By Jesse Wood
April 2, 2013. With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Special Operations Division within the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested a Zionville man in Asheville for the possession of more than 18 pounds of marijuana.
Timothy Patrick McConkey, 37, was a “person of interest” in an investigation conducted by the Special Operations Division that involved the sell and distribution of substantial amounts of marijuana in and around Western and Central North Carolina.
Sheriff Len Hagaman said warrants for McConkey were taken out in July 2012, and the U.S. Marshals Service recently located McConkey at a residence in Asheville. McConkey was charged with two counts of trafficking marijuana, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances.
Numerous firearms were confiscated, and Hagaman said investigators are checking to see if those were possessed illegally, which, if so, would warrant a felony firearm possession charge for those possessing the guns.
The 18 pounds of pot has an estimated street value of $92,000, based on the standard calculation of $5,000 per pound. McConkey is scheduled to appear in Watauga County District Court on May 14.
“Though considered by many to be a harmless drug, many do not see the dangers associated with marijuana traffickers, as characterized by the photo,” said Sgt. Jason Zaragoza in a press release issued by the sheriff’s office. “By focusing on the traffickers of any narcotics organization, we hit the organization at its source making the drug difficult to reach the street level suppliers, which ultimately prevents the drug from ending up in the hands of our youths.”
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