CASH FORFEITURES AID TEXAS COUNTY

GUYMON -- Money seized from those accused of hauling drugs through
Texas County is being used against them. So far this year, Texas
County agencies have taken $647,876 from suspected drug dealers and
traffickers on U.S. 54 alone. The money is used for training,
equipment and prevention programs that many small departments might
not otherwise have, said Mike Boring, Texas County district attorney.

"We've got all kinds of needs out there," he said.

If, during a stop, officers can prove money has some connection to
drugs -- such as the presence of drug residue on it -- they can ask
the district attorney to file a forfeiture.

State law allows the district attorney to distribute seized money for
drug prevention, education and enforcement. Boring returns 50 percent
of the proceeds to departments for the first $100,000 they collect and
75 percent for anything above that.

Texas County Sheriff Arnold Peoples hasn't used county money to buy
vehicles since 1990. Drug busts have funded those purchases.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol headquarters in Guymon was built mostly
with seized drug money, said Lt. Jim McBride, commander of special
operations. The total cost was $392,497.