Suspected Drug Dealer Busted for a Second Time Within 13 Months

September 15, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A suspected drug dealer busted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department 13 months ago has been arrested again after investigators made a major haul of drugs, weapons and cash at his home Thursday, September 14.

40-year-old Nathan Joe Trapp of Magness Road, Smithville, who was free on bond from the earlier offenses, is charged this time with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; sale and delivery of a schedule IV drug (xanax); unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Trapp’s bond on these new charges is $202,500.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, September 14, members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Appalachian HIDTA, National Guard, and Homeland Security executed a search warrant at Trapp’s residence at 379 Magness Road. The search resulted in the discovery of 48.55 grams of methamphetamine, 74 xanax pills, 1 Sig Sauer P365 pistol, 1 Ruger SR22 pistol, cash, and various items of paraphernalia including scales, baggies, pipes, etc.

In the previous drug bust, Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, August 12, 2022 a detective and other members of the Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Trapp’s residence and found 650 grams of a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine, two whole orange pills and broken pills believed to be Suboxone, two Alprazolam bars, five Clonazepam pills, numerous scales, baggies, and other drug paraphernalia along with two loaded Taurus 9 mm handguns, a loaded DB 5.56 caliber AR-15, and $30,750 in cash.

In addition to the money, investigators seized from Trapp last year a 2003 Nissan Murano and a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle. They also discovered that the VIN number had been removed from the dash, door jams, and frame of a black Chevy Silverado truck on the premises.

Trapp’s charges in the August, 2022 bust included possession of Suboxone, Alprazolam, and Clonazepam with intent to sell or deliver; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver over 300 grams; unlawful possession of a weapon; possession of drug paraphernalia; violation of an order of protection; and alteration of a VIN number.

Trapp was charged with the illegal possession of the weapons last year because he was a convicted felon for two previous aggravated assaults and was not allowed to have any firearms. He went to prison for a time for those crimes.

Sheriff Ray said he will ask the District Attorney General’s Office to seek a bond revocation on Trapp’s first charges.

WJLE Radio