Ex-deputy jailer, inmate implicated in drug sting

A trio of Williamsburg residents with apparent family ties to Whitley County Jailer Jerry Taylor have been charged in connection with a plot to allegedly sell drugs at the Whitley County Jail, according to officials with Operation UNITE.
Jason Croley, who at one time worked at the jail, and John Kanter, 20, were charged Friday evening in a sting operation conducted at a Laurel County motel by detectives with UNITE and the Kentucky State Police.
Josh Croley, 18, who was already incarcerated at the Whitley County Jail for probation violation on an unrelated charge, was arrested Monday.
“All three men were involved in a scheme to purchase drugs and distribute them to prisoners at the Whitley County Jail,” said Karen Engle, executive director of UNITE. “These arrests are the direct result of complaints that drugs were easily accessible within the jail and demonstrate that no one is immune from prosecution.”
The Croleys are former step-grandsons of Whitley County Jailer Jerry Taylor. Jerry Allen Taylor, the chief deputy jailer, used to be their step-father before he and their mother divorced. Kanter is the jailer’s nephew.
UNITE officials said the arrests are the result of a nearly two-month undercover investigation by UNITE and the Kentucky State Police with assistance from the Williamsburg Police Department.
Following numerous tips that drugs were freely available at the jail, UNITE detectives made arrangements to sell 100 20-milligram OxyContin tablets and a small quantity of cocaine to the three men, Smoot said.
Kanter and Jason Croley met with undercover detectives Friday night, and purchased the drugs, resulting in the conspiracy to traffic charges, UNITE officials said.
They were arrested without incident about 8 p.m., UNITE officials said.
Both Jason Croley and Kanter were charged with two counts of first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy to promote contraband, and one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, according to a UNITE press release.
Jason Croley was also charged with one count of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
At the time of their arrest, both men had a quantity of percocet in their possession, which led to the first-degree trafficking charge. The second-degree trafficking charge on Jason Croley was for his having a quantity of anabolic steroids in his possession, the release noted.
Josh Croley has been charged with two counts of first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to promote contraband, said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for UNITE.
“Jail is a place where drug offenders are supposed to repent and reflect upon their crimes, not a venue to continue their illegal ways,” Smoot said.
“These men had a direct pipeline to peddle drugs to the inmates,” Engle said. “Jason Croley was carrying a pistol and an identification card showing he was a jail employee and Josh was already incarcerated.”
Jailer Jerry Taylor could not be reached for comment, but has told other media sources that Jason Croley was let go as a deputy jailer about three weeks ago.
On April 5, KSP Trooper Gary Martin charged Jason Croley with possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle about 11:30 p.m. during a traffic stop at the intersection of Ky. 92 and Main Street.
According to the arrest citation, Jason Croley had a blood alcohol level of .038. Under Kentucky law, a person is considered legally intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol level of .08.
On that date, Croley was also charged with contempt of court in Knox County.
Judge Michael Caperton issued the contempt charge after Croley failed to appear in court on Aug. 20, 2004 in relation to an alcohol intoxication charge he received on Aug. 7 in Knox County, according to court records.
Jason Croley was hired as a full-time deputy jailer on Jan. 17, 2005, according to records in the fiscal court minutes concerning the setting of salaries for various employees.
Both Jason Croley and Kanter were lodged in the Laurel County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond. Both pleaded not guilty during their arraignments Monday before Judge John Knox Mills.
Mills scheduled a preliminary hearing for the two on May 3 before Caperton.
“UNITE will continue to fully investigate allegations of illegal drug dealing and take the appropriate action regardless of where the case may lead,” Engle added. “We want the public to know that their willingness to step forward with information can make a difference.”
Taylor could not be reached at the Whitley County Jail late Monday afternoon, and did not return messages left Tuesday morning at the jail and his home by press time.