Published: June 20, 2008 11:24 pm      

25 indicted in APD drug probe

4-month investigation leads to 9 initial arrests

ASHLAND — A four-month undercover investigation by the Ashland Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section recently resulted in a Boyd County grand jury handing up sealed indictments containing 37 charges against 25 alleged drug dealers.

All of the suspects were charged with varying degrees of trafficking in controlled substances. The charges involved various types of drugs, but most were for illegally dealing in prescription narcotics, APD Capt. Don Petrella said.

Of those indicted, nine have been arrested and 16 remain at large, he said.

The APD on Friday released the names of all of those charged in the probe. The department did not provide ages or addresses for those who have arrested. They are Tony Collins, Joseph Evans, Donald McClelland, Amanda Moore, Deericka Lewis, Gary Rowe, Stacy Refitt, Heather Henderson and Larry Henderson.

Several of those arrested were picked up by Boyd County sheriff’s deputies.

Still at large are Sherry Watkins, 42, of Ashland; Holly Watkins, 29, of Ashland; Steven Fisher, 39, of Ashland; Pearl Booth-Howel, 58, of Rush; Derek Peterson, 20, of Flatwoods; Christina Watkins, 22, of Ashland; Lisa Pingle, 35, of Ashland; Matthew Coffee, 24, of Ashland; Denver Lorimar, 24, of Ashland; Richard Gipson, 35, of Ashland; Sherry Gipson, 33, of Ashland; Jason France, 25, of Ironton; Benjamin Dudley, 21, of Ashland; Paula Watkins, 23, of Ashland; Gary Watkins, 19, of Ashland; and Billy Hanshaw, 26, of Ashland.

Petrella said those with information about the whereabouts of the suspects still at large should contact the APD at (606) 327-2020 or the Silent Witness hotline at (606) 329-1771.

The number of drug arrests made by APD officers has increased sharply in 2008, compared with last year. The department tallied 123 such arrests between Jan. 1 and April 30, compared to 215 in all of 2007.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.