Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Three arrested in marijuana bust
BENTONVILLE — The Benton County Sheriff’s Office arrested three people Tuesday in a drug bust that included agencies in two states and led seizing more than 50 pounds of marijuana, according to a news release.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Drug Enforcement Administration Office, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fayetteville office and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, seized 55 pounds of marijuana, 4 ounces of mushrooms, 3 ounces of Kratum, 1.5 pounds of hash and two guns, according to the release.
Jeffery D. Card, 30, of Tijeras, N.M., was arrested in connection with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.
Christopher Ramirez, 29, of Garfield was arrested in connection with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a certain person, possession with purpose to deliver a controlled substance and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Megan Lee Wingett, 34, of Garfield was arrested in connection with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and possession with purpose to deliver a controlled substance.
Agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency notified the narcotics unit for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday they pulled card Card over in Oklahoma and found 50 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle, according to a probable cause affidavit. Card said he was taking the marijuana to Wingett in the Garfield area, according to the affidavit.
Police determined Card was supposed to deliver the marijuana to Wingett’s home at 16019 Skyline Drive in Garfield, according to court documents.
Law enforcement officials began monitoring the communications between Card and Wingett. Wingett was arrested when Card arrived at her home with the marijuana, according to the affidavit. She told detectives she had $25,000 to give to Card for the marijuana, according to court documents.
Wingett said she was going to give 30 pounds of marijuana to Ramirez in exchange for a Chevrolet Corvette.
Card told narcotics detectives a man in New Mexico said he would pay him $15,000 to drive the Chevrolet Suburban with the marijuana to Wingett.
Detectives did a control delivery for the 30 pounds of marijuana and the Corvette and arrested Ramirez, according to court documents.
Card was released from custody on $5,000 bond, and Ramirez is free on $10,000 bond. Wingett was released on $2,500 bond.
Arraignments for the three are set for 8 a.m. Nov. 11 in Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren’s courtroom.