NEWPORT-As more defendants in a major marijuana conspiracy case are entering into negotiated plea-bargains with state prosecutors, a second drug conspiracy has been alleged involving some of the same people.

Four people were arraigned on Monday in connection with the second conspiracy case, which involves a conspiracy to sell and deliver narcotic pain medications which allegedly extended from March to December 2008. The two-count presentment against the four was issued on September 1 by the Cocke County Grand Jury.

Charged with one count of conspiracy to sell Schedule II and Schedule III controlled substances are Mary O. Arms, 61, of 385 Gardenia Road; Lisa D. Large, 45, of 322 Lonesome Pine Road, Bybee; Thomas Hollifield Jr.; and Lucie A. Stuart, of 181 Highway 160.

Arms and Large are also co-defendants in the marijuana conspiracy case.

The four defendants were arraigned by Circuit Judge Ben W. Hooper II on Monday, informed of the charges against them, and the names of the defense attorneys who will represent them were recorded. And one of the defendants was successful in her request for a reduced bond.

According to the presentment in the case, the defendants are accused of participating in a nine-month conspiracy to sell and distribute controlled substances.  Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Agent Matt Thompson is listed as the prosecuting witness against the four defendants, and the evidence listed in the presentment comes from intercepted telephone conversations monitored by the TBI.

 

Alleged criminal acts

In support of the allegations of conspiracy, the defendants are alleged to have committed the following criminal acts, according to the presentment.

• September 4, 2008: In a telephone conversation with Stuart, Arms is alleged to have agreed to buy ten hydrocodone pills from Stuart for $4 per pill. In a second telephone conversation, Hollifield is alleged to have arranged to buy nine methadone pills from Mary Arms and "to pay on his drug debt for purchases of drugs bought on credit."

• September 5, 2008: In two telephone conversations with Lisa Large, Mary Arms discussed "the division of drug sale proceeds from the sale of drugs" to Hollifield.

• September 8, 2008: Mary Arms, in an intercepted telephone conversation with Hollifield, arranged to sell six methadone pills to Hollifield.

• September 9, 2008: In a telephone conversation with Mary Arms, Hollifield arranged to buy 12 methadone pills.

• September 11, 2008: Stuart, in a telephone conversation with Arms, offered to sell 12 7.5-milligram hydrocodone pills to Arms. In a second intercepted telephone conversation between Hollifield and Arms, Hollifield arranged to buy 12 methadone pills from Arms. He later increased his purchase amount to 15 pills.

• September 24, 2008: In two telephone conversations with Stuart, Arms agreed to buy 12 hydrocodone pills.

• October 4, 2008: Hollifield arranged, in a telephone conversation with Arms, to buy 12 methadone pills.

• October 15, 2008: Hollifield called Arms and arranged to buy 12 methadone pills "and to pay $350 toward his drug debt with Mary Arms."

• October 18, 2008: Large and Arms discussed in a telephone conversation the sale of methadone pills to Hollifield and also discussed the drug debt Hollifield owed to both Large and Arms.

• October 19, 2008: Arms and Large, during an intercepted telephone conversation, Large agreed to buy ten hydrocodone pills for $80 from Arms.

• October 28, 2008: In a telephone conversation with Charles "Eddie" Arms, who is not a defendant named in the presentment, Stuart agreed to sell 20 Percocet pills to Arms for $5 per pill.

• October 29, 2008: During a telephone conversation with Mary Arms, Hollifield arranged to purchase six methadone pills from Arms "and to pay $300 toward his drug debt" with Arms.

• November 1, 2008: Arms, in a telephone conversation with Large, told Large "that she had sold Hollifield 21 methadone pills and she advised Large not to sell Hollifield any more pills on credit because of his accumulated drug debt."

After arraigning the defendants in the case, Judge Hooper agreed to reduce Stuart's bond from $25,000 to $10,000. All parties in the case agreed that the defendant may post a $10,000 unsecured bond until her next court date on November 17.