Affidavit details Sherry Johnston drug bust

PALMER — An affidavit filed in court Monday in the case against Sherry Johnston says investigators were watching her drug sales at about the same time her son’s fiancee’s mother was running for vice president.

Investigators searched Johnston’s Wasilla home Dec. 18, a month after the vice presidential campaign of Gov. Sarah Palin wrapped up. By then, an investigator wrote, it was clear the Secret Service was no longer keeping tabs on Johnston.

Johnston is the mother of Levi Johnston, whose engagement to Bristol Palin and Bristol’s decision to carry their baby to term played a major role in Gov. Palin’s run for vice president.

The affidavit, written by Alaska State Trooper investigator Donna Anthony, says that Johnston and two police informants discussed Oxycontin transactions via text messages, using “coffee” or “cup of coffee” as their code word for the drug.

In a message sent to one informant on October 1, more than a month after Palin was chosen for the VP spot, Johnston writes, “Hey, my phones are tapped and reporters and god knows who else is always following me and the family so no privacy. I will let u no when I can go for cof.”

Anthony explains that Gov. Palin had a Secret Service detail “and was under their surveillance and care.”

According to the affidavit, the case started in the second week of September when drug investigators intercepted a package containing 179 Oxycontin pills. Investigators allowed the 80-milligram pills to be delivered as addressed in what they call a “controlled delivery.” After the box was opened, investigators entered the home and arrested two suspects.

The suspects in turn agreed to cooperate with investigators, saying they would be willing to make Oxycontin purchase from Johnston.

According to the affidavit, 10 days after Johnston texted to say there wasn’t enough privacy for a drug sale, she texted again to say they could meet at Target in 30 minutes. Investigators provided the informant with $800 and the informant made a purchase, meeting investigators later with 10 pills of 80-milligram Oxycontin.

A second buy happened the next day, Anthony writes. This time the informant wore a covert camera and microphone and again bought 10 pills for $800 in the Target parking lot.

A third buy for 10 more pills happened Nov. 26, this time in the Fred Meyer parking lot. The informant again wore a wire for the transaction. This time a police surveillance team also videotaped the meeting.

The next date mentioned in the affidavit is Dec. 2, at which point Anthony wrote, she knew that “Governor Palin was unsuccessful in her campaign for Vice President and that Sherry Johnston is no longer under the protection or surveillance of the Secret Service.”

So investigators got a search warrant for Johnston’s home on Caribou Loop Road. Two weeks later, on Dec. 18, they searched the home.

“Sherry Johnston was present during the time of the Search Warrant Service. Sherry Johnston was cooperative and agreed to an interview with Investigator Anthony and Sgt. [Rob] Langendorfer. In summary, Sherry Johnston did admit to selling her Oxycontin pills to [the informant],” Anthony wrote.

A call for comment at the Mat-Su Drug Unit Tuesday referred inquiries about the case to Trooper Spokeswoman Megan Peters.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.