Major Drug Bust In Eastern Kentucky

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Posted: 6:55 PM Jun 13, 2008
Last Updated: 6:55 PM Jun 13, 2008

24 comments

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An Eastern Kentucky sheriff calls it one of the biggest drug busts in the region's history.

A former Letcher County man admitted to transporting at least 130,000 OxyContin pills from Detroit to Knott, Letcher, Perry and Breathitt Counties over the last two and a half years making about $4 million dollars in the process.

Police arrested Joseph Hall, along with Teresa Sturgill of Steer Fork in Knott County, and her son, Michael Lumpkins.

The investigation included searches of some homes and the Route 80 Motel in Hindman and Letcher County Sheriff Danny Webb tells us it's not over yet.

A federal grand jury is expected to hear the case in the next few weeks.

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

Posted by: glen eversole Location: knoot on Feb 17, 2009 at 03:19 PM
iI thank thats not that bad they are more crooked cops then they are any thing and we should think about that and what they do they do worse things

Posted by: none of your business on Aug 13, 2008 at 10:51 PM
I think that the government should leave these people alone with the way things coust how else is everyone going to make it. if they want ti to stop help with a 2nd stimulus package

Posted by: "UNFORTUNETLY" Location: SWEET HOME OF KNOTT COUNTY on Aug 9, 2008 at 01:08 PM
"JUDGE NOT LESS YOU BE JUDGED" ......ALL OF YOU PUT DOCTORS ON PEDISTALS WHEN THE BIGGEST PART OF THEM ARE THE MAIN DRUG LORDS.."THE DRUG RING"...WANT TO FIX IT ..TALK ABOUT AND TRASH ...."DEALERS"...THANK "YOUR" DOCTORS___ THATS WHERE AND WHO THE LAW NEEDS TO BLAME! THEY ALLOW THE DOCTORS TO DEAL WIDE OPEN...MAKE 3/4's of the population ADDICTS ... EVERY DOCTOR HAS JUST A FEW RULES TO BE "LEGAL" DEALERS--- PUSHING THEM INTO THE STREETS ...BUT THESE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS THEY SEND TO PRISION?? THEY CAN'T SELL WITH OUT THE PROVIDERS _____"THE DOCTORS STARTED THIS ENTIRE MESS ...IT'S BS WHY DO YOU LET THE DOCTORS WALK AND TREAT OTHERS SO LESS OF PERSONS????????? WHY DO OUR OFFICIALS KEEP ALLOWING THE DOCTORS TO CONTINUE MAKING AND "FEEDING" ADDICTS?? BECAUSE THE MONEY$$$$ THE GOVERMENT WON'T EVEN STOP IT BECAUSE OF $$$$$ THAT'S ALL THE BIG WHEELS GIVE A DAM ABOUT ! SOUNDS LIKE THE DOCTORS JUST SET THE DEALERS "UP" TO MAKE THAT EXTRA MILLION!!!!

Posted by: mannarino Location: michigan on Jun 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM
well guys one of those people was my dad. my dad is a wonderful father, he just makes bad choices sometimes, or trys to get quick cash to pay my phone bil or make sure that i have clothes. my dads amazing, i need him in my life, i just want him to come home.

Posted by: Amanda Location: knott on Jun 16, 2008 at 04:46 PM
I think that if u would teach your children better than to use drugs and teach them right from wrong then we wouldn't have a drug problem. And if the unite team would start with the doctors who provides the pills to the users then it wouldn't be so easy for people to get. HELLO NATION what happened to INNOCENCE UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. So quite judging people on what the news said. let them be proven of it, if they can. Mind your own business, and you people who be better off.

Posted by: concerned citizen Location: knott co. on Jun 16, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I think it's funny that the Knott Co. officials didn't catch these people and it took the Letcher Co. Sheriff's office to catch them. It just shows how the law enforcement in this county is (right under their noses HA HA). Wake Up Ray Bolen and see what this county has come to under your term.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 16, 2008 at 10:48 AM
nothing like seeing a druggie get busted i love it.now judge do your part..put there butts behind bars..take ever thing they owen

Posted by: No way on Jun 15, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Drugs in Eastern KY...say it ain't so

Posted by: dont materr Location: hazard on Jun 15, 2008 at 06:20 PM
sounds like some people needs to mind their own business, and stay out of others.. if other people mind their own business this world would be alot better.

Posted by: Debbie Location: Lancaster, OH on Jun 15, 2008 at 07:04 AM
Well I have to give all the Law Enforcers a BIG HURRAAAYYY!!!!! I lived in Eastern Kentucky for 30 years and moved to Ohio 2 and 1/2 years ago from Martin County. The drug problem there is horrid!!! All the drug dealers, takers need to be off the streets!! The dealers need to be put in JAIL and those that do the drugs need a very rigid help system to get the drugs out of them!!! I've had way too many friends die from overdoses in the past and since I've been in Ohio from these dangerous drugs. The sad part is the patients that actually need the medications, CAN'T GET THEM because of these dealers when they go to good doctors! Sometimes it's not the doctors fault when they get caught up in these scams to acquire the needed amount of drugs that are coming into these counties. It is a money making market to some that get these medications too that are on SSI, Railroad retirements and other low incomes. They get their med's,figure out what they can do without and sell the rest. It is sad!

