Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee is petitioning for the nearly $45,000 found during a raid that led to the arrest of a local drug dealer to be kept by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
In the Application for Ex-Parte Order Finding Probable Cause for the Seizure of Property, Gee asks the court to find probable cause that the money was used in violation of the Florida Contraband Act.
In Florida, the application must be filed within 10 days of the seizure, and it must explain the probable cause for the property being seized.
Gee claims the money has become contraband as it is linked to illegal narcotics activity. The money can reportedly be related to trafficking amphetamines and controlled substances, possession of opiates and marijuana with the intent to sell, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
On March 5, 2016, an HCSO deputy encountered a citizen informant who provided intelligence on Nesbit Andrew Willhite, 43, a Plant City resident and owner of Appealing Curbs Landscape Services.
Willhite illegally procured pain pills, which he then distributed along with crystal meth, the informant said.
On Oct. 5, 2016, HCSO personnel met again with a confidential informant who told the sheriff’s office he had purchased ounces of crystal meth from a man later identified as Willhite.
Additional intel was gathered by the sheriff’s office throughout October. An address was obtained by HSCO that was reportedly the base of operations. The informant told officers he could purchase from Willhite again.
In early November, a controlled drug purchase was conducted by the informant and Detective Brent Mayes of the HCSO. The informant was electronically monitored. Ten minutes had passed before the informant returned with the drugs. He notified the department that Willhite had a black bag containing pounds of crystal meth. After using a field testing kit, it confirmed the drugs were methamphetamines.
The next day, Nov. 8, sheriffs headed to the Wilhite’s home in anticipation of a court authorized search warrant. However, when they got there, they met Willhite. At that time, a woman ran from the property carrying a black bag containing crystal meth. The woman was identified as Carol Swilley, 20, Willhite’s girlfriend.
As officers began securing the house, Detective Matthew Moyer noticed a silver box in the home with a $100 bill sticking out.
Moyer then saw an assault-style rifle and ammunition.
Officers read Willhite his Miranda Rights, after which he acknowledged his engagement in the sale of the drugs and admitted the money was from the buying and selling of drugs.
Another detective found a large sum of money inside a box in the oven. The box also contained meth and prescription drugs.
A final count of items seized during the raid included: 3.5 pounds of methamphetamines, 2 lbs. of marijuana, 63 grams of morphine, 7 grams of Oxycodone, 63 grams of Opana (an opioid pain medication), two pistols and an AK-47.
