Jerry Smith, task force director, said it is unusual to connect so many people in a drug bust and because of the number involved, they were able to charge many with engaging in organized crime along with their drug charges.
Those arrested by were James Clinton King, 25, Angela Marie Crump, 31, and Dustin Drew, 18, all of Auburn, and Janis Sue Arnold, 31, Delinda M. Ramsey, 30, Marjorie C. Hickman, 18, Sean L. Thomas, 21, Luke O. Minton, 18, Justin R. Rogers, 19, and Jason A. Brown, 23, all of Russellville.
The task force served criminal summons on Jennifer Lewis, 28, and Cynthia C. Coleman, 26, both of Russellville.
Smith said the investigation began about 10 months ago when they were looking at Raymond Thomas on drug trafficking charges.
“One of our agents noticed there were several people involved,” Smith said. Agents then began doing surveillance and making undercover drug buys. “Then it was just a matter of connecting the dots.”
Smith said the group were close friends and relatives and were involved in making and distributing methamphetamine throughout the Logan County area. During the investigation, undercover agents purchased a variety of drugs, including meth, marijuana plants, fentnal pain medication suckers and other prescription drugs.
The task force described Raymond Thomas, who is now serving time in the Kentucky State Reformatory, as the ring leader of the group. Many indicted were accused of purchasing cold medication with pseudoephedrine in it to be used in the making of meth.
“This is a major problem in our county,” Smith said. Logan County ranks fifth in the state for selling the most pseudoephedrine-containing pills.
Smith said several of those indicted were young adults who bought the over-the-counter drugs and sold them to those who make meth.
“That’s what they’re doing to make money,” Smith said. A person can make up to a 600 percent profit on box of these cold medicines. Smith said these people usually end up using the drug themselves and getting more involved.
Smith said it is often difficult to charge people who are buying the cold medicines to make meth because they have to prove that is what they are buying it for. Making it more difficult to purchase those medicines would help the situation a great deal, Smith said, but the legislature failed to pass a bill that would have required a prescription for drugs containing pseudoephedrine.
Had that passed, it could have had a huge impact on the making of meth in the state. Oregon passed a similar bill and the number of meth labs found in the state dropped from around 500 one year to a little over 20 the next.
“Pseudoephedrine is the main ingredient to make meth,” Smith said. “If they don’t have that they can’t make meth.”
Smith said the pharmaceutical companies fought hard against the law because they don’t want to see their product further restricted.
Smith said the drug problem in Logan County is getting worse.
“It’s really increased this last year,” he said.
One of the main ways they find out about meth labs in the county is for people to report things they find suspicious.
“If it weren’t for tips,” Smith said, “we wouldn’t make half of the arrests we make.”
The latest arrests were just the latest of several made already this year.
Those charged in this roundup were:
• James Clinton King, 25, of Auburn– possession of a controlled substance 1st degree (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacturing meth, possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unapproved container to manufacture meth.
• Angela Marie Crump, 31, of Auburn– manufacturing meth, possession of a controlled substance 1st degree (meth), controlled substance endangerment to child 1st degree, possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Janis Sue Arnold, 31, of Russellville– unlawful distribution of a meth precursor, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Delinda Michelle Ramsey, 30, of Russellville– unlawful distribution of a meth precursor, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Majorie C. Hickman, 18, of Russellville– trafficking in a controlled substance 1st offense (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful distribution of a meth precursor, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Sean L. Thomas, 21, of Russellville– engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate, unlawful distribution of a meth precursor, trafficking in a controlled substance (opiates), (enhancement) cultivating marijuana less than five plants, (enhancement) possession/manufacturing, distribute counterfeit sub., 1st offense, (enhancement) trafficking in marijuana less than eight ounces.
• Dustin Drew, 18, of Auburn– trafficking in a controlled substance 1st offense (meth), engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Jennifer Lewis, 28, of Russellville (served with criminal summons)– unlawful distribution of a meth precursor 1st degree, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Luke O. Minton, 18, of Russellville– trafficking in a controlled substance 1st offense (meth) two counts, use/possession drug paraphernalia 1st degree two counts, complicity trafficking controlled substance 1st degree (meth) two counts, unlawful distribution of meth precursor 1st, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Justin R. Rogers, 19, of Russellville– complicity 1st degree to trafficking in a controlled substance 1st offense (opiates), complicity trafficking in legion drug 1st offense, complicity trafficking in controlled substance 1st (meth), trafficking in controlled substance 1st degree 1st offense (meth), use/possession drug paraphernalia 1st, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Jason A. Brown, 23, of Russellville– complicity to trafficking controlled substance 1st (meth), trafficking controlled substance 1st (meth) two counts, use/possession drug paraphernalia 2nd offense two counts, unlawful distribution of meth precursor, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
• Cynthia C. Coleman, 26, of Russellville (served with criminal summons)– unlawful distribution of a meth precursor, engaging in organized crime-criminal syndicate.
To report suspected drug related activity, call the South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force at 725-4972.
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