At approximately 12:30 pm today, Friday, April 15, 2011, in a parking lot on Havendale Boulevard and 42nd NW Street in Winter Haven, Polk County Sheriff’s Office tactical drug unit detectives arrested 50-year-old Sherry Garrett, DOB 11/4/60, 3820 Avenue T NW, Winter Haven. Garrett was charged with the Illegal Sale of Prescription Drugs.
Garrett was charged with:
· Trafficking in Hydrocodone (over 4 grams)
· Trafficking in Hydrocodone (over 14 grams)
· Conspiracy to Traffic in Hydrocodone Child Neglect (12 year old Grandson was present in the house with the pills and had the three firearms readily accessible to him and in his bedroom)
· Furnishing Firearms to a Minor
· Sale of Schedule II Controlled Substance (Morphine Sulfate)
· Sale of Schedule IV Controlled Substance (Lorazepam)
· Nuisance-Maintaining a dwelling and vehicle for drug sales
Also arrested was 29-year-old Jennifer Koepsell, DOB 09/08/81, 213 Palm Avenue, Auburndale. Koepsell was charged with Conspiracy to Traffic in Hydrocodone (over 14 grams.)
In December 2010, PCSO detectives received information that Garrett was selling prescription drugs from her residence. On three separate occasions, detectives, posing in an undercover capacity, purchased Hydrocodone and Morphine Sulfate pills from Garrett. During each incident, the amount and purchase price of the illegal prescription drugs increased. Garrett sold detectives drugs from her home and from her vehicle.
During a search of Garrett’s residence, detectives recovered three guns, a 20 Gauge, Charles Daly pump action shotgun, a .22 caliber, Derringer pistol, and a .22 caliber, Daisy Long Rifle. Detectives also found over $8,000.00 in cash and 681 prescription pills, which included 127 Hydrocodone, 112 Oxycodone, 8 Darvocet, 19 Morphine, 116 Alprazolam (XANAX), and 50 Clonazepam.
“Garrett had quite a business for herself,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “But we put her out of business and into jail. Our detectives will continue to crack down on the illicit sale of prescription drugs and if you are found here in Polk County with illegal narcotics in your possession or are selling drugs to others, we will put you in jail too.”
Garrett and Koepsell were booked into the Polk County Jail late Friday afternoon.