MULLENS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Wyoming County man faces charges following a visit from authorities last week during which responders were invited inside to have a look at what appeared to be a large-scale drug operation.
According to official reports, on Monday, April 17, 2023. Corporal J. Payne received an anonymous tip by telephone that Justin McKinney had been selling and growing marijuana and magic mushrooms in his Mullens residence. The anonymous individual, when asked how they had become aware of this, disclosed that he purchased marijuana at the residence on different occasions.
The following day, Corporal Payne and Patrolman K. Cole travelled to the location of the residence to address the accusations with McKinney himself. The officers were invited inside to look around by McKinney, and quickly became of aware of “one room that appeared to be a large scale mushroom growing operation.”
The room featured temperature control, and multiple containers with substrate used for growing mushrooms, along with several containers for inoculation of spores which is commonly used in the cultivation of mushrooms.
Officers also noticed “several jars containing what appeared to be marijuana in plain view.” When questioned about these jars, McKinney reportedly advised, “that is my weed.”
Reports indicate that approximately 14 jars containing various amounts of marijuana were located, along with vacuum sealed packages of marijuana weighing 6.5 ounces total. Several jars of marijuana wax dabs were found, as well as four hundred dollars in various small bills. In the kitchen, officers located several jars of magic mushrooms.
11.5 total ounces of marijuana were located along with 1.2 ounces of magic mushrooms and 3 jars of marijuana wax. A set of digital kitchen scales and two boxes of zip lock sandwich bags commonly used to weigh and package illegal narcotics for sale were also discovered.
McKinney then disclosed that he had other “stashes” of large amounts of currency before leading officers to the money in question. $5001 dollars total was found in the home along with several firearms including two rifles and a glock 9mm pistol.
Another room in the residence was found to function as an additional “growing” room and featured air ducts and blowers for ventilation. The room contained several containers used for growing as well as artificial lights.
Responding officers determined that the residence and materials discovered within indicated the illegal production and distribution of narcotics. McKinney was arrested and transported to Mullens Police Department for processing. He was charged with two counts of Manufacturing, Delivery, or Possession with Intent to Manufacture of Deliver a Controlled Substance.