Teens arrested in drug sales, counterfeit money scheme

Six teenagers have been arrested in connection with the distribution of hallucinogenic mushrooms, Ecstasy and counterfeit money.

Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Dan Britton said Thursday four of the suspects were arrested July 24 at Stodick Park after they delivered 113 grams of psilocybin mushrooms following a month-long undercover investigation.

Arrested were Sean Edward Martin, 17, Robert Andrew Horning, 18 and Dean Anthony Stringham, 18, all of Gardnerville; and Brandon Jacob Thornburg, 18, of South Lake Tahoe.

Deputies recovered $420 in counterfeit bills from a vehicle at the scene.

Martin was taken to the Lake Tahoe Juvenile Detention Center where he was booked for trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, conspiracy to violate the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act and possession of fictitious currency.

Horning, Stringham and Thornburg were booked into Douglas County Jail for trafficking in a controlled substance and conspiracy to violate the Uniformed Controlled Substances Act.

On Tuesday, deputies arrested Lucas Lee Miller, 18, of South Lake Tahoe after he tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. The serial number matched the bills seized from the July 24 arrest.

Deputies arrested Paul Everett Mello, 17, of Gardnerville, on Wednesday for two sales of Ecstasy earlier in the month.

Britton said Martin delivered the Ecstasy to Mello during an undercover purchase. Martin is to be charged as a conspirator in that transaction, according to reports.

Britton said the sheriff's office is investigating numerous cases of passing counterfeit currency throughout Douglas County, Carson City and El Dorado County.

Anyone with information is asked to call sheriff's Investigator Jeff Schemenauer at 782-9907.