By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — After search warrants were served at three separate locations in Stillwater, five women and three men were charged on the day after Memorial Day with trafficking fentanyl in Payne County.
“Fentanyl pills have become a plague in Stillwater over the past year,” Detective Josh Carson of the Stillwater Police Department’s Special Projects Unit wrote in an affidavit.
“The Irish Mob is responsible for moving large amounts of drugs around Oklahoma from prison,” according to the detective’s affidavit.
Two verified members of the Irish Mob, Justin Lawrence Taylor, 40, of Pryor, who was released from prison in February, and Dakota Chance Chapman, 28, of Stillwater, who was released from prison last August, were arrested along with Chapman’s girlfriend, Skylar Ti Aguero, 23, of Perry, at 4:30 pm on May 25 after a trailer at 407 E. 44th, #18 was searched, the affidavit said.
“The residence was one of the most cluttered and filthy places I have ever been in my career in law enforcement. Clothing, household items, trash, food, animals and tools were thrown everywhere. The floor had holes throughout the home. The septic system had raw sewage flowing on the ground all around the trailer house.
“I found prepackaged fentanyl pills in the bathroom Justin was hiding in, and in the hallway where Dakota Chapman was encountered. Prepackaged methamphetamine was found where Skylar was hiding. I continued my search and located thousands of new zip top baggies used to package drugs for sales and a set of digital scales. It was obvious the residence was being used to distribute drugs,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
“A total of 4.24 grams of fentanyl was seized along with 1.71 grams of methamphetamine,” the affidavit alleged. All three suspects were jailed on $100,000 bail each and scheduled to be arraigned this week. Taylor was charged with trafficking fentanyl and possessing methamphetamine, while Chapman and Aguero were charged only with trafficking fentanyl.
In a separate case in which an apartment was searched on a warrant at 1400 N. Perkins #M103 at 10:42 am on May 25, three Stillwater women, Ashley Anne Griffith, 31, Shayla Shaneece Tabbert, 30, and Britnee Dawn Alexander, 34, were arrested after Detective Brett Moore had observed Griffith make an apparent hand-to-hand drug transaction, an affidavit alleged.
Following her arrest, “Shayla removed a bundle of pressed fentanyl pills and methamphetamine that were tied in a plastic sack and hidden inside her body cavity,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
In a jail interview room, “Ashley advised Britnee Alexander, Shayla Tabbert and she went to Oklahoma City this morning to re-up on methamphetamine and fentanyl pills. Ashley stated they picked up approximately 100 pills and one ounce of methamphetamine.
“Ashley claimed that the product did not belong to her due to her not having money to purchase it; however, they went to her ‘plug’ to get the product due to her having the connections. Ashley contradicted her statements by adding she was attempting to flush the product down the toilet after seeing an unmarked police vehicle outside the apartment prior to us arriving; however, Shayla didn’t want her to, so she gave it to her,” the affidavit alleged.
All three women in that case were charged with trafficking fentanyl and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Griffith and Tabbert were jailed on $100,000 bail each and scheduled to be arraigned this week; Alexander posted $100,000 bail the day after her arrest and was ordered to appear in court on July 6.
In another separate case in which a house at 818 S. Janes Ct. was searched on a warrant at 12:45 on May 24, Areil Marie Kerntke, 22, and Devin Ray England, 21, were charged with child neglect for sheltering their 2-year-old and 4-year-old in a residence where fentanyl, cocaine and drug paraphernalia were allegedly present. The couple were also charged with aggravated fentanyl trafficking and possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.
If convicted of all three counts, the couple, who remain jailed on $150,000 bail each pending a court appearance this week, could each be given two life prison terms plus seven years and fined $605,000 each, court records show.
Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson alleged in an affidavit, “I was able to get to Ariel before she fled, and she was detained by other members of the Special Projects Unit. I continued clearing the house and in the far southwest bedroom, I encountered a male I know as Devin England lying in a bed.
“While securing Devin, I observed tin foil with burn residue on it and a small blue M30 pill lying on the bed. I know these pills are pressed fentanyl pills, and Devin was using the foil to consume the pills. This type of consumption is known as ‘hot railing.’
“I found a large bindle of the M30 pressed fentanyl pills under the pillow of the bed Devin was laying in when we arrived. Next to the pills, a white powder consistent with cocaine was located. I also found cocaine lines ready for consumption along with Devin’s credit card next to it that was used to cut and line the cocaine so it could be snorted.
“The located drugs were all on counter tops and in the bed that was well within reach of the children,” who were taken into the custody of the state Department of Human Services, the affidavit alleged.
“A total of 5.10 grams of fentanyl was seized along with 1.5 grams of cocaine. Ariel told me she purchases approximately 100 fentanyl pills twice a week for $4 a pill and sells them in Stillwater for approximately $15 to $20 per pill. Ariel stated she sells the cocaine for $100 per gram. Devin confirmed he was also selling fentanyl pills and cocaine with Ariel,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
