Published: May 15, 2008 09:21 pm      

Magoffin drug investigation finds activity

Leads to 21 indictments, discovery of large moonshine operation

SALYERSVILLE — An eight-month undercover investigation into illegal drug trafficking in Magoffin County has resulted in arrest warrants for 21 on 45 charges.

Operation UNITE detectives, with assistance from the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department, began serving the indictment warrants on Monday. As of Thursday afternoon, 14 of the suspects had been located, according to Dale Morton, communications director for UNITE.

Late Wednesday morning, Morton said, law enforcement officers happened upon a large indoor moonshine still at a residence on Roanne Road in a remote section of southern Magoffin County.

About 11:30 a.m., UNITE detectives and sheriff’s deputies went to the home of 42-year-old Edison Porter, at the end of a mile-long driveway on top of an abandoned strip mine, to serve a warrant for trafficking in marijuana (less than 8 ounces).

Morton said Porter apparently saw the officers approach and fled out the back door of an outbuilding, which housed the still, items used to produce moonshine and containers of the finished product.

Kentucky State Police troopers and Alcohol Beverage Control officers were called for assistance.

Inside the shed, Morton said, police discovered eight one-gallon jugs and 50 quart jars filled with moonshine, a large tank being heated with a propane burner, four barrels of sour mash and bags of corn, rye, yeast and other supplies.

ABC officials are continuing the investigation and will decide what charges to file.

Porter was charged Thursday after turning himself in to authorities.

In addition, on Tuesday, police arrested two Lawrence County men while attempting to serve a warrant at a residence on Flynt Branch. Morton said police recovered approximately 200 Oxycodone pills and 100 Xanax bars from one of the men.

The two were identified as:

‰Terry Raines, 45, of Highway 1690, Louisa, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence.

‰Jackie B. Haney, 40, Lawrence County, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone). Haney also had an indictment warrant from Floyd County for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Morton said Magoffin Sheriff Randall Jordan extended the resources of his department during the investigation, which involved mainly sales of OxyContin, Hydrocodone and some Percocet tablets. Sealed indictments were returned by the Magoffin County Grand Jury last week.

Officers continued to search for seven suspects Thursday afternoon.

Arrested as part of the investigation were:

‰David Arnett, 41, of Ky. 40, Salyersville, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (second offense) and second-degree persistent felony offender.

‰Creed Edward Arnett, 33, of River Road, Salyersville, four counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Lora Ball, 38, of Ky. 378, Salyersville, two counts of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Jamie Bailey, 35, of Porter Road, Royalton, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Kerry A. Burke, 27, of Bull Mire Road, Royalton, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Bridgette L. Carty, 27, of Ky. 7, Royalton, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Elwood Fletcher, 49, Ky. 378, Salyersville, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Amanda Howard, 25, of Bull Mire Road, Royalton, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Bobby D. Howard, 36, of Ky. 7, Royalton, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰James K. McGuire, 68, of Route 40, Salyersville, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰ Remonia Mills, 36, of Boyd Branch, Paintsville, two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and first-degree persistent felony offender.

‰Roger L. Nickels, 46, of Mill Fork Road, Royalton, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

‰Edison Porter, 42, of Roanne Road, Royalton, trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces. Additional charges are pending.

‰Jeremy M. Puckett, 32, of Flynt Branch Road, Salyersville, first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance (OxyContin) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

For more information about Operation UNITE, visit its Web site at www.operationunite.org.