Mich. woman accused of bringing $32,000 worth of pain pills to Corbin

Karen Walker

A Michigan woman has been indicted in federal court on charges that she had brought 850 Oxycodone pills, valued at approximately $32,000, to the Corbin Walmart which she intended to deliver to a drug dealer from Bell County and had a handgun in her possession at the time.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Karen Walker, 36, of St. Claire Shores, Mich. Thursday.

In addition to the charges of possession of Oxycodone with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug crime in Laurel County, Walker was indicted on one count of distributing Oxycodone in Bell County.

The indictment was handed down following an investigation by U.S. Drug Enforcement Special Agent Michael Kersey.

According to Kersey’s complaint, which was filed in federal court on Dec. 12, a confidential source stated that Walker, routinely, brought Oxycodone pills for the source to sell in Bell County and had been so for approximately two years.

"The CS stated that he/she was initially supplied about 100 Oxycodone 30 mg pills every two weeks by Walker, but that during the last six months prior to the interview, the number of pills had increased to 200 to 300 Oxycodone 30 mg per week," Kersey stated in the complaint.

The CS further stated that he/she had seen Walker with at least 1,000 Oxycodone pills on each occasion, and, in fact had seen Walker with as many as 3,000 Oxycodone pills in her possession at one time.

Based on the interview, Kersey stated that the source arranged to meet Walker at the Corbin Walmart on Dec. 10.

About 6:20 p.m. Kersey said Kentucky State Police initiated a traffic stop on Walker’s vehicle in the Walmart Parking lot.
Walker gave consent to search the vehicle, during which police reported finding a Glock .40 caliber pistol, $12,500 in cash and 851 Oxycodone pills.

According to local law enforcement, 30 mg Oxycodone usually sell on the street for $30 to $45, each.

Walker is scheduled to return to federal court Thursday for an arraignment.

If convicted of drug conspiracy and drug possession charges, Walker faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine on each count.

The firearm charge carries a potential sentence of five years to life and a fine of up to $250,000.