The Leflore County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday confiscated 28 pounds of marijuana, around $7,000 in cash and two pistols from the home of a man arrested just two years ago and currently on probation.
Robert Phillips Jr., 29, of 205 Mockingbird Lane was in custody at the county jail on Wednesday afternoon and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute enhanced by a weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Phillips was arrested in October 2016 on similar charges and, according to Sheriff Ricky Banks, was sentenced to seven years of house arrest at that time.
“He was on probation from the previous charge but never reported to a parole officer,” Banks said. “They went over to check on him, and he didn’t want to let them into his house.”
Banks said the officers called the sheriff and his office had information that Phillips was “supposed to be getting a shipment and had been out of town.”
Banks said the scent of marijuana was strong in the carport outside the house.
Upon entering, he and deputies found two large compressed blocks of marijuana and several vacuum-packed bags, adding up to about 28 pounds.
Depending on the quality of the marijuana, that amount could draw anywhere from $45,000 to $100,000 on the streets.
Guns were also found at the scene as well as cash, scales and paraphernalia presumed to be used for weighing and distributing the marijuana.
Banks said the weapons would be checked against shootings that have occurred in the county over the last several months and speculated that Phillips “has a way of influencing younger boys in the community.
“I hope we can get him and he’ll serve some time where he’ll be out of business for a while,” he said.
In October 2016, according to information obtained from the jail docket, Phillips was arrested by sheriff’s officers and charged with possession of marijuana and felony possession of a firearm.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
