BEATTYVILLE – A Lee County man suspected of selling large amounts of drugs in the Lee County area was arrested Monday, April 1.

William F. Brandenburg Jr., age 39, of Laurel Fork Road in eastern Lee County, was charged with four counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

In 1998, Brandenburg was arrested for first-degree assault and agreed to pled guilty to an amended charge of assault under extreme emotional distress. A year later he pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal attempt to obtain controlled substance by fraud in Woodford County.

The arrest followed a two-month undercover investigation during which a confidential informant made at least three drug purchases.

About 1:45 p.m. detectives from Operation UNITE along with Kentucky State Police Trooper Joe Lucas, Beattyville Assistant Police Chief Greg Brandenburg and two city officers went to the home in the Primrose community to serve a search warrant.

William Brandenburg’s girlfriend, 18-year-old Christin Reece, ran from the house and tried to hide four weapons. She was apprehended and charged with tampering with physical evidence.

During the search officers located a total of six guns, $11,717 in cash, and 702 prescription pills – mostly Percocet and Methadone.

Both suspects were lodged in the Three Forks Regional Jail.

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 Line – 1-866-90-UNITE (1-866-908-6483)