Senor Bill's Raided in Jasper Texas

New Details From Senor Bill's Raid,

Police Say Fed Ex Driver Involve

08/20/08


by
Steve W Stewart

Over 7 pounds of marijuana, and over $40,000 dollars in cash were
seized by Jasper Police in Tuesday's raid. Photo by Steve W Stewart.

New
details are emerging after Jasper police conducted a drug raid at the
popular roadside barbeque stand, Senor Bill's shortly after 4:00 on
Tuesday afternoon.

Police
now say that they recovered a total of 7.23 pounds of marijuana, along
with $41,100 dollars in cash, and the case may qualify to go federal.

Detective
Mike Poindexter said that in addition to the marijuana and cash, they
also discovered explosive devices. An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms out of Beaumont responded to assess the
explosives. Captain Gerald Hall said the agent deemed the devices to be
military practice grenades. The agent said that although the grenades
did not contain shrapnel, they were still considered dangerous.

Poindexter
said on Wednesday that this all began when police received a tip that a
driver for Federal Express had been buying marijuana at the business on
a routine basis. Poindexter said Sergeant Garrett Foster observed the
Fed Ex driver

Police
say the driver if this Federal Express delivery truck was arrested
after buying marijuana at Senor Bill's. Photo by Steve W Stewart.

at the business during the noon hour, and conducted a traffic stop on the Fed Ex delivery truck after it left Senor Bills.

According
to a report filed by Foster, he and Officer Keith Billingsley
discovered a bag of marijuana hidden inside the truck, and later found
a sealed Fed Ex package that contained marijuana.

Police
arrested the Fed Ex driver, later identified as 45 year old Gary Neal
Roccaforte of Port Arthur. The report said that Roccaforte cooperated
with police and implicated Senor Bill's as the location where he bought
his marijuana.

Roccaforte was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Ronnie Billingsley on Wednesday
morning. Roccaforte was charged with possession of marijuana, his bond
was set at $10,000 dollars, and he was released from the Jasper County
Jail at about 9:30 Wednesday morning after posting bond.

Meanwhile, the owners of Senor Bill's, whose names have not yet been released
pending formal charges and arraignment, remained in the Jasper City
Jail on Wednesday, awaiting transfer to the Jasper County Jail. Police
say they expect the couple to be moved to the county jail, and possibly
arraigned later Wednesday afternoon.

Police Raid Senor Bill's, Drugs, Explosives Discovered

08/20/08 By Steve Stewart Officers of the Jasper Police Dept continued to pile up bags and containers of marijuana and other paraphenalia for several minutes.Photo by Michael Love Jasper police conducted a raid at Senor Bill's, a roadside restaurant on North Wheeler Street. Officers arrived at the business shortly after 4:00 on Tuesday afternoon. Detective Mike Poindexter said that in addition to a very large amount of marijuana and paraphernalia, they also discovered explosive devices. Police also say they discovered approximately $40,000 dollars in cash. An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms out of Beaumont responded to assess the explosives. Captain Gerald Hall said the agent deemed the devices to be military practice grenades. The agent said that although the grenades did not contain shrapnel, they were still considered dangerous. Police have confirmed that two people, the owners of Senor Bill's, were taken into custody at the scene. Their identities have not been released pending formal charges and arraignment. Captain Gerald Hall inspects a suspicious item which was later determined to be a military explosive device. Photo by Michael Love The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives out of Beaumont was called in to handle the military practice grenades and other explosives. Photo by Michael Love