Laurel County, Ky. - Sheriff John Root, Laurel Deputies, Detectives, and Bailiffs along with the Sheriff's Office K-9 teams with assistance from London City Police, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, London Office of the U.S. Marshal Service, and Kentucky State Police conducted a county wide drug roundup in conjunction with the Louisville Division of the DEA’s "Operation Crystal Mountain" early Monday morning August 12th, 2019. The DEA’s Louisville division includes Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Police were seeking 18 individuals on drug trafficking charges throughout Laurel County.
4 law enforcement teams armed with arrest warrants based on undercover investigations conducted by Laurel Sheriff’s Detective James Sizemore and Detective Bryon Lawson arrested 16 suspects charging various Illegal Drug Trafficking offenses, and lodged them in the Laurel County Detention Facility.
In addition, 1 other wanted person was arrested on other outstanding charges.
A total of 17 persons were arrested. These arrests were the result of a 3 month undercover investigation conducted by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office.
One drug search warrant was executed at a residence off Brown Lane in London and investigators seized meth, pipes, scales, snorting straws, U.S. currency, and plastic pouches.
Those suspects arrested are identified as:
1. Wanda Minton age 57 of Brown Lane, London arrested off Brown Lane in London charged with:
- Three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
2. Beverly Fields age 58 of Sam Black Road, London arrested off Brown Lane in London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
3. Robert W. House age 44 of Johnson Road, London arrested off Brown Lane in London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
4. Shirley Wilson age 39 of Byble Road, London arrested off Bible Road approximately 4 miles South of London charged with:
- Failure to appear on charges of trafficking in a controlled substance – second-degree – first offense
- Two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense
5. Elvis Hubbard age 52 of Byble Road, London arrested off Byble Road, London approximately 4 miles South of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
6. Emanuel Lee Hoskins age 45 of Cassidy Road, Corbin arrested off Cassidy Road approximately 5 miles west of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – second offense – Methamphetamine
- A Laurel District Court bench warrant of arrest charging: Failure to appear in court on charges of hindering prosecution or apprehension – second-degree; Contempt of court
In addition, while this subject was being processed at the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, he attempted to escape custody but was apprehended before he could flee the building. Once apprehended this subject struggled with deputies before being taken back into custody. This individual was also charged with:
- Escape – second-degree
- Resisting arrest
7. Heather A. Ledford age 37 of Earl Howard Road, Keavy arrested off Earl Howard Road approximately 8 miles South of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – oxycodone
- A Knox County warrant for trafficking in a Controlled Substance
8. Millard L. Smith age 62 of Holly Grove Road, Corbin arrested alt Holly Grove Road approximately 7 miles South of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – third-degree – first offense – Suboxone
9. April Wilder age 39 of Somerset Road, London arrested off Somerset Road approximately 2 miles west of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine Laurel
- A District Court bench warrant of arrest charging failure to appear in court on charges of possession of a controlled substance – third-degree
10. Reva Moore age 51 of Swiss Colony Lane, London arrested off Swiss Colony Lane approximately 5 miles west of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
11. Samantha Garland age 28 of Swiss Colony Lane, London arrested at Swiss Colony Lane approximately 5 miles west of London charged:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – opiates
12. Joshua Garland age 33 of Swiss Colony Lane, London arrested off Swiss colony Lane, approximately 5 miles west of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – opiates
13. Robbie Jones age 38 of Laurel Howard Road, London arrested off Laurel Howard Road approximately 10 miles South of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – opiates – Oxycodone
14. William Tucker age 27 of Jordan Lane, Cannon, KY arrested in London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
15. Adam R. Grubb age 34 of Robert E. Cox Road, Corbin arrested off Pine Grove Road approximately 8 miles South of London charged with:
- Trafficking in a controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- A Laurel District Court bench warrant of arrest charging failure to appear in court on charges of possession of a controlled substance – second-degree – first offense
16. John T. Jones age 28 of Corbin currently lodged in the Knox County detention center charged with:
- Trafficking controlled substance – first-degree – first offense – Methamphetamine
- Conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance – first-degree – second offense
Also arrested and found with outstanding warrants of arrest as law enforcement conducted their roundup of drug suspects was the following individual wanted on other charges.
1. David Hubbard age 50 of Byble Road, Lily arrested at Byble Road approximately 4 miles South of London charged on a Laurel District Court warrant of arrest charging;
- Arresting communications
- Terroristic threatening – third-degree
All arrested individuals were lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center, and the Knox County Detention Center. Arrests will be continuing.
When campaigning for Sheriff 9 years ago, John Root promised the voters that he would wage war on the drug dealers of Laurel County. He has kept that promise. Today's roundup of drug dealers continues to show Sheriff John Root's level of commitment to fulfill this pledge. His office has the full cooperation of Laurel County Attorney Jodi Albright and Laurel Commonwealth Attorney Jackie Steele as the Laurel County Sheriff's Office and Laurel County's prosecutors work side-by-side to eradicate the drugs which destroy the future of this county.
A total of 17 persons were arrested today. More arrests will occur as suspects are located.
Sheriff John Root stated that he wanted today's arrests of area drug traffickers to reemphasize his promise that his office will be continuing to fight the "War on Drugs" as he promised citizens that he would.
Photos of the accused are courtesy of the Laurel Sheriff's Office and the Knox County Detention Center.
Drug Search warrant photos courtesy of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.