Two Tennessee residents are facing multiple drug charges after state and federal authorities reportedly seized over $1 million of Xanax from their Rutherford County properties. The raids took place on April 9.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, a 25-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were running a drug operation out of two locations in the county. A search of those properties allegedly uncovered over 58,000 Xanax pills and one pound of alprazolam powder, which is the active ingredient in Xanax. Authorities believe the powder could have made approximately 200,000 doses of the drug and had a street value of nearly $1.3 million. Investigators determined that the Xanax was manufactured in an illegal lab for sale on the black market.
The defendants were charged with felony possession of Schedule IV drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of selling drugs. The male defendant was also charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon. He is being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $100,000 bond. The female defendant is being held at the same location on a $75,000 bond. Both defendants could face additional charges.
Individuals charged with drug crimes may benefit by contacting a criminal defense attorney. After reviewing the case, an attorney may use a number of defense strategies to get the charges reduced or dismissed. For example, an attorney might discover that police overstepped their authority when searching a defendant’s property, which may result in the charges being dropped. If necessary, an attorney may be able to negotiate a plea deal that allows the defendant to plead guilty to reduced charges.
Source: WSMV, “Authorities seize almost $1.3 million in illegal pills,” April 10, 2018
