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Out-Of-Town Women Arrested In Drug Sting

Deborah Lee Woolsey, 58; Kristie Marie Vaughn, 26

By Joe Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: July 1, 2008

AVON PARK - In separate incidents, two out-of-town women were arrested in a drug sting operation Saturday at an Avon Park gas station.

A Highlands County Sheriff's undercover officer arranged to meet with them separately Saturday afternoon and evening.

The women were looking to buy two ounces of cocaine valued at $700 each and two ounces of marijuana worth $100 each for a total value of $1,600, according to Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle.

At 3:21 p.m. investigators reported that Kristie Marie Vaughn, 26, of Lake City, parked her car and got into the undercover officer's vehicle. They spoke and the transaction reportedly took place, the report stated.

Vaughn then took a paper bag containing the drugs, put it in her purse and walked back to her vehicle, where she was arrested. She was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana (a third-degree felony) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At 7:52 p.m. the same day, Deborah Lee Woolsey, 58, of Gainesville, arrived at the same location. She parked, got out of her car and got into the undercover officer's vehicle.

She reportedly bought the cocaine and marijuana and got out of the car holding the paper bag. She was arrested while still holding the bag in her left hand, the report stated.

Vaughn was free Tuesday on $16,500 bail, according to sheriff's central records, and Woolsey remained in the Highlands County Jail in lieu of $16,500 bond.

LaBelle said Tuesday he wasn't at liberty to go into great detail about the case, but said it is part of an ongoing investigation.

"I don't want people to think that the availability of illegal drugs is so great in Highlands County that people are coming from all over the state to purchase here," LaBelle said. "That is not the case, but based on the integrity of the investigation I cannot comment on why they did come here."

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