WHEELWRIGHT – Drug trafficking in southern Floyd County was the focus of a joint investigation between Operation UNITE and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, leading to a roundup of suspected dealers on Wednesday, August 27.

This was the second time this month police have made arrests as part of the six-month investigation into the illegal sale of a variety of prescription narcotics. The investigation resulted in warrants for a total of 18 drug traffickers in the Wheelwright community.

“Cooperation between law enforcement agencies at all levels is essential to successful investigations,” said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for UNITE. “Since the day he was elected, Attorney General Jack Conway has shown his commitment to drug enforcement in Eastern Kentucky. Today’s roundup reinforces what can be accomplished.”

On August 6, five people were charged after police conducted a search of a game room/store and subsequently set up a traffic checkpoint along Route 306. More than 300 prescription pills of assorted types and approximately $1,900 in cash were found at that time. A sixth person was arrested August 19

“The drug problem is so huge,” said Bob Foster, commissioner of the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations. “The only way to effectively address this is to work in cooperation with other agencies. It takes federal state and local resources.”

“One of General Conway’s priorities is to address the drug problems in Eastern Kentucky,” said Foster, who previously worked with the FBI as a drug coordinator for Kentucky. “Shortly after he was elected General Conway realized our office wanted to participate with Operation UNITE because of their success rate. We immediately assigned an investigator to work with the Big Sandy Drug Task Force.”

That partnership has proven valuable from the very start.

“It’s paid benefits for our office because we’re able to maximize our limited resources,” Foster noted. “It makes our operation more effective in Eastern Kentucky. (Previously) there was an office in Prestonsburg, but we had nobody assigned with a drug task force.”

“We’re just happy to be a part of this, and we’ll continue to cooperate with all levels of law enforcement,” Foster said. “It really makes an impact in Eastern Kentucky.”

After staging at the Left Beaver Rescue Squad building Wednesday morning, five detectives from UNITE were joined by two agents from the AG’s Department of Criminal Investigations, four officers from the Prestonsburg Police Department, Floyd Sheriff John K. Blackburn and six of his deputies, and Wheelwright Police Chief Randy Johnson in serving the indictment warrants.

Those arrested were brought to the Wheelwright Police Department for processing before being transferred to the Floyd County Detention Center.

While the suspects were being processed, several officers set up a traffic check on KY 306 in front of City Hall, while others conducted “knock and talks” in the area based upon tip complaints. More than six searches were conducted, and a small amount of marijuana was recovered from one residence. A citation was issued for possession of marijuana.

Those arrested since August 6 were:

• Tiann Branham, age 52, Branham Street, Wheelwright – three counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Michael S. Brooks, age 32, Lower Burton Road, Bypro – two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and first-degree persistent felony offender.

• Shawn E. Curry, age 31, Route 122, Hi Hat – one count each first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• Jessica R. Hall, age 28, General Delivery, Wheelwright – one count trafficking in marijuana.

• Kevin Hall, age 23, General Delivery, Wheelwright – one count each second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana.

• Darrell Lee Hill, age 24, Route 122, Bypro – two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and first-degree persistent felony offender.

• Jennifer Hunt, age 27, Stoker Branch, Wheelwright – one count each first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Timothy Stanley, age 48, Tackett Branch, Bevinsville – one count second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• John Slone, age 28, Route 122, Hi Hat – two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Larry Slone, age 37, Slone Hollow, Hi Hat – two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces (second offense).

• Randy Tackett, age 39, of Route 122, Hi Hat -- three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count first-degree persistent felony offender.

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

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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)