Published: November 20, 2009 05:14 pm      

Four arrested

Nov. 4, 2009 — Four Carter County residents were among the over 200 people rounded up in “Operation Flamingo Road” drug roundup across 33 counties this past week.

It was the largest drug strike in Kentucky’s history as state, local and federal authorities rolled into countless home with felony arrest warrants for a total of 518 drug offenders.

Paul Branham, Kyle Horton, Christopher Jobe, and Minnie Tolliver were the six from the county taken into custody and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance.

Justice was released from the Carter County Detention Center on a $10,000 property bond. Still behind bars at the CCDC are Christopher Jobe, $20,000 cash bond, Paul Branham, $10,000 cash bond, Kyle Horton, $30,000 cash bond Larry Porter, $5,000 cash bond and Minnie Tolliver remain in jail on a $15,000 cash bond.

The takedown was the result of a three-year investigation that began with the Kentucky State Police and the FBI investigating individuals obtaining prescription drugs in Florida and then returning across the Kentucky to allegedly sale for profit.

Rodney Brewer, KSP commissioner said the majority of the charges were for felony first and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and could result in penalties ranging from 18 months to 20 years behind bars.

The arrests were for individuals in Carter, Bath, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Clark, Clay, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Madison, Martin, Mogoffin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wolfe and Rowan Counties.

The Kentucky Medical Examiners Office in Frankfort reports that the Bluegrass led the nation in 2008 in the use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes.

In fact, preliminary numbers from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics confirmed that 877 deaths in the Commonwealth this past were the result of prescription drug overdose.

Citizens are encouraged to report any illegal drug abuse to the toll free hotline at 800.DOPE.TIP.