MASSIVE DRUG BUST GOES ON

Sheriff Expects To Nab 158 People

WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- The biggest drug bust in the Wood County's
history should put a dent in the illegal drugs available in the area,
law enforcement officials say.

The Wood County Sheriff's Department, with help from other agencies,
started making arrests Monday.

As of Wednesday, 17 defendants had made their initial appearances in
court on a wide range of drug charges. Sheriff Thomas Reichert
expects the department will finish with the arrests next week and 158
people will be charged in connection with the case.

The arrests are the result of 15 months of work by the Wood County
Sheriff's Department, Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force and
Marshfield Police Department.

"This is, by far, the largest drug bust in the history of our
county," Reichert said. "I don't recall anything even close to this,
as far as the number of defendants and charges that came from this
case. It's really unprecedented in central Wisconsin."

The street value of the marijuana seized during the investigation is
more than $100,000 Reichert said. The case should generate 306
criminal complaints and 617 charges being filed in Wood County
Circuit Court, according to the Wood County Sheriff's Department.

Not all of the defendants will be arrested by officers, Reichert
said. Some of those least likely to flee the area or fail to show up
for court appearances will be sent the criminal summons and
complaints, he said.

"A lot of the people that were targeted in this and arrested in this
were people that were selling drugs to people that were of high
school age," Reichert said.

In fact, the investigation revealed area parents selling drugs to
their children's friends, he said.

"This is certainly one of the most appalling and disturbing aspects
of this case," Reichert said.

Wood County Sheriff's Department Investigator Michael Webster said
the cases are almost entirely from the Wisconsin Rapids area. The
first arrests included residents of Wisconsin Rapids, Biron and Grand Rapids.

The 158 people don't necessarily all know each other, Reichert said.
It wasn't a coordinated group, but, the investigation revealed a
network of people making drugs available in the area.

"There was certainly the framework in place for people to make calls
to locate somebody with the drugs the buyer wanted," Reichert said.

In one case, a man and woman involved a 15-year-old boy in selling
marijuana. The couple has been charged with contributing to the
delinquency of a minor, as well as charges related to selling drugs
and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

The investigation was part of the sheriff's separtment's "Take Back
Our Youth" initiative. Reichert hopes the busts will draw attention
to the drug problem and help educate parents about what is happening
in their children's lives.

[Sidebar]

Drug Arrests

The number of drug arrests have increased considerably since Wood
County Sheriff Thomas Reichert took office.

In 2003 and 2004, the Wood County Sheriff's Department drug unit had
392 arrests.

In 2005 and the first four months of 2006, the drug unit has had 616
arrests. The number includes arrests currently under way.

[Sidebar]

Marijuana Lingo

Marijuana users have words all their own.

Wood County Sheriff's Department Investigator Michael Webster said
parents would be surprised to know most students know the language.
It includes:

* Swag or dank: Refers to commercial grade marijuana, which comes
from Mexico. Swag usually costs about $100 per ounce.

* Mid: The middle grade of marijuana. This grade usually costs around
$400 an ounce.

* Nugs or nuggets: The highest grade of marijuana. It usually is
grown locally or imported from Canada. This grade can cost as high as
$1,300 an ounce.

Some of the 158 defendants being charged this week and next week
might learn some new words, like "charging enhancers." The enhancers
are added to some types of drug charges and increase the maximum
amount of time people can spend in jail by five years, said Wood
County District Attorney Todd Wolf.

The enhancers include possessing with intent to deliver or delivering
specific drugs while the person is in, on or within 1,000 feet of:

* A state, county, city, village or town park

* A jail or correctional facility

* A multi-unit public housing project

* A swimming pool open to the public

* A youth center or a community center

* Any private or public school premises

* A school bus

* An approved treatment facility