SALYERSVILLE, KY (WSAZ)-- An 8-month undercover investigation into illegal drug trafficking in Magoffin County has resulted in arrest warrants for 21 individuals on 45 charges.
Accoring to a press release, Operation UNITE detectives, with the assistance from the Magoffin County Sheriff¹s Office, began serving the indictment warrants on Monday
As of Thursday afternoon, 14 of the suspects had been located.
Late Wednesday morning officers happened upon a large indoor moonshine still at a house on Roanne Road in a remote section of southern Magoffin County.
According to the release, UNITE detectives and sheriff¹s deputies went to the home of 42-year-old Edison Porter to serve a warrant for trafficking in marijuana.
They say Porter apparently spotted the officers approach and fled out the back door of an outbuilding, which housed the still.
Inside the shed police discovered eight one-gallon jugs and 50 quart jars filled with moonshine, large tank being heated with a propane burner, four barrels of sour mash, and bags of corn, rye, yeast and other supplies.
Porter was arrested Thursday after turning himself in to authorities.
In addition, on Tuesday, police arrested two Lawrence County men while attempting to serve a warrant at a residence on Flynt Branch. Police recovered approximately 200 Oxycodone pills and 100 Xanax bars from one of these subjects.
€ Terry Raines, age 45, of Highway 1690, Louisa, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence.
€ Jackie B. Haney, age 40, Lawrence County, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone). Haney also had an indictment warrant from Floyd County for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Officers continued to search for seven suspects Thursday afternoon.
Arrested as part of the investigation were:
€ David Arnett, age 41, of State Route 40, