73-year-old woman accused of being major marijuana dealer

An elderly Oklahoma woman is accused of running a major marijuana drug operation out of her Craig County home. The investigation began about five months ago when Craig County Deputies and Vinita Police got a tip that a large amount of marijuana was being sold out of the home of 73-year-old Darlene Mayes. After months of investigation and surveillance, the drug task force served a warrant at her home.



At around 6:45 p.m. on Monday evening, Vinita Police, Craig County deputies and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics agents raided the picturesque farm of the retired DHS worker. Investigators thought Mayes was a major player in the drug trade, but even they were surprised at what they found: six pounds of marijuana, guns and $277,000 in cash.



"It was an extreme wow moment," said Vinita police chief Bobby Floyd. He says he expected to find marijuana, but was stunned by the sheer amount of cash - much of which was stuffed in garbage bags and vacuum sealed in plastic bags. "We kept finding more cash and it was so surprising that it was just laying around," Floyd said. "It was in closets, underneath the bed. But it wasn't really hidden."


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The forfeited cash will be split between the Craig County Sheriffs Office, Vinita Police Department and Craig County District Attorney's office. The money will be used to fight drugs. Darlene Mayes faces a total of five criminal charges: possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, maintaining a dwelling where drugs are kept or sold, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony and failure to affix tax stamps.

Many thanks Jeff!