MethCheck program played huge role in Laurel County drug investigation

Thirty-four people were targeted for arrest Tuesday, October 23

LONDON – Nearly half of those sought in the latest Operation UNITE drug roundup were caught using a new tool that electronically monitors sales of a key ingredient used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

MethCheck, piloted by UNITE in Laurel County, has proven so effective that all Kentucky pharmacies will soon be linked to a statewide database as a result of legislation (Senate Bill 88) passed earlier this year by the General Assembly. Kentucky will be only the second state in the country to monitor pseudoephedrine sales electronically on a statewide basis.

Thirty-four people were targeted for arrest Tuesday, October 23, following undercover drug investigations over the past six to eight months, said Joel Cunigan, manager of UNITE’s Cumberland Drug Task Force, adding 15 cases were developed because of MethCheck.

While serving arrest warrants, officers found a portable two-way police radio and approximately one pound of marijuana at an East Bernstadt residence, Cunigan said.

Following the morning roundup, law enforcement officers from the London Police Department, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office and UNITE spent Tuesday afternoon checking on numerous complaints called into the Drug Tip Line (1-866-424-4382) or made to the local law enforcement agencies.

As a result, police discovered an inactive methamphetamine lab at a home on KY 1956 at Clearview Road, Cunigan said, noting charges are pending completion of their investigation.

In partnership with the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, UNITE undertook implementation of MethCheck in November 2005. As of June 1, MethCheck was being used by 14 of the 19 pharmacies in Laurel County.

With the passage of Senate Bill 63 in 2005, purchasers of products containing pseudoephedrine are required to sign a manual log listing their name, date of birth, address and other identifying information along with a description of their purchase. MethCheck essentially eliminates the cumbersome need for paper logs and allows easy tracking of purchases across multiple counties.

Other provisions of Senate Bill 63 placed pseudoephedrine-containing products behind the counter and limited the amount that could be purchased each month.

"Several of the methamphetamine-related cases resulted in the discovery of several labs," said Detective Brian Lewis, who coordinates MethCheck for UNITE. "We had individuals from Clay, Jackson and Whitley counties coming to Laurel County and purchasing pseudoephedrine or contributing in some way to the manufacturing process."

A majority of the other cases involved the sale of marijuana, and possession or sale of methamphetamine, OxyContin, Hydrocodone and Xanax, Lewis noted.

Nine of the suspects were arrested in Laurel Circuit Court on Friday, October 19, after the indictments were returned. Ten additional people were arrested during Tuesday’s roundup.

Assisting UNITE detectives were law enforcement officers from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, London Police Department, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement and Kentucky State Police.

As of 3 p.m. Tuesday the following individuals had been arrested and lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center:

• Albert Abner, age 37, Bert Allen Road, London, manufacturing methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine precursors.

• Mary Mills Brooks, age 32, Pepper Hill Apartments, London, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

• Brandon Burkhart, age 20, North Highway 421, Manchester (Clay County), second-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

• Lucy Cotton, age 32, Bert Allen Road, London, manufacturing methamphetamine, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine precursors.

• Thomas Earley, age 47, Earley Lane, London, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

• David Goldsberry, age 49, Star Hill Road, London, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school and trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces.

• Alex Hoskins, age 42, Moriah Church Road, London, trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces (second offense) and trafficking in a Legend drug.

• James Jent, age 32, Little County Road, East Bernstadt, first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

• Rachel Jones, age 47, Star Hill Road, London, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (second offense) and trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces (second offense).

• Chris Ledington, age 37, Northside Plaza, Corbin, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Denzil Lewis, age 60, Highway 490, East Bernstadt, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Richard Lewis, age 59, Robert E. Cox Road, Corbin, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.

• Barbara Maggard, age 46, Star Hill Road, London, trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces.

• Billie Maggard, age 55, Riverbend Road, London, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

• Larry Sheperd, age 40, Felts School Apartments, Corbin, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

• Jimmy Slone, age 39, Highway 490, East Bernstadt, trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces. Additional charges are pending.

• Michael Sultz, age 22, Camden Road, Ferndale, Michigan, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and unlawful possession of methamphetamine precursors.

• Janet Wagner, age 49, Johnson Road, London, possession of marijuana.

• Brian Williams, age 40, Riverbend Road, London, manufacturing methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

For more information about Operation UNITE visit http://www.operationunite.org/