Three accused of trying to traffic pot through the mail

HARRODSBURG, Ky. - Three central Kentucky residents are facing charges after allegedly trying to traffic marijuana through the mail, authorities said.

Mercer County Sheriff Ernie Kelty told The Advocate-Messenger of Danville that a break in the case came in recent days when a police dog detected the odor of marijuana on packages being sent to a Salvisa address. The sheriff's office and U.S. Postal Service officials had been investigating suspicious packages shipped to addresses in Salvisa and Harrodsburg.

"I think these folks really believed that the marijuana would make it past our police dog," the sheriff said.

Sheriff's deputies and postal investigators went to the address listed on the packages that drew the dog's attention. After arriving at the home, they arrested 46-year-old Laura Wiley and 47-year-old Gary Wiley. Authorities seized more than five pounds of processed marijuana, along with a firearm and a vehicle.

Deputies later arrested 55-year-old Ricky Merriman at another location and seized a large amount of processed marijuana, a large quantity of prescription painkillers, $6,000 in cash and a vehicle.

The Wileys are each charged with one count of trafficking more than five pounds of marijuana.

Merriman is charged with trafficking more than eight ounces of marijuana and second-degree trafficking a controlled substance.