HAZARD – An out-of-state drug supply line into Perry County was shut down Monday following an investigation by Operation UNITE.

Three people -- two from Hazard and one from Ohio -- were arrested August 18 by detectives from UNITE and deputies from the Perry County Sheriff’s Office.

Charged were:

• Kelvin Lamont Lomax, age 42, Cambridge Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, one count first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Anthony Shawn Patterson, age 22, Creekside Drive, Hazard, three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• John Herbie Patterson, age 51, Creekside Drive, Hazard, three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

During a search of Lomax, officers recovered 13 OxyContin 80mg tablets and $4,940 in cash.

“It appears that Mr. Lomax has been been bringing pills to the Pattersons for some time,” said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for UNITE. “We are finding much of the prescription medications being sold illegally in southern and eastern Kentucky are originating from other states. Anytime we can close part of the pipeline we are reducing the amount of pills being sold to our residents.”

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