Several People Are Arrested In Drug Bust

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Posted: 8:11 PM Apr 28, 2008
Last Updated: 9:56 PM Apr 28, 2008
Reporter: Jeff Allen
Email Address: jeff.allen@wymtnews.com

23 comments

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Months of investigation led to a drug bust.

When police went after more than two dozen suspected drug dealers.

Most of the suspects are accused of selling various types of prescription medications such as OxyContin.

Kentucky state police say they used confidential informants to make undercover drug buys during months of investigation.

They say Monday's arrests are just part of their overall fight against an ongoing epidemic in eastern Kentucky.

Officers point out that eastern Kentucky is ranked number one in the nation for it's prescription drug problem.

There was a study done and there is 15 pounds of pills for every man, woman and child in the state of Kentucky for a year that's consumed just in southeast Kentucky alone,” Trooper Walt Meachum said.

With help from Barbourville Police and the Knox County Sheriff's Office the Kentucky State Police were able to round up at least 20 of the suspects.

They say they'll be going after the rest of the more than 30 charged in the coming days.

• Charles Bargo, age 48 of Hinkle, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Travis Marcum, age 21 of Calebs Creek, KY. was charged with two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Karyn Layne, age 54 of Barbourville, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree, Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st degree.
• Billie Mills, age 48 of Hinkle, KY. was charged with Sale of Simulated Substance.
• Bridget Bingham, age 28 of Cannon, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Joni Lee, age 42 of Hinkle, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 3rd degree.
• Maggie Hensley, age 63 of Barbourville, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Thelma Davis, age 41 of Barbourville, KY. was charged with three counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Dexter Messer Jr., age 28 of Girdler, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree and Persistent Felony Offender 2nd degree.
• Ashley Jones, age 25 of Hinkle, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree and Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st degree.
• Sandy Woolum, age 40 of Barbourville, KY. was charged with three counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree and one count of Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st degree.
• Archie Baker, age 36 of Barbourville, KY. was charged with two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Randy Hubbard, age 37 of Hinkle, KY. was charged with two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Jason Riley, age 33 of Hinkle, KY. was charged with two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st degree.
• Arville Collinsworth, age 73 of Gray, KY. was charged with two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Ronald Bright, age 41 of Barbourville, KY. was charged with three counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Paul Hammons, age 51 of Barbourville, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree and Persistent Felony Offender 2nd degree.
• Roy L. Gray, age 27 of Heidrick, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Ottis Sizemore Jr., age 44 of Stinking Creek, KY. was charged with Trafficking Marijuana over 8 oz.
• Mearl Abner, age 40 of Girdler, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
• Ashley Hubbard, age 21 of Gray, KY. was charged with Trafficking Controlled Substance 2nd degree.
Other arrests are pending at this time for subjects that were not located during the round up. To anonymously report any type of suspected illegal drug activity, citizens can call the KSP toll-free drug tip hotline, 1-800-DOPETIP. The hotline is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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

Posted by: lonewolf2 Location: kentucky on Apr 30, 2008 at 11:41 AM
ID like to comment to you all that are implying that ATV riders are DRUG dealers AND GROWERS! Well I have 4 myself and so do a lot of people.I use mine on the farm save buying fuel for the tractors.I also and many more use them for recreation.DONT make us ALL SOUND LIKE CRIMANALS.Heres A fact for ATV riders find a lot of pot patches meth labs or where they have been.Most report what they see and find to the local police. But a LOT of people DO use them for such things and thats not good. PEOPLE DONT CONDEMN SOMEONE just because they are on A ATV 99% are honest people just out playing in the mud having fun. Its the 1% that makes everyone look bad.My grandpa always said it takes one bad apple to spoil the bushel.DONT let that 1 bad apple let you judge people that the worst thing they might be guilty of is riding on the black top to get to point A to point B

Posted by: Me Location: Lexington on Apr 30, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Bill, war on poor people? What an ignorant statement. No Help, physicians are to blame? If a patient comes in complaining of pain and we refuse to treat, that can quite possibly lead to a law suit. Fortunately, KASPER has helped us out in finding those who go to the doctor's office or emergency room, as for pain medication and just had 90 pills given to them a week ago from a family physician. That's how you fix the problem, you blame the people there to help you when you are in need. Physicians are not mind readers; they cannot determine if you are lying all the time. We have our ways, but it is not 100% effective.

Posted by: WHAT Location: IRVINE on Apr 30, 2008 at 01:06 AM
So,you think they are all together,like here in irvine, the president of a drug free org... has a good friend who is a drug dealer,you cant win the way you are dealing with this,stop the drug,and you kill all the little bugs

Posted by: NO HELP. Location: KY on Apr 30, 2008 at 01:00 AM
WELL DONE. would like to see more caught in knox county. they sell right under our noses and they think we are so stupid that we can't figure out what is going on.. the dr's are to blame for alot of the pill problem here. they go and ask and they get what they want.as long as they have a medical card to pay they get anything. it's not coming out of thier pocket it's coming out of us tax payers. Another bad thing is to see the young kids you watch grow up go to the dealer's house.and they(the dealer) act like nothing is going on..we are not that stupid. a real friend would stay and visit more that 2 minutes... we ask for help to clean up but nothing ever happens in our neighborhood. you hardly ever see a cop in our area so how do we expect the dealers to get busted for anything.if they do catch any it's like going fishing. CATCH AND RELEASE. PLEASE REPORT ALL DRUG DEALER. IT COULD SAVE A LIFE.

