Two busted for selling ill father's morphine

MOSES LAKE - Two Moses Lake residents allegedly sold morphine prescribed for the ill father of one of the suspects.

Grant County's Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team and Moses Lake police arrested Susan K. Franks, 44, and Danny W. Stotts, 44, Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to deliver morphine and possession with intent to sell morphine in a school zone, according to the sheriff's office.

A month-long investigation led to a search warrant at 714 S. Michael St. in Moses Lake. Franks was reportedly serving as the caregiver for her 83-year-old father, whom the morphine was originally prescribed to, according to the sheriff's office.

INET partnered with pharmacy investigators from the state Department of Health, the Moses Lake Fire Department, local nurses and medical staff during the investigation and raid to ensure the safety of Frank's father.

"I am very disturbed by this crime and I applaud all the investigators, firefighters, nurses and other healthcare workers who focused on protecting Frank's father and helped protect him from further exploitation," Sheriff Tom Jones said.

The Michael Street home is within 500 feet of Peninsula Elementary School which led detectives to file the school zone enhancement charges. The charges carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence.

The home is also less than a block away from another drug raid in February 2012 involving Stotts.

According to court records, Stotts was sentenced last year to six months in jail after pleading guilty to delivery of marijuana to undercover INET agents on several occasions in 2011 and 2012. The sentencing was part of a three-month investigation at a West Peninsula Drive home believed to be an active drug house. Charges of intent to deliver marijuana in a school zone and intent to deliver or manufacture marijuana were dismissed as part of a plea agreement, according to court records.