Floyd Drug Investigation Nets Six Arrests

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Posted: 5:14 PM Mar 13, 2008
Last Updated: 6:34 PM Mar 13, 2008

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PRESTONSBURG - Law enforcement officials set their sights on 11 individuals suspected of trafficking drugs in Floyd County during a roundup conducted by Operation UNITE on Thursday, March 13.

The arrests followed an approximately 4-month undercover investigation, said UNITE Law Enforcement Director Dan Smoot. Detectives purchased a variety of drugs, including OxyContin, Methadone, Hydrocodone (Lortab/Lorcet), and marijuana.

One of the suspects, Virgil Cross, was arrested by the Floyd County Sheriff's Office on Friday, March 7, and lodged in the Floyd County Jail.

Officers with UNITE, the Prestonsburg Police Department, Floyd County Sheriff's Office and Kentucky Bureau of Investigation joined forces at 8 a.m. Thursday in a coordinated effort to serve arrest warrants on the other individuals - at least one of whom is believed to be in another state.

In addition to roundup, police followed up on 12 drug complaints and received permission to conduct four searches.

At one location officers discovered illegal prescription drugs and cited 27-year-old Bobby L. Hall, of Goebel Branch, Prestonsburg, for three misdemeanor charges -- second-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and prescription drugs not in their original container.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday the following individuals had been arrested as a result of this investigation:

• Jerry R. Allen, age 54, Airport Drive, Hager Hill, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Nancy Brow, age 36, Cliff Drive, Prestonsburg, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and three counts trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• Virgil Cross, age 31, Town Branch Road, Prestonsburg, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Ronnie Hamilton, age 46, Cliff Drive, Prestonsburg, four counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and four counts trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• David J. Stephens, age 29, Cliffside Apartments, Prestonsburg, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

For more information about Operation UNITE visit their website at www.operationunite.org .

* * * * *

In 2003, Fifth District Congressman Harold "Hal" Rogers (R-Somerset) worked to create Operation UNITE, a regional anti-drug initiative empowering citizens groups and community leaders in 29 southern and eastern Kentucky counties. UNITE, which stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education, seeks to fight the drug epidemic by expanding drug awareness and education programs to keep people from using drugs; coordinating drug treatment and outreach programs for those who are already addicted; and operating regional undercover law enforcement task forces for interdiction and prosecution of those dealing drugs. Rogers has directed $36.6 million in federal funds to the counter-drug initiative over the past five years. For more information contact Karen Engle toll-free at 1-866-678-6483.

Drug Tip Hotline - 1-866-424-4382/Treatment Referral Hotline - 1-866-90-UNITE (1-866-908-6483)

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: us citizen Location: ky on Dec 22, 2008 at 10:33 AM
I have to agree with shelly, selling drugs is wrong but we shouldn't judge them because most of is know nothing about them and we should be trying to help them overcome their problem instead of downgrading them.

Posted by: shelly Location: ky on Dec 22, 2008 at 03:58 AM
Selling drugs is wrong and I don't condone it not one bit but I agree with Kayla it's not right to be on here putting people down. Virgil is my brother and I love him even when he is wrong and I don't uphold him but they are paying for their crime and instead of you all judging them you should be praying for God to help them overcome their problem especially the ones of u that are so called christians.

Posted by: BILLY Location: COLUMBUS,OH on Apr 7, 2008 at 04:44 PM
WHO IN THE HELL SAYS UNITE IS SO GREAT MUST BE ON DRUGS.as a former floyd countian,i keep up with the news there,and it just so happens that ,i remember John K. Blackburn being arrested for drug charges. so dont judge everybody by their picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: kayla Location: michigan on Mar 18, 2008 at 01:00 PM
My dad is one of those people he is not a bad guy he is a really nice man if you get to know my dad. I am proud to say I am the darther of Ronald Hamilton, and the proud step darther of Nancy Brow. So very body that has a problem weith my people are not a nice person to be around any ways I am leaving this sight because my feelings is hurt because you are putting my family down well my Name is Kayla Hamilton & Jennifer Flowers thanks and have a nice day people I love my family vary much I love my dad Ronald Hamilton and my step mom Nancy Brow thank you have a great day and PLZ stop put my family down apreashate from Kayla and Jennifer the darther of Ronald Hamilton and Nancy Brow

Posted by: Joey Location: Lex on Mar 15, 2008 at 09:41 AM
This is for "CHRISTINA Location: BULLS GAP" Get off the drugs and get an education. A three year old can spell better than you and form a sentence that is coherent. You proved my point about people and drugs. Do you look as stupid as you sound?

