Man accused of trying to ship illegal drugs through mail 

January 11, 2010 8:21 AM

Michael Stewart

Florida Freedom Newspapers

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview man faces a felony charge of possession of methadone, with intent to deliver within 1000 feet of a school.

Jack Anthony Houle, 26, of the 100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, was released from the Okaloosa County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Police allege that on Wednesday, Houle attempted to mail 100 methadone pills to Nederland, Texas at One Stop Mail Service in Crestview.

According to a Crestview Police Department arrest report, employees at the mail center said Houle entered the store and asked that a package already wrapped be sent immediately and requested it not be opened.

“The reporting party suspected Houle might be trying to ship illegal drugs,” the report states. “…Due to the shipping store having the right to open and inspect all packages before shipping them, they opened the package.”

Employees alerted police after discovering the pills, the report continues.

Houle was arrested and told police he was shipping the pills to a man in Texas, who had been staying with him, who has a valid prescription for the pills.

“Houle stated he did take ‘a few’ of the pills, and further stated he sold some because ‘times are tough,’” the arresting officer states in the report. “Houle insisted if (the man in Texas) was contacted, he would be able to claim the pills as his, however, Houle would not provide (the man’s) information.”