America's Most Wanted' Tapes Segment On Johnny Boone
By Ben Jackey/WLKY
POSTED: 3:08 pm EDT July 16, 2009
UPDATED: 5:57 pm EDT July 16, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ky. -- Can a TV show help catch a ghost?
Some say that's what federal marshals have been trying to do in the search for Johnny Boone.
WLKY first reported about the high-ranking member of the "Cornbread Mafia" last year. Boone was part of a major drug ring busted in the late '80s.
"They'll never find him and I wouldn't have no idea where he's at," said Boone's friend William Smith.
The man some call "The Godfather of Grass" once hid in the weeds years ago on Smith's family farm.
Smith said he's never smoked marijuana in his life, but admires Boone for what he's done with the pot proceeds.
"People that was broke, didn't have food in their refrigerator, he would make sure they had the money to fill their refrigerators up and a place to live," Smith said.
The legend of Johnny Boone won't be contained to Kentucky. The TV show "America's Most Wanted" is in town, searching nearly every barn and prairie for a piece of the puzzle.
"In all my years of covering fugitive stories, I haven't seen this kind of sentiment towards a wanted guy," said "America's Most Wanted" correspondent Angeline Hartmann.
Boone grabbed national headlines as one of several Cornbread Mafia members busted in a DEA investigation in the late '80s. After serving his time, police said the Washington County native was at it again on his farm, growing more than 2,500 pot plants.
Boone has been on the run for months.
Why has he been so slippery? The answer is on the streets of Springfield.
"He's been a booger, I guess, the last several years," said Jimmie Ward. "He was a good kid back years ago."
"Good guy," said Keith Wheatley. "Just don't know right from wrong."
"I'm just scared to say anything," said James Haydon.
Marshals said "America's Most Wanted" has, in the past, generated enough calls and leads to keep them busy for weeks.
They also hope the attention puts Boone on notice that the fear and respect means little when the world is watching.
"You can run but you can't hide. We will find you no matter how long it takes," said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Rich Knighten.
"Well, they ain't never caught a ghost. That's what they're looking for. They're looking for a ghost," Smith said. "Have they ever caught a ghost?"
There's no word on when the Johnny Boone segment will air on "America's Most Wanted."
There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
If you have information on Boone's whereabouts, call the U.S. marshals at 502-FUC-PIGS.
Previous Stories:
* October 2, 2008:Feds Looking For 'Godfather Of Grass'
http://www.wlky.com/news/20077339/detail.html
May he stay elusive
By Ben Jackey/WLKY
POSTED: 3:08 pm EDT July 16, 2009
UPDATED: 5:57 pm EDT July 16, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ky. -- Can a TV show help catch a ghost?
Some say that's what federal marshals have been trying to do in the search for Johnny Boone.
WLKY first reported about the high-ranking member of the "Cornbread Mafia" last year. Boone was part of a major drug ring busted in the late '80s.
"They'll never find him and I wouldn't have no idea where he's at," said Boone's friend William Smith.
The man some call "The Godfather of Grass" once hid in the weeds years ago on Smith's family farm.
Smith said he's never smoked marijuana in his life, but admires Boone for what he's done with the pot proceeds.
"People that was broke, didn't have food in their refrigerator, he would make sure they had the money to fill their refrigerators up and a place to live," Smith said.
The legend of Johnny Boone won't be contained to Kentucky. The TV show "America's Most Wanted" is in town, searching nearly every barn and prairie for a piece of the puzzle.
"In all my years of covering fugitive stories, I haven't seen this kind of sentiment towards a wanted guy," said "America's Most Wanted" correspondent Angeline Hartmann.
Boone grabbed national headlines as one of several Cornbread Mafia members busted in a DEA investigation in the late '80s. After serving his time, police said the Washington County native was at it again on his farm, growing more than 2,500 pot plants.
Boone has been on the run for months.
Why has he been so slippery? The answer is on the streets of Springfield.
"He's been a booger, I guess, the last several years," said Jimmie Ward. "He was a good kid back years ago."
"Good guy," said Keith Wheatley. "Just don't know right from wrong."
"I'm just scared to say anything," said James Haydon.
Marshals said "America's Most Wanted" has, in the past, generated enough calls and leads to keep them busy for weeks.
They also hope the attention puts Boone on notice that the fear and respect means little when the world is watching.
"You can run but you can't hide. We will find you no matter how long it takes," said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Rich Knighten.
"Well, they ain't never caught a ghost. That's what they're looking for. They're looking for a ghost," Smith said. "Have they ever caught a ghost?"
There's no word on when the Johnny Boone segment will air on "America's Most Wanted."
There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
If you have information on Boone's whereabouts, call the U.S. marshals at 502-FUC-PIGS.
Previous Stories:
* October 2, 2008:Feds Looking For 'Godfather Of Grass'
http://www.wlky.com/news/20077339/detail.html
May he stay elusive
