Claremore Daily Progress

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March 10, 2010

Rogers County to get share of 2006 drug money seizure

Krystal J. Carman Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — A portion of money taken during a traffic stop in 2006 is coming to Rogers County.

Twenty percent of just more than $1 million will be deposited into the District Attorney’s drug fund, which also helps fund the 12th Judicial Drug Task Force.

When Craig County deputies made a traffic stop in December 2006, they found the driver did not have a legal driver’s license and the passenger was an illegal alien. A K-9 unit was called in to help search the vehicle and after detecting a scent, deputies fully searched the vehicle.

That’s when they came across $918,000 stuffed in various places inside the vehicle, according to Rogers County District Attorney Gene Haynes. Even though the K-9 unit detected the scent of drugs, no drugs were found inside the vehicle, which was traveling to California.

“It was a fortunate deal they stumbled on,” Haynes said.

It has been a little more than three years since the money was seized, and no one has come forward to claim it. The money was deposited by the Craig County treasurer into an account where it earned interest and is now a little more than $1 million.

The case against the two men is now over and appeal time has run out, Haynes said, which means the money can be released to the agencies involved. Haynes serves as the district attorney for Rogers, Craig and Mayes counties.

In addition to the 20 percent going to Haynes drug fund, the remaining 80 percent will be divided in half and given to the Vinita Police Department and the Craig County Sheriff’s Office. Both of those agencies will be receiving approximately $402,000 while Haynes’ fund will receive approximately $202,000.

Haynes said he will also use a portion of that money to fund salaries for his assistant district attorneys who prosecute drug cases.

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