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January 14, 2010 12:56 AM
Wesley Brown
Freedom ENC
KINSTON — An undercover drug purchase led the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office to arrest three Lenoir County residents allegedly growing marijuana plants in a school bus buried in their backyard.
Lensey and Desiz Dail, of 2179 N.C. 58 South, were arrested Tuesday evening after police bought several pounds of marijuana from the couple and Jerome Murrell, of Kinston.
“The sheriff’s office narcotics department conducted an undercover drug investigation for the purpose of purchasing large quantities of marijuana and seized nine pounds of marijuana in the buy,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Jim Oldenburg.
Sgt. Eddie Eubanks said the department met up with Murrell at an undisclosed location and paid for 12 pounds. Murrell transported the pot from Dail’s residence, allowing authorities to pinpoint the location.
“Dealers always short you, but this time they got the short end of the stick,” Eubanks said.
After arresting the three, Oldenburg said the office searched the Southwood community residence of Lensey and Desiz Dail and found more than 60 marijuana plants.
“We got a search warrant and found an underground operational indoor grow,” said Oldenburg.
Eubanks said the department began by searching inside Dail’s house and found small amounts of marijuana. But after searching the outside, a search dog named Kilo, handled by Dep. Thomas Stanley, found a full-length school bus buried 8 feet under a tool shed in the backyard.
“(Lensey) dug a hole and drove a bus inside it and filled the hole with cement around the bus,” Eubanks said.
Eubanks added that Dail created a stairway at a hidden entrance to access the garden, which Kilo literally fell into to find the plants.
The deputies seized 68 plants, each 4 feet tall and weighing in at about 35 pounds. At $900 a pound, Eubanks said Dail had about $39,600 of pot in his possession.
“We have had information on this bust for three years and have been flying over the area with a helicopter to find it,” Eubanks said. “This was a large dealer for Lenoir County.”
Eubanks said it is nice to crack the mystery.
“We’ve found a lot of grows, but this is the first one underground we have found like this,” he said. “He really had it together. He had it down to an art. It was well thought-out. It was definitely not his first time growing.”
Eubanks said Dail is in violation of multiple building codes with placing a bus underground, which he said is in danger of collapsing soon.
The Internal Revenue Service was also present. Authorities said Dail’s property was seized as collateral for taxes owed on the marijuana confiscated. If Dail cannot pay the taxes, his home will be auctioned off.
Other items confiscated from the property include the plants, cars, front-end loaders, backhoes, and tractors, according to Eubanks.
Bail for Lensey Dail was set at $130,000 and Desiz’s bail was set at $50,000. Both were charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to produce marijuana, trafficking marijuana by possession, trafficking marijuana by manufacture and possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana.
Murrell’s bail was set at $80,000. Murrell was charged with conspiring to traffic marijuana, maintaining a vehicle for selling and delivering, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, and selling and delivering marijuana. Oldenburg said Murrell’s car, a 2000 Chevy Suburban, was seized.
The three first appeared in court Wednesday for their arraignment.
Wesley Brown
Freedom ENC
KINSTON — An undercover drug purchase led the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office to arrest three Lenoir County residents allegedly growing marijuana plants in a school bus buried in their backyard.
Lensey and Desiz Dail, of 2179 N.C. 58 South, were arrested Tuesday evening after police bought several pounds of marijuana from the couple and Jerome Murrell, of Kinston.
“The sheriff’s office narcotics department conducted an undercover drug investigation for the purpose of purchasing large quantities of marijuana and seized nine pounds of marijuana in the buy,” said Sheriff’s Capt. Jim Oldenburg.
Sgt. Eddie Eubanks said the department met up with Murrell at an undisclosed location and paid for 12 pounds. Murrell transported the pot from Dail’s residence, allowing authorities to pinpoint the location.
“Dealers always short you, but this time they got the short end of the stick,” Eubanks said.
After arresting the three, Oldenburg said the office searched the Southwood community residence of Lensey and Desiz Dail and found more than 60 marijuana plants.
“We got a search warrant and found an underground operational indoor grow,” said Oldenburg.
Eubanks said the department began by searching inside Dail’s house and found small amounts of marijuana. But after searching the outside, a search dog named Kilo, handled by Dep. Thomas Stanley, found a full-length school bus buried 8 feet under a tool shed in the backyard.
“(Lensey) dug a hole and drove a bus inside it and filled the hole with cement around the bus,” Eubanks said.
Eubanks added that Dail created a stairway at a hidden entrance to access the garden, which Kilo literally fell into to find the plants.
The deputies seized 68 plants, each 4 feet tall and weighing in at about 35 pounds. At $900 a pound, Eubanks said Dail had about $39,600 of pot in his possession.
“We have had information on this bust for three years and have been flying over the area with a helicopter to find it,” Eubanks said. “This was a large dealer for Lenoir County.”
Eubanks said it is nice to crack the mystery.
“We’ve found a lot of grows, but this is the first one underground we have found like this,” he said. “He really had it together. He had it down to an art. It was well thought-out. It was definitely not his first time growing.”
Eubanks said Dail is in violation of multiple building codes with placing a bus underground, which he said is in danger of collapsing soon.
The Internal Revenue Service was also present. Authorities said Dail’s property was seized as collateral for taxes owed on the marijuana confiscated. If Dail cannot pay the taxes, his home will be auctioned off.
Other items confiscated from the property include the plants, cars, front-end loaders, backhoes, and tractors, according to Eubanks.
Bail for Lensey Dail was set at $130,000 and Desiz’s bail was set at $50,000. Both were charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana, maintaining a dwelling to produce marijuana, trafficking marijuana by possession, trafficking marijuana by manufacture and possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana.
Murrell’s bail was set at $80,000. Murrell was charged with conspiring to traffic marijuana, maintaining a vehicle for selling and delivering, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, and selling and delivering marijuana. Oldenburg said Murrell’s car, a 2000 Chevy Suburban, was seized.
The three first appeared in court Wednesday for their arraignment.
