INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Detectives found 97 grams of heroin, 13 grams of powder cocaine, .6 grams of crack cocaine, 18 grams of marijuana and $1,300 in drug money after serving a search warrant at a home in Wabasso, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Anthony Wheeler, 44, of the 8400 block of 63rd Avenue in Wabasso, faces charges of sale and possession of cocaine, trafficking heroine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.
Wheeler’s Thursday afternoon arrest concluded an “extensive narcotics investigation” by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Criminal Enforcement (M.A.C.E.) Unit assisted by the Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team, the arrest report said.
In addition to the drugs and money, detectives collected $250 of unused gift cards, 18 Electronics Benefit Transfer (E.B.T.) cards commonly known as food stamp cards issued in various names, two flintlock firearms, three realistic looking air soft handguns, and one realistic looking air soft rifle. The home also included an extensive surveillance system and three radio communication devices believed to be used during drug sales.
Wheeler is being held at the Indian River County Jail in lieu of $427,000 bond.
“The arrest of Mr. Wheeler is a great example of how our M.A.C.E. Unit is taking true bad guys off the streets,” Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said. “Wheeler would be out selling these drugs this weekend if it weren’t for the actions taken yesterday. Our agency has a long history with Mr. Wheeler and his drug sales in our county. It is time he goes back to prison for good.”
