Major Drug Bust in Spotsy

Working off a lead generated in Texas, Spotsylvania County Sheriff's deputies seized more than $401,000 in illegal drugs and more than $347,000 in cash from the home of a suspected drug dealer who police say is one of the major suppliers of cocaine in the southeast. 

Deputies arrested Spotsylvania residents George Leonard Jasper, Jr., age 43, and Mabel Terrero Acosta, age 23. Jasper stands charged with trafficking cocaine and conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Acosta was charged with only conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Jasper had been out of Federal prison for two years, where he had served time for drug trafficking. 

In all, police seized 6.5 pounds of cocaine, a half pound of marijuana, $347,289 in cash, a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck, a 2003 Lincoln Navigator, a 2011 Chevrolet Corvette, six large flat screen TVs, laptop computers and a char-broil infrared gas grill during the raid. 

More items are expected to be seized in the investigation. 

"This was obviously a major player in the narcotics trade and a supplier for the southeastern United States," said a press release issued by the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. "This case is an excellent example of law enforcement's capability to network and make cases that reach across the continental US."

The bust all began on Sept. 6, when the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office received a call from a police department in Texas. There, a K9 officer from Pearland, Tex. set his dog to work searching a FedEx shipping facility, sniffing the packages as they were being sorted on a conveyor belt. The dog, trained in narcotics detection signaled the presence of drugs on a package addressed to 10400 Norfolk Way in Spotsylvania County. The officer took down the tracking number on the package, and left it to continue on its destination. 

Spotsylvania County detectives used a search warrant to seize the package when it arrived in Stafford County, it was found to contain three grams of marijuana and two kilos of cocaine. The package was switched out for a dummy package, which was delivered by the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit driving a mock FedEx van to Jasper's residence. 

About half an hour after delivering the package, Jasper left the house, placing the package in his doorway. He, and passenger Acosta, got into a truck and drove away from the residence. The truck was pulled over a short distance away, and Jasper and Acosta were taken into custody. 

Sheriff's office Emergency Respone Team then raided the home. Inside, they found another 1.5 kilos of cocaine lying on the dining room table and another half pound of marijuana was found in the basement. Police also found several sets of large scales and evidence of prior FedEx deliveries. 

Police also found literal piles of money all over the home. Jasper, who police say has been very cooperative, estimated the value of the cash in the neighborhood of $400,000.