More than two dozen people rounded up in big Kentucky drug bust operation (2024)

Published: Feb. 21, 2024 at 12:13 PM EST

LAUREL & KNOX COUNTIES, Ky. (WKYT) - More than two dozen people have been rounded up in a big drug bust operation in Laurel and Knox counties.

Authorities say members of the Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force have been corroborating for several months to attack the drug problem across county lines.

They say some of those investigations culminated this week in a roundup of 27 individuals, the seizure of over one pound of meth and the dismantling of at least one drug trafficking organization in Knox County.

Arrested were the following:

• Jaysa Engle age 19 of Barbourville, KY arrested on Coal Port Road in Artemus and charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree/methamphetamine. Two plastic bags and a pill bottle containing suspected methamphetamine were found in her possession.
• Joseph W Holt age 34 of Artemus, KY arrested on Coal Port Road in Artemus and charged with two counts of Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree/methamphetamine. During the arrest, two clear plastic bags and a pill bottle of suspected methamphetamine were found in his possession. He was then charged with a third count of Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree.
• Jamesmax R Herren age 36 of Corbin, KY arrested on Old Lynn Camp School Road in Corbin and charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree/methamphetamine.
• Charles Fields age 41 of London, KY was arrested at this residence on a Knox County Bench Warrant for failure to appear on a Possession Controlled Substance-2nd Degree charge.
• Eric Wilson age 41 of Corbin, KY was also arrested at this residence on a Whitley County Bench Warrant for a Contempt of Court charge.
• Josh Messer age 41 of Barbourville, KY arrested on Pitzer Street in Barbourville and charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree/methamphetamine
• Larry Tyler Hammons age 28 of Manchester, KY arrested on KY 2418 in Barbourville and charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree/methamphetamine. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana.
• Jamerson Cannon age 25 of Dayton, OH arrested on KY 2418 in Barbourville and charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree/methamphetamine. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana.
• Tyler Ross age 24 of Troy, OH arrested on KY 2418 in Barbourville and charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance-1st Degree/methamphetamine. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana.
• John Messer age 30 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• Joseph Baker age 50 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• William Freeman Age 58 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine ; Possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• Franklin early age 64 charged with possession of methamphetamine
• Stacy Dooley age 47 charged with possession of methamphetamine
• Timothy Rader age 59 charged with wanton endangerment; convicted felon with a handgun
• Kenneth Miller age 41 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• Sheila Campbell age 48 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• Beatrice Eversole age 50 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine and persistent felony offender
• Lindsey Gadd age 34 charged with possession of a controlled substance – heroin – cocaine – methamphetamine
• Lucy Hammons age 49 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• Erica Fox age 38 charged with possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine
• Cody Deaton age 25 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance – carfentanyl or fentanyl and possession of marijuana
• John Richards age 38 charged with trafficking in a controlled substance more than 2 g of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia and persistent felony offender
• Larry Hubbard age 49 charged with possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Duncan Groenewald age 25 charged with possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine; possession of marijuana
• Wesley Croley Jr. age 36 charged with possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia
• Jerry Lowe age 44 charged with possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine; possession of marijuana.

Authorities say about one pound of suspected meth and a plastic bag containing approximately three ounces of marijuana were found in the possession of Larry Hammons, Jamerson Cannon, and Tyler Ross.

All of the above arrestees were lodged in the Knox County Detention Center or the Laurel County Detention Center.

In addition to the task force officers, Laurel County Deputies, London Police Department Officers, Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies and DEA agents assisted in the arrests of the individuals for trafficking in illegal drugs in Knox and Laurel County.

Authorities say more arrests are expected in this roundup.

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