Georgia Man Arrested in Sallisaw

A Georgia man faces a pair of drug trafficking charges after his Aug. 25 arrest in Sallisaw.

On Aug. 25, a Sallisaw police officer saw a gray car roll through a stop sign on Kerr Boulevard at the Interstate 40 eastbound on-ramp. 

The officer made contact with the driver, Erica Wilborn, and her passenger, Ervin Johnson, 57, of Columbus, Ga. When the officer went to check their records, he could see Johnson doing something in the floorboard of the vehicle and placing his hands where they couldn’t be seen.

Records showed that Johnson had a valid warrant from Washita County, Okla., and he was arrested at the scene.

A search of the car revealed a baggie with a yellow substance inside it under the glove box. 

When Wilborn exited the vehicle, the officer saw a clear plastic baggie containing white pills inside the car. Another officer found a large, vacuum-sealed baggie filled with about 280 grams of a white powdery substance. A pair of taped-up objects was also found. When they were opened, officers found large, clear plastic baggies with pills inside. 

When asked what role Wilborn had played, Johnson said she was being used as a driver and did not know anything about what was found in the car.

When Wilborn was searched upon her arrival at the Sequoyah County jail, however, she told officers she had some marijuana hidden inside her. A clear, plastic baggie containing a green, leafy substance was later discovered.

The pair was booked in the Sequoyah County Jail.

The suspected drugs were sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for testing.

Records show that Johnson had been convicted of multiple drug crimes, one in Oklahoma in 2002. Wilborn had two marijuana possession charges.

Johnson’s bond was set at $25,000 and he appeared in court Sept. 4.

Johnson was charged with aggravated trafficking in illegal drugs and trafficking in illegal drugs, both felonies. The aggravated charge is because officers found more than 400 grams of methamphetamine. The simple trafficking charge was levied because of the discovery of more than 21 grams of cocaine.

He was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. 

The penalty for aggravated drug trafficking is imprisonment from 10 years to life and a fine of up to $50,000. The trafficking charge is punishable by four years to life in prison and a fine up to $50,000. The misdemeanor charges both have punishments of imprisonment for no more than one year and by a fine of not more than $1,000.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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