Thread: Drug bust Rockingham County's largest

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Drug bust Rockingham County's largest

4-2-05

By Kory Dodd Staff Writer
News & Record

REIDSVILLE -- Two men, one accused of being an illegal immigrant from Mexico, were arrested Thursday in what may be the largest cocaine trafficking bust in Rockingham County history, Sheriff Sam Page said.

Michael Wayne Isley, 48, and Edgar Flores Tito, 23, both of Reidsville, were arrested during a 6 a.m. raid at Shiloh Airport after undercover deputies arranged to meet at there to buy cocaine.

Deputies seized 10 kilograms of cocaine hidden within secret compartments inside the men's cars, Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes said.

Page said it was the largest cocaine seizure in Rockingham County history.

Barnes and Page said they believe the drugs were going to be distributed across the state.

Both men were charged with trafficking by possessing, transporting and delivery of cocaine.

Isley, of 155 Koger Road, was held in the Rockingham County Jail under a $1 million bond.

Tito, of 710 Monroeton School Road, was held in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Tito, who deputies say is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was also detained while awaiting a hearing with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Service, Page said.

In searches of both Isley's and Tito's property later on Thursday, deputies say they seized:

• another kilogram of cocaine, making the total 11 kilograms, worth $1 million;

• 377 pounds of marijuana worth $377,000;

• stolen vehicles, farm tractors and a Bobcat construction vehicle valued at $120,000;

The arrests and seizures followed a four-month investigation in which deputies purchased both drugs and weapons from the men, Page said.

The investigation was originally for stolen merchandise but changed after deputies discovered that drugs were being sold, Barnes said.

Page said the first tips came from calls to the Crime Stoppers hotline.

Though the drug deal was set up at the airport, Barnes said the airport itself was not used for trafficking drugs.

Deputies chose the airport because it's a large open space surrounded by trees, lowering the risk of innocent people getting hurt.

The N.C. Department of Transportation's License and Theft Division, the State Bureau of Investigation, the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety's Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and the N.C. Department of Revenue assisted in the investigation, Page said.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Secret Service also were involved.

Most of the drugs entering the state are coming from Mexico in trucks, Barnes said.

Barnes blames the state's lax vehicle registration and driver's license laws for allowing illegal immigrants to get both documents in the state.

Also, he said the investigation was hindered briefly because the men's vehicles were registered to a Greensboro address but both men had Reidsville addresses and licenses.

Isley's Koger Road neighbors were shocked by his arrest.

"They're good people," said Becky Curl, Isley's neighbor and former tenant.

"I don't know what's going on, but I'd be a character witness for them (the Isley family)," she said.

Curl said the Isley family was always very nice to her, even allowing her to pay her rent late after she had been in a car accident.

Though she often saw cars entering and leaving Isley's property, she said she assumed they were family friends.

Karen Hall, another Koger Road neighbor, said she always thought the heavy traffic on and off Isley's property was because he ran several businesses from his home.

She said he has interests in junk cars, livestock, logging, rental properties, snow plowing and tobacco farming.


Contact Kory Dodd at 627-4881, Ext. 119, or kdodd@news-record.com

Good bust.

"They're good people," said Becky Curl, Isley's neighbor and former tenant.

Evidently, not a very good judge of character.

She said he has interests in junk cars, livestock, logging, rental properties, snow plowing and tobacco farming.

And drug dealing.


Another good reason to tighten down on licenses in NC