Stephens Co. Sheriff: The Search Is On For Irish Mob Gang Member

A story that aired on News 9 caught the attention of Stephens County authorities, and now they're asking for the public's help.

They're looking for a man, they believe, is in the Irish Mob after they say he tied up and pistol whipped a family in a home invasion. It happened in the small community of Meridian. It is located between Duncan and Comanche in southern Stephens County.

Authorities say they're starting to see a trend in rural areas. One of the most recent cases involving this trend in Stephens County happened at a home in Meridian, and written on the outside of the home is the message "Violators will be arrested. No trespassing. If seen police will be called."

Investigators say a man showed up at the home back in January with a gun.

"We are clear now that this was a drug deal that he came to the home to collect either the money that was owed to him from fronting drugs to the people who lived in that home or to collect the drugs or a body," Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney said.

And because it was a drug deal gone wrong, authorities say the people who live here couldn't give deputies a straight story, but one thing is for sure. They were scared and gave different descriptions of what the suspect looked like. However, authorities made a connection.

"He has ties to the Irish mob," McKinney said.

Last week, News 9 reported another case involving this gang in another county and prompted authorities in Stephens County to release this information about the case.

5/7/16 Related Story: Authorities See An Increase In Irish Mob Gang Members

"Then we saw your report, and I said, 'You know what it's time that people understand that it's not only happening in Canadian County,'" McKinney said.

"One of the most unique things about it is they'll leave their calling card there so the victims understand, 'Hey, you know who did this. We're the ones who did it to you.' And that is using a green zip tie to bound their hands and tie them up."

Five people in the home were arrested on charges ranging from child neglect to possession of drugs, but the man in green who showed up here and tied them up at gunpoint is nowhere to be found.

"The type of people operating like this our goal is to get them off the street," McKinney said.