drug violations related to the growing operation, Redmond said.