By Paula Ann Solis
Staff Writer
Two more Baylor students have been arrested in connection to the high-grade marijuana drug ring discovered near Baylor’s campus in August, said Lt. Joe Coy, the criminal investigator for the McGregor Police Department.
Baylor junior Jay Kumar, 19, was arrested and charged with possession of controlled substances and senior Baba M. Fahnbulleh, 22, was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
This is Kumar’s second drug related arrest. Kumar was first charged with possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana Oct. 4 after investigators linked him to the drug ring, though Coy could not reveal how exactly he was linked. A search warrant of his residence near the 100 block of Breckenridge Drive was issued the same day. Kumar was released after he posted a bail bond of $1,000, according to McLennan County Jail records.
Significant amounts of marijuana, mushrooms, traces of ecstasy and Adderall were found in Kumar’s residence and after further lab analysis, investigators found cause for further charges and issued a second warrant for possession of controlled substances, Coy said.
Coy said Kumar and other Baylor students were wandering in a cemetery in Hubbard as part of prank on Oct. 16 when police arrived to check on a disturbance. Coy said after police discovered Kumar was wanted, he was taken to Hill County Jail. He posted a bail bond of $10,000 the same day and was released, according to Hill County Jail records.
As a result of Kumar’s arrest, Fahnbulleh decided to turn himself in to McLennan County authorities Thursday morning, Coy said. He was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and was released later the same day after posting a bail bond of $20,000.
Baylor Police and the McGregor Police Department have been working in conjunction with each other to identify students involved in the drug ring, Coy said.
Some of the focus is moving off campus, but several students are still being evaluated, Coy said. Because the investigation is still ongoing, Coy could not say exactly how many students were being looked at or if any arrests were pending.
The investigation, which was sparked after three former Baylor students and one Baylor graduate were arrested in connection with a $30,000 to $40,000 marijuana ring, originally led to the investigation of more than 50 Baylor students who police said were customers. McGregor, Lorena and Baylor police departments, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration, served two warrants less than one mile from campus Aug. 28 and found marijuana, prescription pills, packaging materials, weapons and more than $12,000 in two residences, according to the McGregor Police Department. The main customer base of the suspected distributors was the Baylor student body, but Coy said the investigation has since narrowed.
“The investigation is starting to come to a close,” Coy said. “I think the message of our investigation has come across.”
Baylor Police Chief Jim Doak said because of the sensitive nature of the investigation, he could not comment on the involvement of Baylor Police Department in the investigation other than confirming the department is working alongside McGregor police.
