Michael Thomas Garcia
A Georgia man remains behind bars in Graham County after allegedly being caught trafficking drugs.
At a license checking station on Sept. 22, Graham County Sheriff’s Office deputies noticed vials of testosterone and syringes visible in the vehicle of 38-year-old Michael Thomas Garcia of Acworth, Ga.
Upon questioning, Garcia admitted that he did not have a prescription for testosterone. A further search yielded further controlled substances.
Garcia was taken to the Graham County Jail while deputies continued to search his vehicle. The search yielded a cornucopia of contraband, including 3.3 pounds of an unidentified white powder – believed to be cocaine – 15 separate steroid items in various quantities, four bags of an unidentified powder and approximately 27,000 tablets of unknown chemical content.
Also confiscated were an air compressor, a vacuum sealer, U.S. Postal Service packing materials, 320, $100 bills and two, $20 bills – amounting to $32,240 – and a Sig Sauer handgun.
His gray Jeep was also taken, as well as his Ducati motorcycle and trailer parked at Deals Gap.
“The gentleman came through and he had some of the drugs out in plain view on his back seat, and that’s what started the ball rolling,” said Graham County Sheriff Jerry Crisp.
Crisp said a bust at the scale of Garcia’s was not a common occurrence in Graham County. The aftermath led to the sheriff’s office closing its doors to the public for approximately 24 hours, so deputies could process the contraband taken from the scene.
“It’s rare that you catch a major shipment or load like that,” Crisp said.
Crisp said the Swain County Sheriff’s Office became involved in the case due to Garcia’s final destination reportedly being Deals Gap.
“The gentleman was going to meet several subjects down at Deals Gap, but of course, he got intercepted before that happened and the majority of them scattered to the winds,” Crisp said.
He also said that N.C. State Bureau of Investigation was working on identifying the mystery substances.
Garcia was charged with 15 counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a schedule III controlled substance, 15 counts of possession of a schedule III controlled substance and one count of trafficking in cocaine.
As of Tuesday, he remained in the Graham County Jail on a $1 million bond.
“Anytime you can take drugs and drug dealers off the street, it’s a good day,” Crisp said.
Garcia was also personally served a warrant for collection of taxes – in the amount of $235,057.82 – for not having proof of purchasing tax stamps for unauthorized substances.
The agent seized the cash, plus Garcia’s motorcycle and trailer.