CARTHAGE – State Police said a traffic stop led to the discovery of illegal drugs and money and the arrest of a Carthage man on Friday.
On Friday, State Police Trooper Randy Hall stopped the vehicle of John Ellis Sr., 69, on Route 142 in Carthage for speed. Hall reported he could smell marijuana and searched the vehicle. During the search he allegedly discovered an undisclosed amount of marijuana, cocaine, many assorted prescription pills, drug paraphernalia and $2,500 in cash.
Troopers went to Ellis’s home and reportedly found more cocaine, prescription pills, and $3,900 in suspected drug money.
Ellis was arrested on a charge of unlawful trafficking in Schedule W drugs, a Class B felony; and three counts of unlawful possession of Schedule Z drugs, namely marijuana.
Ellis was transported to the Franklin County Detention Center and was released on $50,000 cash bail Saturday. A court date of April 7 was scheduled.
Wow! I’m glad this stuff is off the streets not in the hands of others.
$50,000 cash? Really?
And just where did this cash come from?
Lets see….suspected drug dealer, check.
Caught with multiple drugs and a pretty nice roll of cash, check.
Home search turns up more drugs and cash, check.
Comes up with 50K in cash on short notice…check.
Now, this just MIGHT be my cynical side coming out, but I wonder if he just MIGHT be using illegal drug profits to post his bail.
I suppose it is also quite possible that there is a bail-bondsman involved who put up the cash. (And I hope he got some pretty good surety.) But, were I in law enforcement, I’d be looking VERY hard at all the man’s assets and the source of revenue for them.
Was released on $50,000.00 cash bail ?!!! Hmmm… did the state police miss some of the cash at his residence?
I don’t believe it takes a rocket scientist to figure where the money came from. I just can’t believe that are local law enforcement could not figure this out. I know it’s an on going investigation, but really now.