Ashley Renee Russell
(PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 39-year-old Stillwater woman has been jailed on $150,000 bail pending a Jan. 9 court appearance on felony charges of trafficking fentanyl, possessing a gun during the commission of a drug crime, and neglecting four children ranging in age from 4 months to 17 years by failing to protect them from drugs.
If convicted of the three-count drug charge filed on Dec. 6, Ashley Renee Russell could be given two life prison terms plus 10 years and $505,000 in fines, court records show.
At the time of her arrest, Russell was free on $50,000 bail on charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possessing a gun during the commission of a drug crime, and possessing Clonazolam on June 24 in Stillwater in a three-count case that remains pending.
“Ashley is a known associate of the ‘Playboy Gangsta Crip’ criminal organization and is a known drug trafficker in and around the Stillwater area,” Stillwater Police Officer Josh Carson alleged in an affidavit.
At about 11:41 am on Nov. 30, members of the Stillwater Police Department’s Special Projects Unit had traveled to serve a search warrant at “the primary home of Ashley Russell, whom I know from a previous drug investigation,” Officer Carson wrote in his affidavit.
“When it was obvious nobody was going to answer the front door, Sgt. Savory opened the unlocked door, and the house was systematically cleared while we continued to announce our presence. Ashley Russell was encountered in the far northwest bathroom and detained in handcuffs.
“Four juvenile children were encountered in the residence and brought to the living room. The children ranged in age from 4 months old to 17 years old. Upon entry into the house, dog feces were found on the floor, old food was sitting all over the kitchen, and the residence was in deplorable condition,” the affidavit alleged.
A total of six children had been living at the house including four belonging to a homeless woman, who had been staying there for about two weeks, the affidavit alleged. “DHS requested emergency custody of the children,” all of whom were removed from the home, the affidavit said.
“I found a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol under the pillow on the bed in the north bedroom Ashley stated was hers. A large amount of ammunition was also found. I found numerous blue M30 pills in a box on the north window ledge. I am very familiar with these pills and know they are pressed fentanyl pills often referred to as ‘Foxys.’
“Fentanyl is extremely dangerous and these pills were well within reach of any child that might come into that bedroom. Digital scales with methamphetamine residue on them were located; packaging material and several packages of unidentified powders were also located.
“Behind the bedroom door, I located a bat that had ‘PlayBoy Gangsta Crips’ written on it. The bat was signed by several people using ‘street names.’ It was obvious Ashley was operating a drug distribution enterprise from her residence,” the officer alleged in his affidavit.
