Two charged with trafficking in meth
PAINTSVILLE – Two Johnson County residents have been arrested on drug trafficking charges after police discovered a highly potent form of methamphetamine in their possession on Tuesday, August 29.
“This is probably one of the biggest meth busts in this county’s history,” said Johnson County Sheriff Bill Witten.
Charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance were 62-year-old Lonnie Dixon Jr. of Dixon Branch in Volga and his 37-year-old daughter-in law, Sherrie Margo Dixon of Martin Childers Drive in Thelma.
“The arrests were the direct result of a well-executed joint operation between UNITE and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office,” noted Lee Weddington, manager of UNITE’s Big Sandy Drug Task Force.
The investigation began after Weddington received a citizen’s tip reporting “an unusual amount of traffic” going in and out of the River View Apartments. He contacted Sheriff Witten and asked for deputies to provide assistance if a suspect was located.
About 2 p.m. Lonnie Dixon was seen leaving in a 2006 Chevy Malibu. Deputies Mike Johnson and Tom Wyatt conducted a traffic stop on the car after Dixon was spotted not wearing his seat belt as required by the state’s new primary seat belt law.
When asked if he had any drugs, Dixon produced a vial containing crystal meth, commonly known as “ice.” In addition, a large quantity of meth was located in the console. Combined, approximately 2.75 ounces of the drug was recovered from Dixon, Weddington.
“On the street, methamphetamine this pure would sell for between $200 and $300 per gram,” he noted. “There are approximately 27 grams in an ounce, so Mr. Dixon stood to make quite a bit of money.”
Dixon was subsequently arrested by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.
Continuing their investigation, the deputies and UNITE detectives went to the apartment of Sherrie Dixon and received permission to search the residence. There they discovered about one-half ounce of meth, Weddington said.
Both suspects were lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
“The sheriff’s office could not have made these arrests without Operation UNITE and Operation UNITE could not have done this without help from the sheriff’s office,” Weddington noted. “We are extremely grateful to Sheriff Witten for his efforts to respond to citizen concerns about drug dealing.”
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