LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — WFTV learned a 77-year-old pastor who's accused of trafficking Oxycodone was released from the Lake County Jail on bond.
Deputies arrested Gussie Smith Wednesday morning for allegedly trafficking oxycodone. She's the pastor at a small church in Umatilla called the Church of Jesus.
WFTV's Daralene Jones found out the arrest is part of a larger drug operation in north Lake County. Jones said a source told her the drug sweep is still ongoing.
Officials at the Lake County Sheriff's Office sealed the details of the pastor's arrest until at least Thursday. Smith was released from jail on a $50,000 bond.
Community members WFTV talked to said the charges can't be true. They said Smith has been the pastor at the church in Umatilla for as long as anyone can remember.
Alfred Drayton didn't believe she was arrested for allegedly trafficking Oxycodone even after WFTV showed him her mug shot from the Lake County Jail.
"Yeah, that's Ms. Gussie, I can't believe that. I don't believe that," said Drayton.
"What do you think happened?" Jones asked.
"I can't imagine what happened, but I can't see her trafficking any drugs, either," said Drayton.
When WFTV called the Sheriff's Office to get the details, officials would only say that it's part of an ongoing drug operation.
But other sources confirmed to WFTV that it's major. Sixteen people were arrested on Wednesday and the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are involved.
Officials said there are still two fugitives on the run.
Smith's family said she was too upset to talk about the charges. But her daughter explained why her mother may have been caught with the Oxycodone pills.
"She's been hurt for years. She got hurt on her job … been taking pills," said Smith's daughter, Jessie Jones.
"So why would they say she's trafficking the drugs?" Daralene Jones asked.
"That's what I want to know. I haven't got all the information," said Jessie Jones.
Officials told WFTV Lake County investigators may be willing to release more information on Thursday about the operation.