Posted by: Jean Location: Prestonsburg Ky on Mar 15, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I think Floyd Co needs a manatory 6 months boot camp,after that I don't think they would be so eager to do drugs and steal.

Posted by: Wow Location: Prestonsburg on Mar 15, 2008 at 04:42 AM
They look like druggies? ok, most who sell drugs, do not use them. They are in it for profit. It is not the users that we need to be looking for, as much as the sellers. That is who we want off of the streets. If the sellers are caught, then I hope we will not have as many users.I think that is the plan, And I for one, hope it works. Please help UNITE work.

Posted by: Lisa Location: Floyd Co on Mar 15, 2008 at 12:35 AM
And for the other comment, what do druggies look like? I've lived in a housing complex before and at least 75% of the people looked just like the ones pictured above. Lets try not to judge based upon looks. I was taught that years ago.

Posted by: Lisa Location: Floyd Co on Mar 15, 2008 at 12:34 AM
I don't mean to sound opinionated but UNITE nor any other organization isn't going to "save our children from drugs." There are too many dealers out there for them to clean it all up. Not only that if someone wants drugs they will get them no matter what. The doctor shoppers prove that. I commend Unite because they've done an amazing job getting *some* of the dealers off the streets. Sadly many of them aren't "on the street" they're our neighbors, co-workers, etc. I agree with you Mary. If someone is in true pain, and would benefit from the medication they are treated like DRUG addicts. It's sad that true addicts ruin it for those who are in need. & Ralph lets get real about this.. how long is a good sentence for a person trafficking a drug? Should it depend on the drug, the amount that was sold, who it was sold to? Luckily I (and probably not even you) don't make the rules. We just follow them. *Continued w/ next post*

Posted by: somebody Location: kentucky on Mar 14, 2008 at 09:30 PM
i will tell you! if you see a doctor with a legitimate pain complaint and symptoms or tests to prove it and they refuse you meds they are liable for neglegience same as any other mistake. how they do it is convince you that they can't really give you any narcotics for your problem or they give you a synthetic sample in their office each visit. meantime someone somewhere is getting a narcotic script with your name on it you can bet.

Posted by: CHRISTINA Location: BULLS GAP on Mar 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM
I DONT THINK NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS I THINK THERE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A LIVEING OFF OF THE DRUG ABUSEERS BECAUSE THERE POOR LEAVE A POOR PERSON MEANS TO SURVIE ALONE

Posted by: Mary Location: Ky on Mar 14, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Jennifer....thats exactly what Unite & Dan Smoot are trying to do...save our children from drugs. I have to say that this organization works really hard to get pills out of the dealers hands & other mind altering substances out of production..like homemade meth. This organization needs to be able to financially keep going & doing what they do best. I also wish there was a way for people that need help with pain relief to get it without having to be treated like you are doing something wrong or having to beg. I guess its hard for doctors to tell who is legal & who isn't so everyone has to pay the price because of these thugs...even the ones unlucky enough to have a life long sentence of pain.

Posted by: RALPH Location: PIKEVILLE on Mar 14, 2008 at 12:33 PM
SO PAT THEM ON THE BACK AND SAY DON'T DO THAT AGAIN AND TURN THEM LOOSE. PROBABLY THEY FORGOT TO PAY THEIR ** UP FRONT FEES**

Posted by: They Look Like.... on Mar 14, 2008 at 11:40 AM
fine upstanding morally correct citizens....LOL! They look like druggies.

Posted by: jennifer Location: printer ky on Mar 13, 2008 at 08:54 PM
it is a good thing that these people are going to jail drugs are killing people why would people seal drugs to kids and others and they die or get behind the wheel of a car and kill someone it is no different than murder someone should put a stop to this and how do peolple get so many pills at one time does the doctor give the drugs out like candy on trick or treat night some people that are really sick and cant get the meds they need but some people can get a load of pills to sell i just dont get it can someone just tell me ?????

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