By Jessica Tuggle

jtuggle@hometownnewsol.com

SEBASTIAN - Three people were arrested and more than 60 grams of oxycodone and Alprazolam were seized in a drug bust by the Sebastian Police Department and the multi-agency criminal enforcement unit last week.

Two of those charged remained in the county jail as of press time.

Stephen Gene Decker, 22, 901 S. W. Bermuda Ave., Sebastian, was charged with trafficking in oxycodone and possession of Alprazolam with intent to sell.

Kelly Lynn Nelson, 23, 1236 15th Ave., Vero Beach, was charged with trafficking in oxycodone, possession of Alprazolam with intent to sell and possession of marijuana.

Michael Novakowski, 21, 6226 Sixth Place, Vero Beach, was charged with possession and purchase of oxycodone.

Mr. Decker and Ms. Nelson are being held at the county jail with a combined bond of $420,500.

According to the arrest reports, a confidential source tipped off law enforcement about a drug exchange about to take place at Ms. Nelson's home in Vero Beach.

Ms. Nelson was identified by the confidential source as a drug sponsor, which indicates that Ms. Nelson would pay someone to go to medical clinics to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances, such as oxycodone. In return, the sponsor would get a portion of the pills received and be able to sell them to other consumers.

In the arrest report, Mr. Decker and another man were observed leaving Ms. Nelson's home in a vehicle, and were stopped for a traffic violation.

Officers searched the vehicle and found three prescription bottles and 128 pills belonging to Mr. Decker.

Mr. Decker said he had given Ms. Nelson between 130 and 140 pills that day as payment for her sponsoring him. He said she has sponsored him up to six times in the past and that this time she gave him $680 to go to the clinic. He was subsequently arrested.

The other man, who was driving the vehicle, was not arrested in conjunction with the case.

Other law enforcement officers conducting surveillance at Ms. Nelson's residence observed another vehicle leaving, and after conducting a traffic stop, arrested Mr. Novakowski for purchasing and possessing oxycodone.

Mr. Novalowski said he had just bought the 15 pills from Ms. Nelson.

Ms. Nelson was arrested, and during a search of her residence, officers discovered hundreds more pills of various controlled substances, as well as marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.