Posted by: CBM Location: KY on Apr 29, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Its a funny thing to me that they use these narks that are in some kind of trouble and let them go or give them a lighter sentance to tell on someone else. go figure set one rat free to catch another.

Posted by: here here Location: pikeville on Apr 29, 2008 at 09:15 PM
I think its awful that we have the repuation for drugs here. The problem is that the only ones that seem to care are the citizens that are drug free. I wish we could put something in the water to make them all so sick that they wish they would die.

Posted by: Larry Location: Lexington on Apr 29, 2008 at 08:35 PM
If welfarers are caught with drugs, remove the welfare money. Stop wasting tax payers money to support them.

Posted by: djj Location: eastern ky on Apr 29, 2008 at 04:57 PM
I'm really proud of the efforts our law enforcement is putting forth. I wish there were more upper classmen on the list. Seems to me that they are never going to get the recognition that these few got.

Posted by: ritchie Location: ball creek on Apr 29, 2008 at 04:49 PM
Stop the 4 wheelers and slow down the drugs.

Posted by: Dee Location: around there on Apr 29, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Jasper ($$$$$$$$$$$) Think about it.

Posted by: jasper Location: lost creek on Apr 29, 2008 at 01:50 PM
I agree with Tracy, I see them there fellers all the time carring drugs,guns and alcohol on the 4-wheeelers and I too have the same question why does the cops turn a blind eye to them?

Posted by: GOOD JOB Location: Kentucky on Apr 29, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Speaking as a person whose home has been ruined by these careless people who sale these drugs, I am glad they are busted. Try making an honest living. Drugs ruin people's lives. I had a family member who was spending every dime we had, pawning stuff, just trying to get a pill. Guess who suffered me and my kids. I know people say why don't you just leave, well it isn't that easy, especially when you have kids by someone, If you care about your kids you don't want to see their father doing this stuff it doesn't matter if you leave or not, it will still affect your kids because that is their father and I was not going to let them suffer. So I stuck it out, he got help, and the dealers well lets just say they lost a lot of money, and all I have to say to them is kiss this. Keep up the good work law enforcement, I don't care to see my tax money going to take these scums off of the streets, I would pay more if I had to, because I know the effects it has on families.

Posted by: Just Don't Get It on Apr 29, 2008 at 01:02 PM
In response to the post from "Me Location: Ky on Apr 29, 2008 at 09:51 AM" Don't worry, you can be as careful as you want to, but they'll get you too and rightfully so. If you aren't law abiding, you deserve every problem you get from law enforcement. (edited) Keep pushing those drugs and you'll end up like your friends.

Posted by: tracy Location: martin on Apr 29, 2008 at 12:04 PM
So what, their uncle,cousin or brother will be selling before it gets dark---the police NEED to do their job. How many of those 4-wheelers that the cops NEVER STOP are caring drugs??

Posted by: joe Location: anytown in e ky on Apr 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM
and we will do it again next week just a different town----makes no sense, all this money wasted for what???? The drug problem is here to stay unless the way we are handling the situation changes.

Posted by: Mark Location: Leslie on Apr 29, 2008 at 10:34 AM
They do this over and over again. 2 weeks later they are back doing the same thing again. So what have they accomplished? Other than spending tax money for nothing.

Posted by: Me Location: Ky on Apr 29, 2008 at 09:51 AM
The Law Can't Catch Nobody Without NARKS And There Is About 20 NARKS Working South East KY.Counties Everybody Be Carful

Posted by: john Location: javks creek on Apr 29, 2008 at 08:11 AM
here we go again! just a typical day in e kentucky. Folks this isn't working. it's education,treatment and counceling that works. How much money have we spent and the problem gets worse---do you think something just might need to change?

Posted by: Bill on Apr 29, 2008 at 08:01 AM
Where are the pills comming from???I would bet that most are comming from the fed Goverment,thur democratic social programs.they send inn 15 pds. of pills and arrest everyone who has one pill.Its a war on poor people...

Posted by: rhonda Location: corinth on Apr 29, 2008 at 06:57 AM
wow, eastern,ky -in the nation? besides economics what is the reason for that location?is it crooked people higher up? look at all the peoples lives being wasted and ruined. all ages.what is going on?

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 29, 2008 at 02:23 AM
well i hope they spend time behind bars..take there car.s homes kids that will teach them.. and send them to jail for long time

Posted by: sharon Location: flat lick ky on Apr 28, 2008 at 11:28 PM
i think all who is getting these dope sellers off the roads i have childern i want them to be safe when they walk out the door thank you god bless you

Posted by: bob Location: pikeville on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:12 PM
15 pounds for everyone, that would be better than that rebate check were getting

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