Celebrity Busts in Texas Town Add Up: Nelly, Willie Nelson, Fiona Apple and More

By Brittney R. Villalva, Christian Post Reporter Monday, October 15, 2012

A small town in Texas has become famous for its attention to detail after more than one celebrity has been caught with drugs while passing the border city's check-in.

Nelly's tour bus was busted for drugs last week after entering the town of Sierra Blanca, Texas. Authorities "found 36 baggies of heroin, more than 10 pounds of weed, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol," according to TMZ.

One of the passenger's on the bus, Brian Keith Jones, was arrested after admitting that the items belonged to him. Nelly added that he had no idea that the items were on board.

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"Neither I nor anyone else on the tour bus was aware of his decision to bring these on board. Law enforcement officials did not press charges against anyone other than that individual," he said in a statement according to TMZ.

But the Nelly incident is not the first celebrity drug bust that has occurred at that location, prompting some to refer to the spot as a "black hole" for celebrity tour buses.

Willie Nelson,Snoop Dogg, Fiona Apple and actor Armie Hammer of "The Social Network" have all been arrested at the same U.S. Customs and Border Protection checkpoint, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While agents at the checkpoints are mostly responsible for catching illegal aliens, they are also equipped with heat sensor devices that enable them to detect any weapons within a vehicle. Dogs are also used to detect drugs. Everyone at the checkpoint is stopped, but only some will have their vehicle inspected.

The authorities in the area have also been known to be merciless. After Fiona Apple complained about her arrest when marijuana was found on her bus, Huspeth County Sheriff's Office representative Rusty Fleming shot back a harsh reply.

"Have you ever heard of Snoop, Willie or Armand Hammer?" he asked, according to THR. "Maybe if you would read something besides your own press releases, you would have known BEFORE you got here that if you come to Texas with dope, the cops will take your DOPE away and put YOU in jail… My last piece of advice is simple: Just shut up and sing."

The arrests have become so known that tour bus drivers and even Willie Nelson himself has advised musicians to either avoid the area or throw out the illicit items before attempting to cross the checkpoint.

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