Follow-up On Arrest On Weapons And Drug Charges

On February 4th, ranger Greg Johnston saw a vehicle turning off the parkway with a bow and arrow on the rear seat. He stopped it and contacted the operator, Scotty Lee Carico of Galax, Virginia. During a search of Carico and the vehicle, Johnston recovered a concealed pistol, brass knuckles and a large amount of bundled cash. A Carroll County Sheriff’s Office canine alerted on the vehicle, leading to the discovery of about six ounces of methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, digital scales, cellophane bags, a box of meth pipes, night vision goggles, and an audio cassette tape containing a monologue by Carico in which he described his drug activities and ability to avoid capture. The total cash seized came to $18,473. On April 20th, Carico was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Sentencing is scheduled for late July.  During the trial, Joseph Carrico, the defendant’s cousin, testified on behalf of the defendant that the pistol recovered from the vehicle was his and that he left the gun in the car when he loaned it to Scotty Carico. He also testified that he had used meth for approximately four years, had used it heavily during the months of January, February and part of March, and had purchased the gun during this time period. He said that he’d consumed meth on the day of the arrest, gone target shooting, then transported the vehicle to Scotty Carico’s location with the weapon in it. While the jury was deliberating, Johnston and U.S. marshals submitted a criminal complaint charging Joseph Carrico with purchase and possession of a firearm by a person addicted to a controlled substance and acquired an arrest warrant from the district court judge. He was then arrested in the lobby of the federal courthouse.