Undercover drug agents arrested a Johnson City man during a drug investigation Wednesday and seized more than 40 pounds of marijuana, several ounces of cocaine, guns and more than $8,000 cash from the Washington County home where he lived.
Marcus Lyonel Story, 33, 684 Cash Hollow Road, is charged with possession of Schedule VI for resale, possession of Schedule II for resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a dwelling where narcotics are kept and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
Washington County Sheriff Ed Graybeal said his agency assisted the 1st Judicial Drug Task Force and called the seizure a "major" drug bust.
Agents began the investigation after receiving an anonymous tip, according to DTF Director Mike Adams, and began surveillance on Story's home. They saw Story leave home Wednesday morning and had him picked up on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a driving on suspended license charge. Adams said Story didn't show up in court for his driving charge, which stemmed from him allegedly not paying child support.
As Story was being stopped and arrested, Adams and other agents saw a woman who also lived at the house begin to throw large blocks of marijuana into a creek behind the residence.
They stopped her and she gave them consent to search the house.
That's where they found six guns, four ounces of powder cocaine packages in four plastic baggies, $8,410 cash and a total of 41.5 pounds of marijuana.
The marijuana was in bags and compressed brick form. In the bags were hundreds of marijuana buds, which is the part of the plant that holds the highest THC.
Adams said the marijuana would sell for $60,000 to $80,000 in the larger compressed bricks, but the seller could ultimately make more money if the drugs were packaged in smaller bags for personal use.
Story is scheduled to be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. in Washington County General Sessions Court. He is free on a $41,000 bond.