ENTERTAINMENT

Bonnaroo 2016: Massive drug operation busted on grounds

Natalie Neysa Alund
nalund@tennessean.com

Law enforcement overseeing Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn., this year have busted what they are calling a significant drug operation on the music festival's grounds, authorities said Monday.

Chattanooga residents Brian Anthony Wiley, 29, and Trevor Franklin Watson III, 24, were arrested Thursday on multiple drug-related charges after Coffee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lucky Knott said deputies caught the men with "a very large amount of drugs" at the four-day music festival.

RELATED: Bonnaroo busts: 277 cited, 37 arrested at music festival

The exact street value of the drugs was not immediately known, but Knott said the men were arrested after authorities were tipped off they were selling drugs to people, including festival attendees.

Wiley faces charges of manufacturing, delivering, selling and possession of a controlled substance as well as possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, while Watson faces charges of manufacturing, delivering, selling and possession of a controlled substance.

Deputies found Wiley to be in possession of 202 jars of THC oil, weighing about 15 milliliters; two bags of mushrooms, weighing about 7 grams each; three bags with about 60 panes of blotter acid; 241 bags of about 120.5 grams of what is believed to be Ketamine; 22 bags of a white powdery substance weighing about 144.5 grams of what is believed to be cocaine; six Xanax bars; and 220 bags weighing about 1,210 grams of a green plantlike material believed to be marijuana.

Deputies also seized cash believed to have been used in drug transactions and said they found Wiley with a ledger and a slew of drink cans with false containers.

Watson was found to be in possession of six bottles containing 15 milliliters of THC oil; 10 bags of a green plantlike material weighing about 20 grams believed to be marijuana; two grams of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine; four Molly capsules; 14 bags of a crystal substance weighing about 14 grams of a substance believed to be Molly; and 13 bags of a powdery substance weighing about 13 grams believed to be Ketamine.

Wiley was being held on $255,000 bond Monday, and Watson was being held on $50,000 bond.

Both men are slated to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court on Aug. 12.

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at 615-259-8072 and on Twitter @nataliealund.

Related Coverage