On Tuesday, November 17th, special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigators, and the Fortuna Police Department served a search warrant in Fortuna, California according to a Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release.
The search warrant was the result of Customs Agents seizing packages of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy or molly being shipped to the Fortuna residence from the Netherlands.
During the search of the residence, directly next to where two children were sleeping, agents located a quarter of a pound of MDMA on top of a dresser. There was a package of empty plastic capsules next to the MDMA. These capsules are commonly used for packing individual doses of MDMA. A quarter pound of MDMA can produce approx. 1500 individual doses.
Agents also located a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun on a shelf in the garage. There was a loaded magazine next to the gun. The suspect in the MDMA investigation, 32 year old Justin Dearwester, is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms.
During the execution of the warrant, agents detained four adults and located five children under 4 years of age inside the house. Child Welfare Services was contacted and initiated an investigation into the safety of the children. Agents will forward their investigation to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office and request that charges of Possession of MDMA for sale, Felon in possession of a firearm, and Child Endangerment be filed against Dearwester.
