MONTICELLO – An undercover investigation by Operation UNITE into illegal drug trafficking in and around the Wayne County seat has led to the indictment of 39 individuals on nearly 90 charges.

Law enforcement officials gathered Tuesday morning at The Aspire Center to serve the sealed warrants during UNITE’s 119th roundup in the 29-county Fifth Congressional District.

A variety of drugs were purchased during the six-month investigation leading up to Tuesday’s enforcement effort, said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for UNITE, adding a majority of those wanted in the roundup live within a two- to three-mile radius of each other within the city limits.

“We purchased everything from Hydrocodone and Oxycodone pills to cocaine and methamphetamine,” Smoot said. “We had everything from parents selling their children’s medicine to individuals who actually manufactured meth. On more than one occasion young children were present at the time the drugs were purchased and several of the suspects are repeat offenders.”

Because of this, representatives from the Office of Probation and Parole rode with uniformed officers to assist in the arrests.

Also assisting UNITE detectives with the roundup were Chief Ralph Miniard and officers from the Monticello Police Department, troopers from the Kentucky State Police, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Commonwealth Attorney Matthew B. Leveridge and Wayne County Jailer Ray C. Upchurch and his staff.

This was the first organized roundup in Wayne County since late 2004, when 85 suspects were sought in Wayne, Pulaski and McCreary counties.

“We’ve done a lot of undercover investigations in Wayne County, but most of the time we’d arrest one or two individuals at a time,” Smoot noted. “During this particular investigation we kept locating new suspects and saw an opportunity to change our tactics and arrest them all at once.”

Once back at the Aspire Center, prisoners were given an opportunity to speak with one of three local ministers from the UNITE Defensive Action Against Drugs (DAAD) Coalition. Pastors Mike Wells from Steubenville Baptist, Stan Stevenson from Elk Springs Valley Baptist and Keith McKin from Mt. Zion Baptist offered prisoners both spiritual support and assistance they might need in notifying family members or attending to personal needs.

“Participation is completely voluntary,” noted Smoot. “Although these suspects are facing legal difficulties, we want to do everything possible to assist the family and, hopefully, eventually get them the care they need to put this lifestyle choice in their past.”

Once processed those arrested were lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.

As of 3:30 p.m. 26 of those with indictment warrants had been arrested. One additional person was arrested after drug paraphernalia was found in her possession at the home of one of the suspects. Those arrested were:

• Ricky W. Bell, age 48, Route 6, Monticello, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Daniel D. Bodnar, age 24, West Evelyn Avenue, Monticello, three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Edwin M. Borden Jr., age 35, Ridgewood Avenue, Monticello, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Heather E. Boston, age 25, Jim Boston Road, Monticello, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Bethany B. Burnette, age 22, Route 1, Monticello, one count first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Kaytrina L. Cobb, age 27, West Evelyn Avenue, Monticello, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• Russell D. Cobb Sr., age 59, West Evelyn Avenue, Monticello, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• Darrell H. “Mutt” Daniels Jr., age 21, Stokes Street, Monticello, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• David A. Dixson II, age 42, Route 4, Monticello, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• Toni A. Fisher, age 19, Monticello, possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Bobby Lee Foster, age 27, Thornton Street, Monticello, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in a simulated controlled substance and first-degree persistent felony offender.

• Phillip M. Gentry, age 36, Second Street, Monticello, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school, four counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Laura B. Goodman, age 20, HC-74, Monticello, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count trafficking in a simulated controlled substance.

• Marcie Lynn Hughes, age 29, Winna Drive, Monticello, three counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• Donald J. Humble, age 33, Route 5, Monticello, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Jarel Jenkins, age 38, Monticello, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• James H. Melton, age 25, Ridgewood Avenue, Monticello, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• Marvin G. Meredith, age 39, Ridgewood Avenue, Monticello, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• William F. “Bill” Norris, age 25, Second Street, Monticello, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Tristan E. Parris, age 22, Virginia Avenue, Monticello, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Jason R. Piercy, age 22, Lincoln Street, Monticello, one count first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and three counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Teresa Moreno Roberts, age 26, Monticello, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Harold Dean Ross, age 41, Ridgewood Trailer Court, Monticello, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Jeffrey W. Ross, North Second Street, Monticello, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.

• David A. Terry, age 33, Bertram Street, Monticello, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Shanna Denise Tompkins, age 30, Trails End Drive, Monticello, four counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Melinda S. Tucker, age 28, Webster Drive, Monticello, three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

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)