More than $200,000 unearthed in backyard drug dig

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Investigators from Limestone County, Madison County and the city of Madison count some of the cash they unearthed during a drug bust at a home on Plato Jones Street in Athens Friday morning. From left are, Madison Police Officer J. Gentry, Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, Limestone Lt. Lance Royals, Limestone Investigator Johnny Morell, Madison County Deputy J. Daversa and Limestone deputy Tim McNeill. News Courier/Kim Rynders
Authorities dug up some $201,000 in cash Friday from an Athens backyard — much of it stashed in glass jars. One of the three occupants was arrested on a drug charge. News Courier/Kim Rynders
Jason McMinn, crime scene investigator for the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, uses a ground-penetrating radar machine to look for signs of recently disturbed earth in an attempt to find cash or other items at the scene of a drug bust. News Courier/Kim Rynders

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March 19, 2011

By Jean Cole jean@athensnews-courier.com The News Courier Sat Mar 19, 2011, 02:00 AM CDT

Under sunny skies Friday, more than 20 law-enforcement officers were digging up jars containing more than $201,000 in cash from an Athens backyard following an early morning drug bust.

“We found $201,000 and we’re still looking,” Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said Friday afternoon.

Three of the home’s occupants were arrested, one was charged, and thousands of dollars worth of property, including a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and other vehicles, were hauled away in law-enforcement vehicles.

Tracy Bernard Holt, 45, the home’s owner has been charged with four counts of distribution of controlled substances, one count of possession of controlled substances and one count of possession of paraphernalia. He remains in the Limestone County Jail awaiting bond to be set. He is described by the sheriff as “an individual with an extensive criminal history involving narcotics distribution and possession.”

As he stood with others in the backyard counting cash in his brown uniform, tie and off-white cowboy hat, Blakely declared, “We’re on a treasure hunt.”

All around him, officers from his department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and the Madison Police Department were going through the house gathering evidence, seizing property, digging holes in the backyard or gathering round a backyard table to count cash found wrapped in foil and stuffed in glass jars that had been buried in the yard, along with a half-ounce of crack cocaine.

By mid-morning, officials had already unearthed three or four of the jars, and the backyard had so many holes it looked like a labour of moles had taken over.

“There was $30,000 in one jar and $35,000 in another jar,” Blakely said. “The intelligence developed during the investigation indicated that Holt often buries drugs and cash from the illicit sales in his backyard.”

Madison County crime scene investigator Jason McMinn was running a yellow and black machine resembling a pushmower over the yard in search of recently disturbed earth — a sign that money, or anything else, might be buried there.

The device, called a ground-penetrating radar or GPR, was bought with money from the Homeland Security Administration for use by 10 area counties, said Chief Deputy Randy King. The idea, he said, was to buy one device that everyone could share.

Investigators had to remove a monstrous dog — possibly a bullmastiff and pit-bull terrier mix — to a waiting dog cage on a truck before digging in his yard. Later, a backhoe was brought in to further excavate.

At 7:08 a.m., the officers stormed the peaceful looking, blue and white-trimmed home in an area of the city referred to as Box Alley. One of the many neighbors watching Friday’s goings on from across the street said the area was dubbed Box Alley because, at one time, there was only one way to drive out.

After arresting the three occupants and seizing drugs, officers began loading up property from the home, including the Harley, three motor scooters, a John Deere tractor mower and other items. Under the law, law-enforcement officials can seize property when they believe it was acquired with proceeds from illegal drug sales.

Still parked in the backyard while officials dug was a child’s pink Barbie car. A deputy said one child, probably under age 2, was at home when authorities converged on the dwelling.

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More than $200,000 unearthed in backyard drug dig

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