Federal charges filed against man first arrested in Baxter County

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A federal criminal complaint has been filed against Craig Whittingslow of Nevada City, California — the man arrested after a search warrant was served on him after his motor home was located in a Cotter RV park.

The 57-year-old Whittingslow is charged by federal authorities with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

As a result of the search conducted May 17th, approximately 13 pounds of what was described as “high grade” marijuana was seized along with thousands of dollars in cash and firearms.

The affidavit accompanying the complaint outlines how a confidential source met with Drug Enforcement Agency agents in Fayetteville May 14th and told them about a marijuana distributor named “Craig” from central California.

The confidential source said he owed Whittingslow a large sum of money for a previous marijuana transaction taking place about two months before the May meeting. The source said the transaction had taken place when he met Whittingslow in an RV park in Fayetteville.

The source said he entered Whittingslow’s motorhome and saw Whittingslow go to a bedroom closet and retrieve about 30 pounds of marijuana. The source said he had given Whittingslow a partial payment for the product, and still had a balance due on the purchase.

The source told DEA agents Whittingslow had numerous marijuana customers in mid-America, including Arkansas, Texas and Missouri. Whittingslow told the confidential source he conducted a marijuana deal in Missouri worth in excess of $200,000.

Whittingslow traveled to the states where he did business in a 40-to-45-foot luxury motorhome and pulled another vehicle to use when the motorhome was parked.

After the source told the DEA agents Whittingslow was in route to Arkansas, they reported a license plate reader on Interstate-40 eastbound near Holbrook, Arizona registered Whittingslow’s motorhome traveling by the location.

The confident source placed a recorded telephone call to Whittingslow. During the conversation, Whittingslow said he had arrived in Cotter and asked if the source could meet him so they could complete their transaction. The two agreed to meet in Cotter on May 17th.

The source told the DEA agents he had agreed to purchase about 10 pounds of marijuana from Whittingslow.

On May 17th, a DEA agent traveled to Cotter and located Whittingslow’s motorhome at a Denton Ferry RV park. A search warrant was obtained for the motorhome and the vehicle Whittingslow towed behind the motorhome.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., Whittingslow arrived at the motorhome parking space in the smaller vehicle. DEA agents assisted by investigators with the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office made contact with Whittingslow as he exited the vehicle.

During the search, a duffel bag was found in the smaller vehicle containing nine vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana weighing a total of about 13 pounds. The marijuana was packed with an odor-absorbing powder and stored in the charcoal-lined duffel bag also intended to control odor.

The search also turned up slightly more than $64,200 in cash believed to have been obtained by Whittingslow as the result of marijuana transactions. The source said Whittingslow sells the drug for $1,500 a pound. The amount of cash found could have resulted from the sale of approximately 43 pounds of marijuana.

Officers also found weapons in a gun safe in the motor home. Whittingslow opened the gun safe with a combination. A shotgun, rifle and handgun were seized.

In addition to the federal charges, Whittingslow faces criminal charges filed in Baxter County.

He appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court May 21st for a Rule 8.l hearing. Under the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure, a person who has been arrested and has not bonded out of jail is to be brought before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay.

During the hearing, the person is informed of the charges against him and various constitutional rights are explained.

After the hearing, Whittingslow was released into the custody of U.S.Marshals so he could be taken to face federal charges related to his drug activity.

In Baxter County, Whittingslow is charged with possession of marijuana with the purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and possessing weapons during controlled substance offenses.

The drugs and other assets in Whittingslow’s possession when arrested in Baxter County had an estimated value of about $500,000. The majority of the assets are in the hands of federal authorities. The state has moved to seize the small vehicle Whittingslow towed behind his motorhome.

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