Federal heroin case tied to 2018 Woodbine shooting

A joint investigation between ATF, Kentucky State Police and Corbin Police has resulted in federal drug charges being filed against a Michigan man.

Charles Ray Edwards, Jr., 38, of Flint, is facing charges of distribution and possession of heroin in Laurel and Knox counties and possession with the intent to distribute heroin in Whitley County, according to a complaint filed by U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent Todd Tremaine.

In addition, Edwards is charged with discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in Knox County stemming from a shooting in Woodbine on Sept. 30, 2018.

Kentucky State Police were called to the residence at 11101 Ky. 6 at approximately 3:37 a.m.

According to police, Curtis Helton of Corbin had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, while Rick Mitchell, of Corbin, was shot in the head and leg.

Mitchell was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

According to police, an unknown individual stopped in front of the residence in a white Chevrolet Suburban SUV and fired multiple rounds into a black cargo trailer where Helton and Mitchell were located.

According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in London by Tremaine, he and KSP Detective Ben Graves developed information that Edwards was delivering heroin, Xanax and Oxycodone to Whitley, Knox and Laurel counties.

Graves spoke with multiple witnesses who had contact with Edwards on a Facebook account.

Based on that, Tremaine stated that Graves obtained a search warrant for the account. In addition, investigators learned that Edwards went by the nickname, “Prince.”

While this investigation was ongoing, Tremaine noted that KSP responded and began investigating the shooting in Woodbine recovering spent 9mm casings.

Upon speaking with one of the victims, Tremaine stated that he admitted to stealing 97 grams of Heroin from, “Prince,” at a motel in Corbin hours before the shooting occurred.

“V1 stated he/she had previously met Prince before this date to purchase heroin,” Tremaine stated adding that the victim identified Prince’s vehicle as a white Suburban.

“V1 positively identified a photograph of Charles Edwards, Jr. as being the person he/she knew to be Prince,” Tremaine stated.

According to Tremaine, several other witnesses identified Edwards’ SUV as the one seen driving up and down the road moments before the shooting occurred.

Through the course of the investigation, Tremaine stated that other interviews identified Edwards as a source of drug supply for the area around Corbin and London.

In addition, according to the complaint, several confidential informants stated to law enforcement that they had purchased heroin from Edwards.

Finally, Tremaine noted that further messages were found on the Facebook page to arrange drug transactions, including the one at the Corbin motel.

“The messages showed a consistent pattern of drug-related conversations through the entirety of 2018,” Tremaine stated.

Law enforcement arranged with a confidential informant to purchase drugs from, “Prince” during a meeting in a Whitley County.

On Feb. 1, the meeting occurred and when Edwards arrived at the location, law enforcement took him into custody following a struggle.

During the struggle, Edwards allegedly attempted to throw a cigarette pack across the floor.

“The cigarette pack was retrieved and found to contain approximately four grams of a tan powdery substance, suspected to be heroin,” Tremaine stated noting that a search of the vehicle and Edwards’ person turned up additional heroin, pills and marijuana.