Twenty-five nabbed in local drug trafficking roundup Friday

Twenty five people were arrested Friday morning in a roundup of suspects Kentucky police say are part of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the manufacture and distribution of more than 1,000 grams of methamphetamine.

Beginning at 7 a.m., teams of law enforcement officers from Kentucky State Police Post 10 in Harlan, Two Rivers Drug Task Force, Barbourville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshal Service, spread out across the county in search of the suspects wanted on various drug trafficking charges.
Suspects from Corbin include:

• Rebecca Smith, 27, charged with second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance

• Deniece Gatewood, 25, charged with three count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance

• Shaunna Parks, 27, charged with second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance

• Christopher Patton, 24, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance with 1,000 yards of a school
• Lucky Abrams, 33, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance

• Michael Woody, 20, charged with engaging in organized crime

• Heather Herren, 27, charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and controlled substance endangerment to a child

• Sabrina Mahan, 23, charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and controlled substance endangerment to a child

According to KSP Trooper Shan Jacobs, the investigation began in Sept. 2010 when Kentucky State Police Det. Kelley Frarris and Two Rivers Drug Task Force Special Agent Robert O’Neill discovered a meth lab behind the residence of Eddie Wilburn and Russell Collins. Through that investigation, Jacobs said Farris and O’Neill identified the suspects that were arrested in the roundup.

The suspects that were taken into custody and transported to the Knox County Detention Center.

The other suspects include:

• Charles Gray, 52, Gray, charged with three counts of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance

• Shannon Smith, 33, Artemus, charged with second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance

• James Donaldson, 44, Artemus, charged with second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance

• Matt Messer, Jr., 56, Gray, charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

• Rickie Ledford, 22, Barbourville, charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine

• Kayla Grubb, 22, Barbourville, charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and unlawful distribution of a methamphetamine precursor

• Tonya Broughton, 33, Barbourville, charged with unlawful distribution of a methamphetamine precursor and criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine

• Elvis Hall, 36, Barbourville, charged with unlawful distribution of a methamphetamine precursor and criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine

• Kimberly Griffith, 23, Gray, charged with unlawful distribution of a methamphetamine precursor and criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine

• Shannon Buchanan, 33, Artemus, charged with unlawful distribution of a methamphetamine precursor and criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine

• Jason Carnes, 33, Barbourville, charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of equipment with intent to manufacture methamphetamine

• Richard Browky, 33, Trosper, charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of equipment with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine

• Kevin Engle, 21, Barbourville, charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of equipment with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine

• Thomas Raymond Engle, 22, Barbourville, charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of equipment with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine

• Kayla Engle, 23, Barbourville, charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of equipment with intent to manufacture methamphetamine

• Charles Skaggs, II, 40, Gray, charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of equipment with intent to manufacture methamphetamine
Jacobs said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are pending. The defendants will be prosecuted in U.S. District Court in London. Special U.S. Attorney Mike Pratt is prosecuting the case.