Lance Martin Herald Senior Staff Writer

Contributed Photo | Daily Herald State Bureau of Investigation Agent Jeff Morales and his dog Gretchen pose with money Gretchen found during a drug bust Friday. Advertisement

HALIFAX - Drug agents seized more than $11,000 in cash and a large amount of pain killers Friday morning from a man they believed was selling the drugs from his home. They also discovered the man was running his own lottery.

Lt. Jay Burch of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office said an investigation that began in May netted the seizure of 71 Loritab tablets and one Vicodin tablet from the East 11th Street residence of Mac Thomas Moody.

Officers from the sheriff's office, Scotland Neck Police Department and State Bureau of Investigation arrived at Moody's house at 8 Friday morning.

SBI Agent Jeff Morales' dog, Gretchen, discovered the money - $11,184 - in a night stand.

The drugs were found in the bathroom.

Also seized in the search were three homemade lottery tickets, which Moody was allegedly selling for $1 each.

The tickets were for a pick 3 game in which the winner would receive the jackpot. Burch said part of the $11,000 could have been from the lottery.

Officers originally went to the residence looking for cocaine and marijuana but found none.

Burch speculates the large amount of cash the officers found could have been saved so Moody could buy fresh supplies of drugs.

Moody has served time in prison previously for selling cocaine, Burch said.

The 32-year-old Moody was charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver schedule III drugs, maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating an illegal lottery, selling lottery tickets and possession of lottery tickets.

Moody was out of jail on $11,000 bond Friday afternoon, Burch said. “Obviously, we didn't hurt him (financially).”