Police bust ‘Mama’ once again

A Pine woman known as “Mama” was arrested by the Bogalusa Police Street Crimes Unit Monday just six months after being the focus of a multi-agency operation touted as one of the biggest prescription drug busts of the year.

This time, it wasn’t a matter of a search warrant and a home visit, it was a traffic violation that drew the attention of authorities to Virginia “Mama” Atchley, 58, 56307 Henry Miley Road. She wasn’t even driving.

According to BPD Capt. Joe Culpepper, her arrest started with  a traffic stop and the subsequent arrest of the driver.

Talmadge J. Smith, 48, 639 Michigan Avenue, was charged with not having a license plate, failure to secure registration, having a suspended drivers license, possession of drug paraphernalia and being a fugitive from Jackson County, Miss. Culpepper said he did not know the Mississippi charge.

Atchley was a passenger in Smith’s vehicle at the time of the stop.

“The investigation continued, and the passenger was found to be in possession of a large amount of Oxycodone,” said Culpepper.

He estimated that she had approximately 67 tablets of the prescription pain killer.

Atchley was arrested and charged with possession of Schedule II drugs with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers seized the vehicle as well as cash involved in the incident, said Culpepper.

Atchley was arrested in May on 29 charges, most involving prescription drugs. At the time, more than $16,700 in cash, plus 43 guns were reportedly confiscated from her home, which Sheriff Robert Crowe described as a “pawn shop”  for drug customers.

That operation also involved the seizure of a vehicle. Atchley’s grandson, one of two others also arrested, on fewer charges, lost his pickup truck, which deputies said was used in a drug deal.

Culpepper said Atchley apparently did not learn from the May arrest.

“She was basically given warning that the police were on to her, and she didn’t take it seriously,” he said. “Maybe now she will.”