Carolina Beach Police make biggest mushroom bust in city history

On 6 March, 2010 detectives of the Carolina Beach PD executed a search warrant on 101 Sea Oats Ln, apt 25-D, Carolina Beach, NC. A month long investigation of the occupants, Mr. Jeremiah L. Roussard and Ms. Mary J Richardson were arrested and charged with the following: trafficking in psilocybin (mushrooms), possession of immediate precursors, manufacturing schedule I, pwisd sch. I, sell and delivery of sch. I, sell & delivery of sch vi, pwisd sch vi, poss. Of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling for the sale of controlled substance.

In February 2010, the CBPD identified Mr. Roussard and Ms. Richardson as selling chocolate mushroom bars and marijuana to several residents of Carolina Beach. Detectives established a surveillance of Mr. Roussard and Ms Richardson’s residence in an attempt to confirm the criminal intelligence provided by confidential informants.

On 6 March 2010, undercover officers made direct contact with Mr. Richardson. Ultimately, Mr. Richardson invited the undercover officers into their apartment and sold the officer mushrooms and marijuana. Officers obtained a search warrant for the residence for execution on the evening of 6 Mar 2010. Upon completion of the search of the residence evidence was seized indicating Mr. Roussard and Ms. Richardson were operating the largest home mushroom grow operation ever seen in the county. Normally mushrooms are grown in rural areas, harvested and sold after processing. This operation included the injection of spores into processing balls, which acted like manure allowing continual harvesting of mushrooms. Evidence of the complete evolution from spores, harvesting material, cultivation of corn injected with spores and the harvesting of products were found inside the apartment.

INFORMATION FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE WWAY NEWSCHANNEL 3 NEWSROOM.