Another arrested for drug traffic to airmen
By John Joyce
Published in News on March 8, 2016 1:46 PM
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A second arrest has been made in the Wayne County Sheriff's Office's ongoing investigation into the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics being sold to active duty airmen stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
The first arrest came Feb. 24, following a joint investigation with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigation (OSI) that began in January.
Officials at the base said they could not speak to the number of those potentially involved in the investigation. A response was submitted through the SJAFB 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office.
"We are referring you to Wayne County law enforcement as this is their investigation," the statement reads.
According to Wayne County District Court documents, Roberta Ann McClure, 29, 350 Peele Road, was arrested and charged with delivering 10 doses of hydrocodone to an active duty airman named Matthew Chenault.
A sheriff's office press release said Ms. McClure worked for a food delivery service that gave her access to the base. Ms. McClure was arrested at her home shortly after making one such delivery, along with the illegal opiate-based pills, to Chenault.
Court records show Ms. McClure is employed by two local restaurants, Chopstix, a local Chinese take-out place located in the Wal-mart shopping center off of North Spence Avenue, and a Papa John's Pizza. Sheriff's office officials said at the time of her arrest they would not be releasing the name of the establishment Ms. McClure was working for at the time she allegedly delivered the narcotics on base.
The public affairs statement said all personnel invited on base must obtain a contractor's badge following standards set forth by U.S. Air Force Security Forces.
"According to base security forces, each person requesting a contractors badge to the base goes through a division criminal investigation check," the statement said.
"They are also screened to make sure they have had no previous incidents on the base. If both of these checks clear they are granted a contractors badge. This check normally takes seven days to clear."
Ms. McClure is charged with trafficking in opiates by possession, transportation, and by sale and delivery. She also faces charges for possession with intent to sell and distribute a controlled substance, sale and delivery of a controlled substance, and conspiracy to sell and deliver a controlled substance. She has been placed in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $507,500 secured bond and has been appointed counsel.
On Sunday, deputies arrested and charged another suspect, Morgan Michelle Moots, 27, of Bell Arthur, with trafficking in opiates by possession, transportation and by sale and delivery. Ms. Moots is also charged with selling and delivering cocaine, possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, and maintaining a motor vehicle for the sale and distribution of a controlled substance.
Ms. Moots has also been placed in the Wayne County Detention Center. Her bond is set at $1,000,000 secured.
According to warrants detailing her arrest, Ms. Moots allegedly sold an amount measuring more than four grams and less than 14 grams of lortab, a generic brand of hydrocodone, to an airman named Ben Smith. Also in Ms. Moots' possession -- with the alleged intent to sell and deliver -- were two bindles (doses) of heroin and a half a gram of cocaine.
Both Ms. McClure and Ms. Smith have been appointed as counsel local attorney Walter Webster.
Ms. McClure is due back in Wayne County District Court tomorrow, while Ms. Moots' next scheduled court date is March 21.
Public affairs did not verify the names, ranks or squadrons of the airmen alleged in court documents to have received delivery of narcotics from Ms. McClure and Ms. Moots. The statement issued through public affairs said each case is unique.
"(Sic) ... we investigate and take appropriate legal action."