Trial set for accused drug dealers

Last Tuesday at 6:52 p.m. Thomas D. Reynolds, 38, and Jennifer R. Linhart, 24, of South Bend turned themselves in to Bloomington police, Monroe County Prosecutor Jeff Kehr said. Reynolds was charged with dealing methamphetamine and conspiracy to deal methamphetamine, both of which are Class A felonies. Linhart was charged with conspiracy to deal methamphetamine, according to the Bloomington Police Department. \nReynolds and his brother Donald, 30, also from South Bend, are the leaders of a local methamphetamine drug ring, Kehr said. \nThis drug organization was the major source for transporting methamphetamine from South Bend to Bloomington, Captain Joe Qualters of the BPD said. \nThe Drug Enforcement Agency and the BPD, in a six-month-long cooperative investigation, have arrested 10 suspects, including the Reynolds brothers and Linhart, Kehr said. \n"The investigation used a variety of sources, including controlled buys and confidential informants," Qualters said. \nBloomington police have confiscated five pounds of methamphetamine worth more than $80,000, $35,000 in cash and one pound of marijuana, he said.\nAlthough marijuana has been associated with this organization, the main focus of the investigation is methamphetamine. \n"Because meth is sold in smaller quantities for more money, the breakdown of sales and quantity (of the drug) make meth more of a problem for law enforcement purposes," Qualters said. \nTom Reynolds bonded out with $50,000 surety, which is a type of collateral to ensure he does not flee, and paid $6,000 cash, according to court officials at Judge Randy Bridge's office.\nKehr said an initial hearing has not been set for Tom Reynolds, but hearings have been set for both Donald Reynolds and Jennifer Linhart.\nThe remaining eight of the arrested suspects have had their initial hearings, and all entered an initial plea of not guilty, Kehr said. Federal charges have not been filed.\nThis is still an ongoing investigation, and police are anticipating more arrests. \n"This organization is a large network," Kehr said. "We still know of other people still out there. We will find them." \nEric Williams, the public information officer for the DEA, explained that the dealing and use of meth is becoming more widespread.\n"Meth is becoming a more popular drug because it is easily made, and the return on investment is great," Williams said.