Jackson County Drug Task Force makes Six Arrest

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jun 21 2014 9:13 AM

On Friday, June 20, 2014, the Jackson County Drug Task Force executed search warrants on six residences located on Bromas Lane near Marianna, Florida. The search warrants came as the result of an ongoing investigation into the cultivation of marijuana by some of the residents there. Law Enforcement Officers from the Chipley Police Department, Cottondale Police Department, Marianna Police Department, Office of the State Attorney’s Office 14^th Judicial Circuit, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Corrections Jackson Correctional Institution Canine Tracking Team, the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office participated in the execution of the warrants. As these Officers arrived the strong odor of flowering marijuana was detected emanating throughout the property.

 

During the execution of the warrant at 3035 Bromas Lane, the resident there, Foy Lynn Clenney, 64, who was wanted in Jackson County for outstanding drug sale charges and was discovered and placed under arrest. During a search of his arrest, equipment used for indoor cultivation of marijuana was located along with marijuana plant material from previous marijuana grows. Clenney, in addition to his outstanding warrant was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Also during the execution of the warrant at 3041 Bromas Lane, the residence of Maurice S. Reading, 28, two separate indoor marijuana cultivation operations were located consisting of numerous high grade marijuana plants. Reading was placed under arrest on charges of Cultivation of Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

During the execution of the warrant at 3046 Bromas Lane, the residence of Matthew Bilal, 41, and Harrell Ervin Jr., 45, a sophisticated marijuana cultivation operation was discovered. Located in one closet inside the residence were multiple “mother” plants from which the defendants clone plants. Located in what would have been the master bedroom was a system of automatic lights and watering devices, dehumidifiers and air conditioning systems along with the remnants of an already harvested marijuana crop.

 

Hanging in the bathroom attached to that bedroom were (93) marijuana plants that had been recently harvested from the growing operation in the bedroom. In the closet of that bedroom were numerous spare items utilized in the construction of the indoor growing systems. These items included extra light bulbs for grow lights, fertilizers, planter cups, ventilation ducting and spare lights and ballasts for those lights. Also stored in that closet were numerous large boxes and garbage bags full of marijuana plants and plant material from previous grows.

 

Located in another bedroom inside that residence was (35) gallon size bags that contained processed marijuana that had been harvested and prepared for distribution. Also located inside the residence were three firearms with an a fourth being located in a vehicle outside.

 

In a shed behind the residence was another complete indoor marijuana cultivation operation that was being operated by Ervin and Bilal. Unlike the growing operation inside the residence, this growing operation consisted of approximately  (94) fully mature marijuana plants that were ready for harvesting. The shed had been heavily modified for the sole purpose of cultivating marijuana and included specialized lighting systems, air conditioning, dehumidifiers, fans and watering systems.

 

A large sum of US Currency was also located during the search.

 

Ervin and Bilal were placed under arrest on charges of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The indoor marijuana cultivation operations were disassembled and removed from the property. All of the marijuana and plants seized from the properties on Bromas Lane is of extremely high quality and fetches a premium sale price. The estimated value of the marijuana seized is in excess of $100,000.

 

The investigation is still ongoing and additional arrests could follow.

 

The Jackson County Drug Task Force is the combined effort of the Cottondale Police Department, Graceville Police Department, Marianna Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

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