Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
P. O. Box 3711
204 Broad Street
Martinsville, Virginia 24115
276-638-8801
Toll Free: 800-234-6575
Eight indicted on drug, gun charges
One suspect being sought
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Seven people have been arrested and an eighth is being sought in connection with federal indictments involving alleged large-scale narcotics distribution networks and firearms, according to a news release from Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
The indictments and arrests were part of a two-year undercover investigation conducted by the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office throughout that county, the release stated. Last December, a Patrick County grand jury issued 300 indictments against 84 people in connection with the same unvestigation, the release added.
The federal grand jury issued its indictments on Feb. 21, the release stated. It did not give more details on the alleged large-scale narcotics distribution networks, but stated that several of the indictments involved firearms allegedly used in facilitating the distribution of those narcotics.
More federal indictments are expected, Smith stated in the release.
Those arrested Feb. 27, according to the release, include:
• Joshua Edwin Hodges, 25, of Collinsville, distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm used in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
• Tommy Gray Burkhart, 59, of Claudville, distribution of methamphetamine in excess of 50 grams in weight.
• Susan Kay Nester, 53, of Claudville, distribution of methamphetamine in excess of 50 grams in weight.
• Joshua Clifton Hodges, 30, of Mount Airy, N.C., distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm used in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
• Michael Lane Roop, 62, Patrick Springs, conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in excess of 100 plants; possession with the intent to distribute marijuana; and possession of a firearm used in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
• Paul Brent Reynolds, 62, of Patrick Springs, conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in excess of 100 plants; possession with the intent to distribute marijuana; and possession of a firearm used in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense
• David Owen Jones, 63, of Critz, conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in excess of 100 plants; possession with the intent to distribute marijuana; and possession of a firearm used in the furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Authorities also are searching for Barry James Anderson, 41, of Claudville, who is wanted on two federal indictments of distribution of methamphetamine in excess of 50 grams in weight, a state probation violation and two charges of failure to appear in Patrick County Circuit Court, according to the release.
Smith said Anderson is considered to be a fugitive from justice.
An indictment does not indicate guilt. It is a grand jury’s determination that there is enough evidence to hold a trial.
Patrick County Sheriff Sgt. Eric O’Connell and Investigator Darrell Rorrer were the lead investigators on all the cases, and the United States Attorney’s Office in Roanoke and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (ATF), also helped with the operation.
Anyone with any information of Anderson’s whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 694-3161.
.jpg "104")
