WINNEMUCCA — Law enforcement officers from throughout northern Nevada teamed up to combat drug trafficking and threats to national security in a Major Crimes Interdiction (MCI) that took place on Interstate 80 throughout the day Monday.

They arrested a felon who allegedly absconded from parole and was traveling with two guns and four men in two separate traffic stops allegedly traveling with 14 pounds of marijuana between them.  They also recovered $40,000 in cash.

The law enforcement teams only interacted with those who were pulled over for traffic violations.  If there were indicators of possible criminal activity, the officers either received permission from the drivers to search the vehicles or obtained warrants.

Lt. James Mercado, of the Department of Public Safety – Investigation Division, said the drugs and guns are probably reflective of what’s on the Interstate every day.  Monday’s interdiction was successful because of the personnel and drug dogs at their disposal, he added.

“This doesn’t happen all the time but when it does it’s because we have the resources,” Mercado said.  “The impact tells us we do have a problem – especially on the Interstates, which are usually in the communities where we live.”

Detective John Dunkhorst, of the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), was the lead detective on the MCI. He coordinated the various teams and will be in charge of follow-up investigations.

Officer Jordan Greathouse, of the Lovelock Police Department, and Trooper Wylie Lund, of the NHP, stopped a vehicle on Interstate 80 for a traffic violation.  The individual driving had a warrant out of Colorado for violating the terms of his parole.  And he was traveling with two handguns.

Jerry Ken Prejean, 57, was arrested on the warrant and placed on a no-bail hold. He has been additionally charged with being an ex-felon in possession of firearms and driving without a valid driver’s license.

Meanwhile, Scott Rilley Whiffen, 38, of Doyle, Calif., and James Richard Harding, 45, of Wendel, Calif., were arrested for allegedly transporting marijuana.

That arrest was made by Deputy Cory Allen and Sgt. Lee Dove. 

The marijuana was described as good quality with a street value of $60,000.  Allen said the marijuana was stashed in various places throughout the car and camper.

Whiffen and Harding were charged with transporting marijuana with the intent to sell and are being held on $10,000 bail.

Later in the day, a couple of Utah men were arrested for allegedly traveling with four pounds of pot.

Eric Spencer Hansen, 26, and Ryan Michael Fleenor, 25, were charged with transporting a controlled substance. Bail for each was set at $10,000.

As the for the nearly $40,000 in cash, which was discovered with the help of a drug dog, those two gentleman denied any knowledge that money was hidden in their car.  It wasn’t theirs, they told Investigator Mike Rangel, and were allowed to leave the scene.

The money will be turned over to the state. If left unclaimed, it will be returned to the agencies involved in the case for further drug interdiction programs. 

Participating in the MCI were investigators from TRIDENT, which is made up of officers from law enforcement agencies in Humboldt, Pershing, and Lander Counties, the Nevada Highway Patrol from various duty stations, with special thanks to Sgt. Greg Johnson, of the NHP, for the use of his troops, and the Nevada DPS HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Program) from Reno, and DPS-ID. There were also several drug dogs.