Major Drug Bust In Small Town

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

EUFAULA, OK -- Federal prosecutors round up a 14 member drug ring that was supplying half of the state of Oklahoma.  Hundreds of pounds of meth, marijuana, cocaine and crack were all being pumped through one place.

Many would be shocked to learn that Eufaula, the home of the Ironheads, would be home to one of the largest drug rings in the eastern half of the state.     

"This wasn't East L.A. It wasn't Tulsa. It wasn't Oklahoma City. This was Eufaula, America," said U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling.

Eufaula is also the hometown of Johnny "Tick" Smith.  Federal prosecutors say Smith cut his criminal teeth on the streets of Oklahoma City.  But, a police crackdown in OKC sent him and his operation back home.

"The heat gets on in those larger cities and the leadership and gang elements look for locations they can go where there isn't significant law enforcement presence," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace.

In Eufaula, Smith set up shop and made his presence known.  He recruited more than a dozen family members and foot soldiers, even using his aunt's house to stash drugs.  He made a park his personal playground.

"This was a gang that was run very much like a business and there were incentive trips given to those who were effective in the business," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace.

Smith's assistants fanned out all over eastern Oklahoma, hitting neighborhoods from Oklahoma City to Grand Lake.  In return, they vacationed in resorts from Cancun to the Bahamas to Disney World.  All were rewards for expanding the profit margin.

And, Smith didn't just lavish his employees with gifts in life.

"And so, those are honorifics who died, in their way of looking at it, in the line of duty," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace.

Eleven agencies and dozens of officers made it their duty to bring Smith's network down.  Over the last three years, undercover agents worked with informants to infiltrate Smith's inner circle.

It was in a park, the scene of a homicide, that an undercover agent came face to face with Smith and made a buy.

The agent recalls Smith threatened him, saying he better not be a cop.

It was cops like that agent and prosecutors following the money from Smith's lifestyle that eventually made the case.

All 14 of those implicated pleaded guilty.

Now, again, Osborne Park is no longer dominated by drug dealers.

"When you walk into a community, you walk directly into a park that used to be haunted.  That used to be the center of drug operations.  And, it's now a place where people can walk freely," said U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling.

Eufaula's chief of police says the town's crime was cut in half.  But, federal prosecutors have a message for anyone who might try to fill Smith's shoes.

"And, if they want to try to step into the business there is a significant downside risk and that's a lot of time in a federal correctional institute," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace.

Johnny Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distributing drugs.   He's facing 30 years to life in federal prison.