Meth Allegedly Sold From Bisbee Home For 10 Years

David Leroy Adams | Isabel Gibbs [Photo courtesy Cochise County Sheriff's Office]

A Bisbee couple will appear in court in a few weeks on felony charges that they were involved in the sale of methamphetamine from inside their home and did so with multiple firearms present.

David Leroy Adams and Isabel Gibbs were charged in November with felony possession of meth for sale. Court records show one alleged buyer told investigators he had been purchasing meth from Adams “for at least 10 plus years” and that Adams, known as ‘Dave the Mechanic,’ “consistently has the best quality crystal methamphetamine and always has a sufficient supply.”

Adams and Gibbs are also charged with five counts each of possession of a firearm during a drug offense. They are out of custody awaiting their next court appearance with Judge Janus Poppe of the Bisbee Justice Court.

Bisbee Officer Jesus Valenzuela noted in a search warrant affidavit that Adams, 57, came under investigation in March after officers received information that meth was being sold out of a home at 9 Strong Row which Adams shared with Gibbs, 43.

Over the next several months, investigators conducted periodic surveillance on the house and the nearby area, which led them to notice “consistent foot traffic” to and from the home, as well as frequent vehicle traffic that came and went within minutes.

“Investigators have seen people walk to the rear of the residence through the carport on the side of the residence,” Valenzuela’s affidavit notes. “These individuals then exit minutes later and leave the area. Many of the individuals who frequent Adams’ residence in the described manner are known by investigators, through past investigations, to be drug users.”

The investigations heated up in October when a “reliable Confidential Source” provided additional information about Adams’ alleged involvement in the sale of meth and took part in controlled purchases from Adams.

Then on Nov. 4, investigators stopped a car that had been near Adams’ home. A passenger in the car, later identified as Felix Lee Culp, had been dropped off at the house and then walked away a few minutes later before getting back into the car.

Culp was in possession of meth. He also had outstanding warrants in Cochise and Maricopa counties, according to Valenzuela’s affidavit.

Following a Miranda Warning, Culp spoke with investigators about his experience with Adams, whom he knew as ‘Dave the Mechanic.’ A search warrant was approved by a superior court judge on Nov. 13, allowing investigators to enter the home shared by Adams and Gibbs, and for the search of several vehicles parked on the property.

The pair were arrested and booked into the Cochise County jail before being released pending trial.

One thing the affidavit does not address is whether Gibbs is alleged to have directly engaged in drug sales. However, investigators contend at a minimum she had knowledge of the illicit activity.

“Based on affiant’s training, experience, and knowledge of the case, your affiant believes Gibbs is aware of the illegal drug sales occurring at 9 Strong Row, Bisbee AZ,” the affidavit states.

It is unclear from the court documents how many meth sales took place during the investigation between March and November.