Posted by: Wow Location: Richmond on Jun 15, 2008 at 05:35 AM
This large of an amount couldnt have been perscribed in the US. It was most likely a part of a larger shipment from mexico. They have everything down there with lower heatlh standards and almost no costs that included narcotics and heart medication cancer drugs etc. So when they ship everything else they just throw in a few million pills they bought "legally" from a pharmacy or drug factory. I bet alot of them are US owned subsideries. The rich get richer on both ends of the deal.

Posted by: feelin sorry Location: far from paradise on Jun 15, 2008 at 03:01 AM
OH come on people wheres your heart? The poor guy probably lost his factory job to someplace in MEXICO!! and now he trying to pay for some GAS!! He probably doesnt qualify for FOODSTAMPS or MEDICAL CARD CAUSE HE MAKES TOOOOOOO MUCH AT HIS CURRENT JOB AT THE DOLLAR STORE where he makes min wage! GIVE HIM A BREAK.

Posted by: me Location: ky on Jun 14, 2008 at 11:05 PM
good job!!!! please come to pulaski county and do a big drug bust as well,,you will find oxycontin @ meth and everything here its killing our kids..

Posted by: me Location: knott on Jun 14, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Well it's great that they caught a supplier this time but UNITE mostly arrests people that are addicted to pills instead of selling them and sends them to jail for years instead of getting them treatment. They go to jail and make new contacts and learn how to do it better the next time. I think their system needs some work. They need to quit making a name for themselves by locking up so may sick people and get them some help instead. They know the difference in a supplier and someone that needs to get help instead of going to jail.

Posted by: Jack Location: Ky. on Jun 14, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Congratulations to Unite for a job well done. Keep up the good work!!!

Posted by: Sue Location: Perry Co. on Jun 14, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Applause for the police officers. Will the court system do as good a job?

Posted by: S.C. Location: Knott on Jun 14, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Are some of you people honestly this naive? Making a difference? Do you think this really adversely affects drug production, transportation, and sales? Since when has that ever happened in the history of this nation? Crystal was right - for everyone that is busted, ten more get away and ten more pop up. The business of drug dealing is attractive. There's tons of money, very little overhead, risk is honestly quite minimal (contrary to popular myth), it's tax-free, and the demand is outrageous. The government *wants* this stuff to remain illegal because drug enforcement is *big* big business. And why do people continuously stigmatize drugs so badly? Drugs are not a problem.. to people that use them, they are a solution to a much bigger problem. Think about that. What makes your tobacco and your alcohol so much more precious than, say, a bag of marijuana or pain medication? Because it produces more of a high? The former kill many more people than the latter. People need to wake up.

Posted by: Mtn on Jun 14, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Read the mountain Eagle. A lot of pills are coming from West Virginia. From Hoover.

Posted by: Kari Location: Hazard on Jun 14, 2008 at 10:51 AM
It's about time the police did something about all the drugs coming into Eastern Kentucky! I'm impressed

Posted by: CRYSTAL Location: KNOTT CO. on Jun 14, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Well it looks like Knott Co. just got another black eye, wow 130,000 dope pills, it's no wonder people come at you on the wrong side of the road, it's dangerous to get out on the road. And 4 million dollars going back up north,this dope business has been out of hand hear in Knott Co.for years. And to everone they catch, i would guess that ten get away with buying and selling. A guy that was born and raised hear in Knott Co. worte and sings a song that sumes up the image and the reality of Knott Co., song title is (Sweet Home Knott Co.). It's not played on the Countys only Radio Station, but the song fits Knott Co to a tee. I'am gald to hear that this guy got busted, maybe this will help the Drug problem some hear in the county. The Feds sure have and contitues to have their hands full with all of the corruption going on hear in little (Sweet Home Knott Co.).

Posted by: sj Location: floyd county on Jun 14, 2008 at 09:48 AM
good job!!!! every supplier off the street makes a difference

Posted by: Me Location: Jackson Co on Jun 14, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Well now, here's at least 130,000 OxyContin pills that were brought from out of state. Proof that not nearly all street pills are prescribed by eastern Kentucky doctors. How many more have come from internet sales? Clearly, the prescription drug abuse problem extends well beyond our states' boundary lines.

Posted by: Stan on Jun 13, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Bet they all were on the Medicaid system too. Way to go KY government....

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 13, 2008 at 09:58 PM
good job there guys love to see thes druggies get busted.get rid of them then ever thing be ok here in ky.its taking over the kids here and ever thing else around here.good job

Posted by: charles Location: lost creek on Jun 13, 2008 at 08:26 PM
sheriff look over in perry county there is a lot of rocks needs to be look under.maybe you will find drugs and other items interesting to us all.

Posted by: concerned citizen Location: knott on Jun 13, 2008 at 08:19 PM
Thank God!!!! I hope they catch every last one of them.

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