Quartet of meth, pot players busted

SANTA BARBARA — Following a six-month investigation by Santa Barbara County narcotics detectives, two suspected meth dealers and their customers were arrested Thursday following the service of search warrants at separate residences.

Eliana Thomas, 55, was arrested at her De La Vina Street downtown Santa Barbara home when a warrant search of the residence revealed her to be in possession of 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine, six bindles of tar heroin, large quantities of Oxycontin tablets, along with what sheriff’s spokesman Drew Sugars described as “sufficient packaging materials to indicate a full-scale sales operation in progress, not to mention a set of brass knuckles.”

All the illicit evidence, as well as $4,000 in cash, was seized in accordance with California State Asset Forfeiture statutes.

“Detectives also observed four minor children ranging from five to 15 years of age in the home,” Sugars added.

The children were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for medical evaluation and were then released to other family members. Thomas was arrested and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on heroin and weapons possession charges, and felony child endangerment, with her bail set at $100,000.

During the search of Thomas’ residence, Mark Poulos, 51, arrived with the alleged purpose of purchasing drugs, and was arrested for soliciting narcotics and for being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was booked with bail set at $2,500.

Immediately following those arrests, an additional search warrant was served nearby at the residence of Corey Towne, 27, who was found in possession of methamphetamine, three pounds of processed marijuana, a wide assortment of prescription pills, “and his own packaging and sales operation in clear evidence,” according to Sugars.

Towne was arrested and booked on methamphetamine and marijuana possession charges, with a bail set at $30,000.

Also arrested at the scene was Cambria Beeson, 24, who was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $2,500.

Eliana Thomas