Music festival organizer pleads not guilty to federal drug charges

The owner of a Missouri campground primarily used for musical festivals pleaded not guilty Monday in Cape Girardeau to felony charges of operating the 300-acre site in Shannon County, Mo., with the knowledge that drug activity was taking place.

The indictment doesn't say Schwagstock organizer Jimmy Tebeau, 44, of St. Louis used or sold drugs, but charges him with one count of operating Camp Zoe for the facilitation of illegal drug use. Tebeau was indicted seven months after the U.S. attorney's office filed a civil forfeiture petition, attempting to seize Camp Zoe, which is about 180 miles southwest of St. Louis near Salem, Mo.

In the Nov. 8 document, the U.S. attorney's office writes "undercover agents observed the open sales of cocaine, marijuana, LSD (acid), ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms, opium and marijuana-laced food products by individuals attending the music festival and made multiple undercover purchases of illegal drugs."

Assistant federal prosecutor Keith Sorrell said the period of time between the forfeiture petition and the indictment has been used for investigation.

Bond was also set and executed at Tebeau's court appearance Monday before U.S. District Judge Lewis M. Blanton. Tebeau posted his $10,000 bond and agreed to the conditions of release. He must avoid all contact with people who are alleged victims or who may be potential witnesses in the case and also must refrain from excessive use of alcohol and can't use or possess illegal drugs. The judge also requires Tebeau to be employed and granted him permission to travel the country for business and to travel to Canada in September and October of this year, allowing him to continue to play in The Schwag. He's played bass in the band for 20 years.

On Monday, a few hours before he was to play a show in Cape Girardeau, Tebeau said The Schwag is going "stronger than ever." They'll play seven shows over the next week and have regular gigs through the end of the year.

"We're self-confessed jamaholics. We'd play every night of the week if we could book enough shows," Tebeau said.

His attorney, Tebeau said, told him not to comment on the case. He did say he was glad the court is allowing him to travel with the band.

"I think anyone they deal with, they want them to keep working," Tebeau said.

Sorrell said the federal charge Tebeau is facing is one he doesn't see often.

"They do happen across the country, but for this area it's pretty unusual," he said Monday afternoon.

Tebeau's attorney, Scott Rosenblum, agreed that the charge is unusual, although he's defended cases involving the charge in the past. It's used more often in cases in which authorities say a home is being used to distribute narcotics, he said. Rosenblum added that it's his client's intention to not give up without a fight and to continue to plead not guilty.

"The cash is sitting in a bank account controlled by the DEA, but it's still just sitting there. It's not being used for any other purpose," Sorrell said.

Tebeau will appear in federal court again July 12, where Blanton will review any suppression motions regarding evidence seized in connection to the case.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

555 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

Salem, MO