Two arrested during Wednesday police raid: One suspect accused of selling over 26 grams of meth to informant
Published 10:55 am Saturday, September 1, 2018
Tha Im, also known as Tha Tony Im and Im Tha, 44, of Austin was charged on Friday in Mower County District Court with felony first-degree sales of 17 grams or more of methamphetamine within a 90 day period and two counts of felony second-degree sales of 10 grams or more of a narcotic other than heroin.
Adam Philaphon, 26, of Austin was charged on Friday in Mower County District Court with felony store methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child.
According to the court compliant, narcotics detectives from the Mower County Sheriff’s Office and Austin Police Department met with a confidential reliable informant (CRI) about purchasing methamphetamine from Im on May 9.
The CRI advised that Im would sell half an ounce of meth for $500.
The CRI and his vehicle were searched and he was given buy money and fitted with an audio recording device. The CRI then picked Im up at his residence in the 200 block of 12th Street Northeast and drove to another part of northeast Austin. Im then exited the CRI’s vehicle and returned 20 minutes later.
The CRI met the detectives at a predetermined location and surrendered 12.93 grams of methamphetamine. He also informed them that Im had to pick up the drugs from his “source” and sold it to him when he returned to the vehicle.
A similar operation was carried out with the same CRI on June 13, the complaint said. The CRI purchased 13.36 grams of methamphetamine from Im, which he turned over to the police.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at 7:23 a.m. on Wednesday at Im’s residence in the 200 block of 12th Street Northeast. Im and Philaphon were inside the residence along with two other adult males, an adult female, two juvenile males and an infant female. The woman at the residence told police who occupied each bedroom.
Law enforcement found methamphetamine paraphernalia in the bedroom the woman shared with Philaphon, the complaint states. They also found children’s clothing in the bedroom and a child’s toy near the paraphernalia.
Philaphon initially denied using methamphetamine, but then admitted to using methamphetamine in the bedroom, according to the complaint. Police also learned that Philaphon had a warrant in Jackson County. Im and Philaphon were both arrested.
A review of Im’s criminal history shows prior convictions for domestic assault and a firearm violation.
They will appear in court again on Sept. 13.