Drug ring led to Rockwell bust

By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

Thursday's search of two Rockwell residences found to house an indoor marijuana growing operation stemmed from information received during the investigation of a designer drug distribution ring based in northern Iredell County.

William Eugene Taylor, 60, of 115 Dutch Farm Road, and his 40-year-old son, William Derrick Taylor, of 1007 Cannon St. Extension were arrested on multiple drug-related charges after officers located 32 marijuana plants growing under 400-watt lights at their residences.

The Rutherford County man arrested for supplying the designer drugs also faces charges in Rowan County after 50 liquid hits of LSD and a gram of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) were found at the residence of his grandfather on Third Street in Salisbury off Mooresville Highway, according to Detective Lt. C.A. Moose of the Rowan County Sheriff's Department.

Franklin Scott Crook, 31, of Bostic was charged with conspiracy to traffic LSD and DMT. Moose said Crook's grandfather was very cooperative with officers when they asked to search the outbuilding where the drugs were reportedly located. He was unaware that they were there, Moose said.

Rowan County Acting Sheriff Kevin Auten said the LSD found in the search was in a dropper-type container. The drug typically sells for $5 a drop, he said, or postage stamp size pieces of paper with LSD on it that can be placed in the mouth.

In his 14 years working in narcotics, Auten said he had never run across DMT on the streets.

"It's granular and powdery," he said. "It's almost like Splenda, but it's a tan color."

Moose said DMT is a potent drug. Found in many plants, the tryptamine and psychedelic drug was used years ago in Native American rituals.

Marijuana grow lights were also found in the search.

Crook also faces drug trafficking charges in Iredell County, where he is being held under $100,000 bond. He was out of jail on bond for drug trafficking charges in Henderson and Rutherford counties when arrested at a business on Highway 115 in Statesville.

Moose said the investigation into the designer drug distribution ring showed that Crook was responsible for the distribution of tens of thousands of dosage units of LSD obtained through multiple sources in other states.

The designer drug distribution ring — which distributed LSD, DMT, MDMA (Ectasy), mescaline (a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid), psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana, including a high grade variety known as "kind bud" — had been operating for approximately five years and was supplying various counties in the Piedmont and Northwestern North Carolina, according to a press release from Iredell County Sheriff Phillip Redmond.

The Iredell County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, began an investigation of the drug ring in December, infiltrating the organization through undercover operatives. Between December and February, Redmond said several undercover officers were able to purchase the drugs from a residence in northern Iredell.

The investigation also led to the purchase of cocaine from an individual in Yadkin County, he said. Seized during these purchases were approximately 230 dosage units of LSD, 43 grams of MDMA powder, 56 grams of cocaine and 10 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, Redmond said, with a combined value of approximately $12,000.

On Feb. 10, the Iredell County resident who sold undercover residents the drugs was arrested following his attempt to purchase a substantial quantity of OxyContin. At this time, Redmond said a search warrant was executed at his residence, during which officers seized 1,000 dosage units of LSD in the form of paper, liquid and gel tabs.

Several other of the designer drugs were seized with all of them having a total combined value of approximately $125,000, he said. An additional $3,000 in United States currency and numerous handguns and assault weapons were seized.

Redmond said an investigation showed that Crook had been supplying the designer drug distribution ring between approximately January 2005 and February of this year. Crook was arrested on March 10 by members of the Iredell Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division, Iredell Sheriff's Office Criminal Enforcement Unit and the SBI following a payment of money for drugs received.

Based on the investigation, the Iredell County Sheriff's Office provided information to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office about a residence there. Based on consent, a search was conducted, Redmond said, and authorities seized a quart jar containing a mixture of white liquor and LSD.

The liquid would yield approximately 25,000 dosage units of LSD.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.