Mislabeled package nets drug arrests

WASILLA — If whoever sent the illegal drugs had addressed the box properly, Alaska State Troopers may never have found them.

An AST affidavit filed in court against Wasilla residents Trenton and Jamie Vogt, 27 and 26 respectively, indicates it was a call from FedEx employees that first tipped off authorities to 3 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms on their way from Arlata, Calif., to a Wasilla address.

The Vogts were arrested Aug. 7 on charges of drug trafficking. Trenton Vogt faces two counts of third-degree drug misconduct and four counts of fourth-degree drug misconduct, according to court records. Jamie Vogt faces the same charges, plus an additional count of third-degree drug misconduct.

“The box had insufficient information for delivery and FedEx employees opened the box to determine if other information was inside which might aid in trying to find the recipient’s address,” investigator Kyle Young says in the affidavit.

When employees found the ‘shrooms, they called troopers, Young says. He tested the contents of one of the six gallon-size plastic bags and it came up positive for psilocybin — the hallucinogenic compound found psychedelic mushrooms.

Between drug investigators and FedEx, the correct address was found, Young says in the affidavit. The box was repackaged, this time with most of the mushrooms removed and with a tracking device inserted to alert troopers when the box was opened. The box was delivered to Jamie Vogt’s house on South Ira Drive. Vogt signed for the box and brought it inside. Ten minutes later, a signal was received that the box had been opened and troopers went inside.

Young wrote that Trenton Vogt told troopers he had opened the box and said he only paid $300 per pound for the shrooms.

At this point in his affidavit, Young cites a drug identification manual as pegging the street price of mushrooms as between $5 and $35 per gram. He and his colleagues estimate the going rate locally is $300 to $400 per ounce. Doing some quick math, Young calculated the total street value of the shipment as between $14,400 and $19,200.

“In 18 years as a state trooper and eight years as a drug investigator, this is the largest local psilocybin mushroom seizure that I am aware of,” Young says in the affidavit.

The sheer size of the shipment “is indicative of possession with intent to distribute,” Young wrote.

Troopers then went on to search the rest of the house, the affidavit says. They told the men that several years ago they had been the target of an investigation into suspicions they were cooking methamphetamine.

“Both Jamie and Trenton admitted that they had been addicted to meth several years ago, but got off the drug when Trenton was arrested and spent two years in jail,” Young wrote.

In a dresser drawer, investigators found 8.48 grams of meth as well as a scale and plastic bags.

“I know that possession of multiple grams of meth, a digital gram scale and numerous unused small packaging bags is an indication of possession with intent to distribute,” Young wrote.

Upstairs, troopers found 36 live marijuana plants, the affidavit says.

“I believe that a marijuana grow operation containing 36 plants is an indication of manufacture with the intent to distribute,” Young wrote.

Records show both Vogts remain jailed at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. They are next due in court Aug. 18.

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