Undercover drug operation lands Mobile minister and his wife in jail

This array of seized drugs, prescription bottles, firearms and ammunition was displayed by the Mobile County Sheriff's Office today after a Mobile minister and his wife were arrested on drug charges June 2, 2011. (Photo courtesy Mobile County Sheriff's Office)

MOBILE, Alabama -- A two-month undercover drug operation led to the arrest today of a Mobile minister and his wife, according to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Lori Myles identified the couple as James A. Hunter, 47; and his wife, Sylvia Hunter, 44. Myles said the Hunters operated Forever Flowing Ministries at 1803 S. Maryvale St.
She said James Hunter was charged with six counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, attempted possession of a controlled substance and possession and receiving a controlled substance.
Sylvia Hunter was charged with one count of possession and receiving a controlled substance, Myles said.

Mobile minister James A. Hunter was charged with eight counts of drug violations June 2, 2011, after an unedrcover operation.

The Hunters turned themselves in to authorities this afternoon.
Both were booked into Mobile County Metro Jail shortly before 3 p.m. Sylvia Hunter was released about three hours later on $2,500 bail, while James Hunter was held without bail, according to jail records.
Myles said undercover deputies first made contact for drug purchases with the Hunters in March. On May 20, deputies made an arrangement to buy morphine, Myles said.
Deputies detained the Hunters when they came to the pre-arranged scene, and Myles said the Hunters agreed to provide further information about the drug trade that they were involved in.
Photos released by the sheriff’s office showed a table with more than 100 bottles, mostly of prescription drugs, seized by deputies. At least four guns and ammunition also were shown in the photographs.

Sylvia Hunter was charged once June 2, 2011, in relation to a drug operation by the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.

Many of the bottles in the photos were empty but had prescription labels on them.
Archives listing business licenses indicate that Forever Flowing Ministries had been in operation since 2000.
A church directory website called www.churchpages.com shows the following quote on Forever Flowing Ministries’ page:
"Though traditional family values and the general consensus on issues of morality have come under fire in recent years, the local church has often remained a place of consistency and hope for those seeking to maintain healthy communities and families."
The website www.childhomedaycare.com noted that the church also operated a day care at the Maryvale location.
A woman who answered the church telephone this evening declined to speak. 