I-81 stops yield big $$$
Published: March 10, 2010
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ROBERT MABRY
State police found 270 grams of crack cocaine during a traffic stop on I-81 in Lenox this past weekend.
Robert Douglas Mabry, 32, Binghamton, N.Y., faces felony drug charges in District Court lodged by Tpr. Thomas Horan on March 7.
About $1,600 was also seized from Mabry during the traffic stop in Lenox Twp.
He was arraigned by District Judge Suzanne Brainard. Mabry was remanded to the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.
The find of drugs and money in Mabry’s vehicle are just the latest in a recent string of seizures executed by state police along the interstate.
Police seized more than $43,000 from a car traveling on I-81 in Lenox Twp. on Thursday, March 4.
Sgt. Christopher Grubbe, PSP Gibson Barracks, said Tpr. Paul Lindsay has discovered $200-$300,000 in drug money in the past few years.
Grubbe said, “There is a lot of drug money coming through this area and we’re doing our best to prevent it from coming through this area.”
According to the police sergeant, the money seized goes through a civil forfeiture proceeding handled by the state attorney general’s office.
Since the beginning of February, police have seized more than $100,000 following motor vehicle violation stops along the highway.
A state police dog trained in narcotics sniffing was called to the scene in most of the cases and positively identified the suspected drug money.
In the March 4 incident, Andre D. Aiken, 30, Bronx, N.Y., was pulled over for a motor vehicle violation by Tpr. Paul Lindsay. Aiken was driving a red Acura with a New York registration.
Lascells D. Thompson, 36, Bronx, N.Y. was a passenger in the vehicle.
The trooper obtained permission to search the vehicle and discovered over $43,000 in U.S. currency.
A cash scan performed by a K-9 officer trained in narcotics detection hit on the money.
Aiken and Thompson denied knowledge of the cash hidden in the car and the money was seized pending forfeiture proceedings.
Police also seized about two pounds of marijuana from Edward Irizarry, 27, of Far Rockaway, N.Y., during a traffic stop in Lenox on Feb. 26.
Drug charges were filed on Irizarry in District Court. He waived his preliminary hearing in front of Brainard and charges were sent on to the Susquehanna County Court of Common Pleas. Irizarry was placed in SCCF in lieu of $25,000 bail.
On Feb. 19, over $7,000 was found following a traffic stop of a Binghamton, N.Y. area couple. The narcotics dog performed a cash scan and hit on the money which police seized.
During a Feb 13 traffic stop on I-81, Lenox Twp, Tpr. Thomas Horan found Josue Larrieux, Syracuse, in possession of illegally obtained vicodin. He was charged with illegal possession of a narcotic.
A K-9 officer responded to the scene and found $10,293 in U.S. currency hidden near the vehicle’s airbag compartment.
Kimaly O. Britton, 22, Syracuse, N.Y., was stopped by Tpr. Paul Lindsay for a traffic violation along I-81, Lenox Twp. on Feb. 8. The trooper obtained consent to search the vehicle which yielded $8,800 in U.S. currency and two ounces of marijuana. The money was seized and Britton was charged with drug offenses.
On Feb. 4, over $19,000 was discovered in a vehicle following a traffic stop in Great Bend Twp. conducted by Horan.
Grubbe said, “There’s a lot of drug money coming through this area and we are doing our best to stop it.”
