LAWRENCE CO.—A man authorities are saying has been the kingpin of providing meth and precursors to other area meth cooks in Lawrence County was finally busted on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Officials say that James (Jimmy) Todd Mahrenholz, 46, of rural Lawrenceville, has been running meth and anhydrous through his portion of the Mahrenholz family farm for a number of years (as many as eight, when the meth craze found resurgence in the area in the early 2000s after the first wave of cooks were released from prison after a couple of years.)
Suspected, but Wade not interested
County officials had been saying since last summer (2012) that they strongly suspected Mahrenholz was involved in the meth trade, at the very least providing anhydrous through the family farm business, where orders of anhydrous nurse tanks would not appear suspicious when being delivered to the location, out on the plains on the east side of the county.
Stronger suspicions were that since the farm was so large, and some of the fields in a somewhat remote location (at least far enough from the traveled roads), there may actually be meth manufacturing involved, too. However, officials report that then-state’s attorney Lisa Wade “didn’t seem interested” in pursuing any leads into any suspected activity by Mahrenholz out on the plains.
On the 11th, investigating officials were able to secure a source who gave them enough information, specifically regarding where Mahrenholz was allegedly cooking meth, to warrant further investigation.
Warrant obtained based on testimony, p.e. logs
Based on the testimony of that source, Lawrence officials obtained pseudoepherine logs from the CVS pharmacy in town and noted purchases of pills by Mahrenholz.
The logs were used as a basis to ask for and obtain a search warrant from a judge.
When deputies executed the warrant, they discovered what’s reported to have been an active lab in the house, and Mahrenholz’ 16-year-old son present.
On the basis of what deputies found, Mahrenholz was charged with Aggravated Participation in Meth Manufacturing and Aggravated Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia, both Class X felonies; and a Class 2 felony count of Child Endangerment.
Officials report that Mahrenholz either had been or was currently using one of the empty grain silos on his portion of the property as a meth manufacturing area.
As of Saturday morning, Jan. 12, Mahrenholz was being held on $500,000 bail ($50,000 cash bond).
Big subsidy recipients
It was reported to Disclosure that Saturday morning that Mahrenholz’ parents were refusing to bond him out, as they were very disappointed in his alleged activities and didn’t wish to bring any further reproach upon themselves.
The Mahrenholz name became prominent during the National Flood Insurance Program fight throughout 2008 and 2009, when the county board became embattled with citizens in the Allison Prairie floodplain area (which was nearly decimated by the June 2008 flood) because Gene Mahrenholz (Jimmy Mahrenholz’ father) is part owner in G&S (Gene and Steve) Farms, the largest subsidy recipient in Lawrence County.
Records from the Environmental Working Group, which tracks farm subsidies dating back to 1995, show that between 1995 and 2011 (the latest year figures are available), the Mahrenholz farm operation took in $2,490,488 in subsidy payments, which included commodity, disaster and conservation subsidies.
Their biggest collection year was 2009, the year after the disastrous June 2008 flood that nearly destroyed the Allison Prairie and surrounding floodplain areas.
In that year, G&S received $218,863 in conservation subsidies (for letting ground lay fallow) and $59,080 for commodity subsidies (where they may have fallen short during the growing season or, for what they “didn’t” grow) for a total of $277,943.
The previous year, they received $12,222 in disaster help, and $64,966 in commodity/didn’t grow subsidies.
Family ‘relieved’
The Gene Mahrenholz farm is “across the road” from where Jimmy Mahrenholz was allegedly cooking.
It’s been reported to Disclosure that the elder Mahrenholz is actually somewhat “relieved” at the younger’s arrest, and that the younger Mahrenholz was actually sort of relieved as well.
Officials say they have taken down license plate numbers and car descriptions of vehicles that have been out at the area of the younger Mahrenholz’ place.
Whether there will be more arrests pending remains to be seen; however, with new prosecutor Chris Quick at the helm, who, as he did in Wabash, doesn’t let anyone’s status influence him, it’s entirely possible that the meth problem in Lawrence County may be getting ready to hit a brick wall.
One suggestion that’s been made is the proximity the younger Mahrenholz had to the Lawrenceville-Vincennes airport (a Frank Ladner project), particularly where transport of meth is concerned.
However, such a suggestion would require a venture in investigation that Lawrence just doesn’t have the manpower or funding for, since the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force isn’t active in the county.