Five Arrested For Methamphetamine Manufacturing In Vero Beach

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Deryl Loar, Sheriff, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, announce the arrest of five Vero Beach residents: Edward McElhenny, 50, Clinton Story, 30, Paul Richardson, 27, Angela Story, 32, and Kelly McCartney, 36. The five defendants made their initial appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch, Jr. in Ft. Pierce and were detained pending trial. A pre-trial detention hearing has been set for Thursday, August 1, 2013.

The criminal complaint charges the five defendants with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, over fifty (50) grams of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 (a) (1) and (b)(1)(A)(viii); all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison, and a possible maximum sentence of life, followed by five years of supervised release, and up to $10 million in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, during the third week of April 2013, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO), Multi-Agency Criminal Enforcement (MACE) Unit conducted an investigation, which led to the execution of a search warrant. On May 9, 2013, members of the DEA-Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team (CLET) executed a state search warrant at 1913 22nd Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida (residence). At the time of entry, Clinton Story, Edward McElhenny, Paul Richardson and Angela Story were at the residence and were detained. Clinton Story, Angela Story, and Paul Richardson admitted to purchasing pseudoephedrine, knowing it was for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Edward McElhenny admitted that he has manufactured methamphetamine in the past. The DEA CLET team members searched the home and surrounding property. A search of the residence led to the discovery of pre-cursor chemicals and laboratory equipment which were utilized in and comprised a fully operational methamphetamine laboratory. A fingerprint specialist processed the scene and physical evidence, and discovered the fingerprints of Clinton Story, Edward McElhenny, and Kelly Maureen McCartney. McCartney admitted that she visited 1913 22nd Avenue on multiple occasions, and was aware of the methamphetamine manufacturing and use that took place at the residence. She also acknowledged that she purchased pseudoephedrine packets on multiple occasions with the knowledge that it was being used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the DEA and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.