Pubdate: Fri, 14 Dec 2001
Source: The Daily Journal (IN)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Journal, Johnson County, Indiana
Contact:  P.O. Box 699, Franklin, Indiana 46131
Phone: (317) 736-2749
Fax: (317) 736-2766
Feedback: http://www.thejournalnet.com/FormLayout.asp?formcall=3D1
Web site: http://www.thejournalnet.com
Author: Michele Holtkamp

POLICE CONFISCATE $1.3 MILLION IN POT

About $1.3 million in plastic-wrapped marijuana and an estimated $100,000 
cash were seized Thursday in what police are calling the largest drug bust 
ever in Franklin.

Franklin N. Cardenas, 23, of Franklin, and Curtis M. Young, 37, of 
Lexington, Ky., were arrested and held Thursday night on felony drug 
dealing charges.

Franklin police were called to Frank's Carpet Place, a warehouse business 
at 1085 Eastview Drive, shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday on a report of an 
armed robbery.

Police found Cardenas bleeding inside the carpet business he reportedly 
operated. He told police he'd been struck in the back of the head and that 
someone had stolen his Ford Excursion.

Officers began a hunt for the stolen vehicle and found it heading south on 
Interstate 65.

After a short chase, Franklin Officer Joe Dillon pulled it over near the 
Edinburgh exit about 2:45 p.m. Young was driving the vehicle, and inside 
police found what they estimate as 70 pounds of marijuana, packaged in huge 
blocks and wrapped in plastic inside two duffel bags.

In a Flintstones bag in the vehicle, police found cash, a handgun and a 
smaller bag of marijuana.

Police brought both Young and Cardenas to the police department for 
questioning. Although statements from the men somewhat conflicted late 
Thursday night, police at a press conference in Franklin gave this 
preliminary version of events:

Cardenas told police he had the marijuana in his Excursion to bring to the 
warehouse. He intended to sell the marijuana to a person he had never met, 
Franklin Detective Brian Goldfarb said.

When Cardenas arrived at his carpet store, Young was waiting inside. Young 
reportedly hit Cardenas and stole his Excursion, with the marijuana inside, 
detectives said.

Cardenas jumped into a gray Jeep and temporarily chased Young, but he gave 
up and returned to his store when he saw that police cars were taking chase 
and that Young was leaving the city, Goldfarb said.

When Cardenas returned to the store, he had a neighboring business call 
police, officers said.

He told police he didn't think Young was the person he was supposed to sell 
the marijuana to, and police weren't sure about the relationship between 
the two men.

Police said they believe Young came to Indiana from Kentucky strictly for a 
drug deal.

Police then went to Cardenas' Franklin home at 4348 E. County Road 150S. 
Inside, officers found $100,000 in a safe, two semi-or fully automatic 
rifles, two handguns and a small bag of marijuana, Goldfarb said.

The money hasn't been counted, because police will run tests on it and 
possibly check for fingerprints, Franklin Police Chief John Borges said. 
The money appeared to be in $20 and $50 bills, neatly stacked and 
rubber-banded inside a plastic grocery shopping bag.

Fourteen people, including Cardenas and his wife, had been living in the 
home, police said.

During the investigation, police also confiscated a box of 1,100 rounds of 
ammunition that had been partially opened.

Police weren't sure exactly what had been happening inside Cardenas' carpet 
store -- a building that he leased -- because the only thing officers found 
inside were a few empty crates.

Young was arrested on charges of possession of more than 10 pounds of 
marijuana and intent to deliver, both Class C felonies; battery; and auto 
theft. He was held on $100,000 bond at the Johnson County jail.

Cardenas, also held on $100,000 bond, was arrested on charges of possession 
of more than 10 pounds of marijuana and intent to deliver, both Class C 
felonies.

Goldfarb said that as many as three other people may be involved in the 
incident.

Borges was not aware of any arrests made in Franklin for a larger amount of 
drugs.

"No community wants to have this kind of thing in their community," Borges 
said.

One police officer classified the drug bust as one of the largest drug 
operations in Indiana and possibly the entire Midwest.

Borges commended the quick thinking of all police officers involved. More 
than 20 officers assisted in the first day of the investigation, including 
officers from the Johnson, Bartholomew and Shelby county sheriff's 
departments and the Greenwood and Edinburgh police departments.

A neighboring business of Frank's Carpet Place on Eastview Drive was not 
involved in the incident, police said.
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