Published: October 28, 2009 07:25 pm      

25 charged in Ohio drug probe

IRONTON — A three-month investigation into illegal pill trafficking in Lawrence County, Ohio, has resulted in 25 being charged.

Twenty-one of those charged were named in indictments returned by a grand jury, while the other four were charged as a result of illegal activity discovered while officers were serving arrest warrants, according to a news release from the Lawrence Drug & Major Crimes Task Force.

Six homes were searched, and officers confiscated more than 1,000 oxycodone and Xanax pills. Additionally, investigators learned that some of the defendants were putting up money for people to travel to pain clinics in Florida and obtain pills, in return for them providing their sponsors with half their pills when they returned to Ohio.

Arrested in the probe were: Crystal A. Waulk, 28, of South Point; Kenneth L. Waulk Jr., 32, of Ironton; Larry E. Blankenship, 40, of South Point; Robert L. Esque Jr., 21, of Ironton; Michael L. Bailey, 23, of Ironton; Sarah K. Brace, 20, of Ironton; Madison K. Kelley, 21, of Ironton; Paul D. Sisler, 48, of Ironton; and Martin L. Stapleton, 51, of Ironton.

Also, Gladys E. Lewis, 64, of Ironton; Frank Zeigler, 48, of Ironton; Robert L. Watkins, 23, of Ironton; Carlton A. Davis, 38, of Coal Grove; Brittany N. Lyons, 20, of Coal Grove; Linda S. Rosebrough, 59, of Ironton; Devon B. Murrell, 22, of Ironton; George Clutters, 53, of Ironton; Adam K. Ross, 23, of Ironton; Juandell D. Mitchell, 22, of Columbus; Diane L. Waddell, 57, of Ironton and Amanda L. Blake, 29, of Ironton.

Four other suspects remain at large: Raymond E. Brown, 51, of Ironton; Didrie C. Riffe, 36, of Coal Grove; Brandon L. Justice, 23, of Ironton; and David L. McKee, 26, of Ironton.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of those still at large should contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department at (740) 532-3525, or the task force hotline at (740) 534-5830.

The task force consists of representatives from the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office and sheriff’s department and the Ironton Police Department.

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