Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
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Martinsville, Virginia 24115
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| Second part of joint drug operation |
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Friday, March 19, 2010
Forty-four adults have been indicted on 81 felonies in connection with a joint drug operation in Henry County.
The indictments were issued by a Henry County Circuit Court grand jury on Monday. All but 13 of the names of those indicted were released to the public on Thursday, according to Lt. Ricky Walker of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.
The indictments were sealed “because of the nature of the charges,” he said. “It was a two-year operation and quite a few charges.”
The indictments that remain sealed will be released to the public when the suspects are arrested or on Monday, Walker said.
Sheriff Lane Perry said Monday’s indictments were the second half resulting from the operation. The first half of the indictments, involving 17 people and 37 felony criminal charges, were issued by a grand jury in January, he said.
In all, 61 people were indicted on 188 charges in connection with the investigation, he added.
“It was big enough that it was split into two groups,” Perry said, adding that Monday’s cases conclude the operation.
The investigation took place between 2009 and 2010 and focused on known drug areas of Henry County, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
Undercover drug purchases, search warrants, postal interdiction and vehicle stops occurred in Axton, Bassett, Collinsville, Fieldale, Horsepasture and Ridgeway, it added.
Authorities bought or seized quantities of cocaine ranging from 0.4 grams to 1 ounce with values ranging from $40 to $1,100, the release stated. Marijuana purchased or seized ranged in weight from 0.4 of a gram to 18 pounds with values ranging from $5 to $18,000.
Methamphetamine purchased for $475 weighed 6.87 grams. Quantities of methadone, hydrocodone and ecstasy were purchased or seized with values ranging from $5 to $20 per pill, according to the release.
Perry said he believes the operation made a dent in local drug operations. Officers focused on those allegedly distributing drugs, which he hopes will deter others from that behavior.
“We want to reduce drugs and reduce the people stepping into their shoes” to take over the drug trade, he said.
This week’s indictments were direct, meaning they did not go through general district court.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt. It is a grand jury’s determination that there is enough evidence to hold a trial.
The following 31 people were arrested Thursday on the following indictments:
• Ronnie Daniel Adkins, 39, Shelton’s Mobile Home Park, Bassett; distribution of methamphetamine.
• Deborah Lee Blevins, 52, 27 Bucky’s Drive, Bassett; distribution of a Schedule II narcotic (three counts), distribution of a Schedule III narcotic.
• Fred Lester Boyd Jr., 51, 4815 Old Liberty Drive, Axton; distribution marijuana, possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possess firearm while possessing cocaine.
• Bobby Lee Carter, 28, 4295 Stoney Mountain Road, Martinsville; distribution of marijuana, distribution of a Schedule I narcotic (three counts), distribution of imitation controlled substance, attempt to distribute a Schedule I narcotic, obtain money by false pretenses.
• Rachel Lyn Dillon Corum, 32, 4295 Stoney Mountain Road, Martinsville; distribution of imitation controlled substance, attempt to distribute a Schedule I narcotic, obtain money by false pretenses.
• Kristie Renae Gusler, 32, 416 Elijah Circle, Martinsville; manufacture marijuana.
• Richard Lee Gusler, 38, 416 Elijah Circle, Martinsville; manufacture marijuana.
• Joseph Brandon Hairston, 23, 176 Fellowship Drive, Martinsville; distribution of cocaine.
• Mackenzie Dale Hayzlett, 23, 2291 Ruritan Road, Rocky Mount; possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
• Brian Vernon Ingram, 27, 819 Corn Tassel Trail, Martinsville; manufacture marijuana.
• Jason Stephen Jones, 24, 58 Joyce Park Drive, Bassett; distribute cocaine (two counts).
• Brandin Reese Lawson, 20, 1034 Hales Fish Pond Road, Bassett; distribution of marijuana (two counts), distribution of a Schedule III narcotic (two counts).
• Benny James Lea, 44, 1996 Old Mill Road, Ridgeway; manufacture marijuana.
• William Herbert Martin III, 21, 511 Mulberry Road, Martinsville; distribution of marijuana.
• Fernando Martinez-Aguilar, 38, 5110 Stones Dairy Road, Bassett; distribution of marijuana (two counts), distribution of cocaine.
• David Dakota Mussleman, 21, 63 Fieldcrest Ave., Fieldale; possession of a Schedule II narcotic, possess marijuana.
• Bruce Ardel Penn, 56, 1500 Mountain Valley Road, Axton; distribution of cocaine.
• Robert Troy Penn, 63, 45 Dan Wythe Drive, Martinsville; distribution of cocaine.
• Anthony Eugene Reynolds, 24, 1140 Jones Ridge Road, Axton; possess with intent to distribute marijuana.
• Shirley Jane Richardson, 42, 236 Harmon Hill Road, Martinsville; possess marijuana.
• Kathy Jean Rose, 41, 1620 Hodges Farm Road, Martinsville; attempt to commit drug felony (two counts).
• George Sanders Scott, 42, 450 Rosemont Road, Bassett; manufacture marijuana.
• Joey Daniel Shelton, 29, 61 Ralph’s Court, Bassett; distribution of cocaine.
• Paul Leslie Shively, 53, 143 Pritt Place Lane, Bassett; manufacture marijuana.
• Chad Sterling Spencer, 31, 489 Murphy Road, Collinsville; distribution of cocaine, distribution of imitation controlled substance, attempt to commit drug felony, obtain money by false pretenses.
• James Edward Spencer, 52, 57 Foster Drive, Ridgeway; distribution of cocaine.
• Alan Horston Thobbs, 40, 322 Lakeview Lane, Bassett; distribution of cocaine (three counts).
• Antwan Dominique Thomas, 26, 725 Lester Lane, Martinsville; distribution of cocaine (two counts).
• Joshua Brandon Whitlock, 23, 1175 John Baker Road, Fieldale; distribution of marijuana (two counts).
• Eric Dwayne Wright, 29, 1102 Mountain Road, Martinsville; distribution of marijuana (two counts).
• Jeffrey Cornell Young, 48, 101 Woods St., Martinsville; distribution of cocaine.
Thirteen people, under sealed indictments, are being sought on the following 23 charges:
• Five felony counts of distribution of cocaine
• Eight felony counts of distribution of marijuana
• One felony count of distribution of Schedule III narcotic
• One felony count of manufacture marijuana
• One felony count of possess with intent to distribute marijuana
• One felony count of possess with intent to distribute Schedule III narcotic
• One felony count of obtain Rx by false pretenses
• Two felony counts of attempt to obtain Rx by false pretenses
• Two felony counts of possession of cocaine
• One misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana
The investigation was conducted by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Martinsville Police Department and the U.S. Postal Service.
Perry said the indictments are being sealed for several days now, rather than holding roundups of suspects as was done in the past.
That caused a “huge rush on the clerks” and overtime pay, he said.
Sealing them gives the clerks time to process the paperwork and officers time to arrest as many of those indicted as possible before the names are released, Perry said. |
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