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July 20, 2011

Colony man charged with pot trafficking

CULLMAN — A suspicious package arrived at its mailing address, but a slight detour landed its recipient in jail.

Robert Earl Staton, 45, of Colony, was arrested by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office on charges of drug trafficking in marijuana Tuesday. He was caught with 12 pounds of marijuana in his possession.

According to a press release from the Sheriff’s office, the investigation began when U.S. Postal Inspector Stephen Matthews notified the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) about a suspicious package addressed to M&M Grocery on 982 Colony Rd.

Once Matthews brought the package to the CNET office, it was placed in a lineup and a certified K-9 team from the sheriff’s office gave it positive indication.

After further investigation, Matthews, CNET agents and deputies from the sheriff’s office did a controlled delivery of the suspicious package, which Staton, owner of M&M Grocery signed for, according to law enforcement officials.

Staton was immediately taken into custody and booked at the Cullman County Detention Center for trafficking of marijuana.

The 12 pounds of hydroponic cannabis was valued at $50,000-$60,000, according to the sheriff’s office.



* Justin Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 225 or by email at justing@cullmantimes.com.

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