Search warrants confirm illegal drug activity at Ramsey Farms

Laura M. Vaughn, 52, and James R. Castillo, 32, both of Mount Ayr were taken into custody May 27, after search warrants were executed at four Ringgold County addresses, collectively known as Ramsey Farms, where controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were located.

The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office said four properties of Ramsey Farms, located in the 2200 block of 270th Street in Mount Ayr, were suspected as a “drug hub” and hangout for selling and using controlled substances. With assistance from multiple local agencies, a list of individuals and criminal activity supporting the suspected activity was compiled over several months, resulting in search warrants being obtained and executed.

During the search warrant execution, Castillo was taken into custody on an outstanding federal indictment arrest warrant charging him with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Vaughn was also taken into custody at the same location and charged with keeping premises or vehicle for controlled substance violations, gathering where controlled substances are used, possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine, second offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Ringgold County reports, Vaughn and her late mother were long-time caretakers and event planners for Ramsey Farms and both lived on the property for several years. Around the time of her mother’s passing, it became apparent Vaughn had allowed several people participating in the sale and possession of illegal controlled substances to live or stay on the property. During the search warrants, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were located in all of the occupied homes. A baggy containing a white crystalline substance was located on the kitchen bar of Vaughn’s living quarters. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine.

In October 2024, the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a publicly-posted Facebook event at Ramsey Farm. The event was taken down by the individual who had created it but was described as a birthday celebration party for Jimmy, Vaughn’s son, and two other people, that would include a “fun night of drugs, drinking and dancing.” The event was scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 26.

Before the event took place, Ringgold County deputies gained permission from the Lesanville Operations Board to look for signs of suspected criminal activity inside Ramsey Farm’s event buildings. While there, deputies collected a sample of debris left on tables in each building. These samples field tested positive for the presence of cocaine and methamphetamine.

Castillo and Vaughn are being held in the Ringgold County Jail without bond and $9,300 cash bond, respectively.

Agencies assisting Ringgold County with the investigation and execution of the warrants were sheriff’s offices from Taylor, Decatur and Union counties; Afton, Creston and Maryville police departments, Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Ringgold County Conservation and the Multi-Jurisdictional Entry Team.