Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) was contacted by Home Land Security investigators to assist with an investigation involving a Madison County resident receiving packages of controlled substances through a courier service.
On Monday, May 16, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Lieutenant Haskell, Sergeants Lauth and Boatwright and Deputy Goldman accompanied Home Land Security investigators to the residence of Debra Pickles Bassett, located on SW CR 14.
Bassett served as the Madison County Property Appraiser for 16 years; taking office on Jan. 3, 1989 and leaving the office on Jan. 3, 2005.
The investigators utilized covert tactics to deliver the package to the residence, which was accepted and signed for by persons within the residence.
The package contained approximately 4,000 doses of Tramadol, which is a schedule 4 drug.
Officers took action, arresting Bassett. The officers informed Bassett of her rights before questioning her about the substances she had received.
Bassett volunteered information relating to the acceptance and distribution of the controlled substances. Bassett further provided information regarding additional controlled substances within her residence. Officers of MCSO were granted permission to conduct a consensual search of her residence, after which they discovered additional Tramadol and Zolfed, also known as Ambien (a schedule 4 substance).
Bassett surrendered all medications, as well as her cell phone, which contained a list of persons to have the controlled substances shipped to. Paper copies of the list or similar lists were also discovered.
In total, 1,580 doses of Zolfed and 24,680 doses of Tramadol were recovered by the MCSO.
Tramadol is a narcotic that treats moderate to severe pain and Zolfed is used to treat insomnia.
Side effects of Tramadol include the possibility of seizures, weak or shallow breathing, severe skin reactions such as fever, swelling in the individuals face or tongue, burning eyes and a red or purple rash that can cause blistering and peeling.
Zolfed could cause chest pains, fast or irregular heartbeats, breathing and swallowing trouble, loss of coordination, headaches, muscle pain and constipation.
Bassett was taken into custody without incident and is facing charges of trafficking a controlled substance (Tramadol) and possession with intent to sell a controlled substance (Zolfed aka: Ambien).
The Madison County Sheriff's Office recovered 1,580 doses of Zolfed (also known as Ambien, which is a schedule 4 prescription drug) and 24,680 doses of Tramadol (which is a schedule 4 prescription drug) from Bassett after discovering she was having the drugs shipped to her residence.