HINDMAN – Police arrested 15 Knott County residents on drug trafficking charges Friday during a roundup conducted by Operation UNITE.

Armed with 20 indictment warrants returned earlier this month, detectives from UNITE were joined by officers from the Knott County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police to arrest suspects identified during a 14-month undercover investigation.

Among those indicted were five members of one family arrested at their Pine Top home in mid-July. During those arrests police recovered approximately 15 half-gram bags of powered cocaine.

Yeart Pratt Sr., his wife Lillis, and their sons Yeart Jr., John D. and Hubert were each served the new indictment warrants at the Kentucky River Regional Detention Center, where they have remained since their arrests last month.

“The Pratt family has been involved in the illegal drug trade for a long time,” said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for Operation UNITE. “They were well-known in Knott County for providing cocaine, Methadone and Oxycodone.”

During the arrests on Friday, officers recovered a total of 127 pills and cash from three of those arrested. Additional charges are pending in those cases.

Those arrested and lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Detention Center by early afternoon Friday were:

• Stephen “Steve” Collins, age 37, Jamestown Village, Bulan, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Additional charges are pending after police found 8.5 OxyContin 80mg tablets and $937 in cash during his arrest.

• Bert Wayne Combs, age 44, Trace Branch, Dwarf, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Crystal Combs, age 23, Trace Branch, Dwarf, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Michael Gamble, age 42, Highway 15, Jeff, three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Gamble is currently incarcerated at the Henderson County Detention Center.

• Odale Jacobs, age 46, Highway 899, Pippa Passes, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Hubert Pratt, age 48, Mallet Fork Road, Pine Top, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (second offense).

• John D. Pratt, age 49, Walnut Hollow, Pine Top, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Lillis Pratt, age 66, Walnut Hollow, Pine Top, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Yeart Pratt Jr., age 40, Spruce Pine Road, Garner, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Yeart Pratt Sr., age 71, Mallet Fork Road, Pine Top, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Scotty Short, age 36, Mullins Branch, Kite, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Danny Slone, age 35, Highway 899, Pippa Passes, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Police discovered $454 in cash when he was arrested.

• Junior Smith, age 69, Kelly Fork Road, Vicco, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Shelby “Harry” Stumbo, age 63, Highway 582, Pinetop, three counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Velva Neice Terry, age 53, Dry Creek Road, Topmost, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Additional charges are pending after police found 118 Methadone tablets, one Percocet pill, some marijuana, a handgun and $4,763 in cash in her purse during her arrest.

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)