{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Operation 'March Madness' nets 20 suspected drug dealers &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Vibmh92bcc\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/operation-march-madness-nets-20-suspected-drug-dealers\/\">Operation &#8216;March Madness&#8217; nets 20 suspected drug dealers<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/operation-march-madness-nets-20-suspected-drug-dealers\/embed\/#?secret=Vibmh92bcc\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Operation &#8216;March Madness&#8217; nets 20 suspected drug dealers&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"Vibmh92bcc\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Arrested.jpg","thumbnail_width":407,"thumbnail_height":265,"description":"Laurel County Sheriff John Root and his deputies hit the ground running early Monday morning, rounding up 20 individuals from across the tri-county area on drug-related charges during Operation \u201cMarch Madness.\u201d Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department\u2019s public affairs officer, said deputies, working in conjunctions with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshal Service, Kentucky State Police and Knox County Sheriff\u2019s Office were initially seeking 26 individuals on state and federal drug trafficking and possession charges. The local individuals arrested on Laurel County warrants included: Megan Lynn Hill, 25, of Gray, who was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance \u2013 methamphetamine. Barbara J. Masters, 50, of Gray, who was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance \u2013 methamphetamine. Johnny Robert Eads, 46, of Gray, who was charged with first-degree traffkcing in a controlled substance \u2013 methamphetamine. Charles L. Hensley, 38, of Corbin, who is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance \u2013 methamphetamine. Joshua Leslie Cox, 35, of Woodbine, who is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance \u2013 second offense \u2013 methamphetamine. Nancy Ann Sayler, 35, of Rockholds, who is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance \u2013 methamphetamine. Four other individuals were among the nine individuals named in a federal indictment charging conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in Laurel County. Law enforcement arrested: Johnny Craig Sasser, 54, of Lily, who is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. George Griffey, 35, of Keavy, who is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. James Woods, 55, of Corbin, who is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Peggy Hoskins, 57, of Barbourville, who is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Two additional local individuals were arrested on other charges during the course of the operation. Lela Jean Snellings, 54, of Keavy, was charged with second-degree disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Steven D. Messer, 40, of Gray, was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance \u2013 methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Acciardo said the arrests occurred over a four-hour period, adding that additional arrests are expected. \u201cWe got 14 of the 26 we were looking for,\u201d Acciardo said. The warrants were the result of a three-month investigation by sheriff\u2019s department\u2019s detectives. In 2018, the sheriff\u2019s department conducted four such sweeps. This marks the first one of 2019. \u201cAlways,\u201d Acciardo said when asked if additional sweeps are expected noting that when Sheriff Root was elected in 2010, he promised voters that he would be working to arrest and prosecute drug dealers across the county. &nbsp;"}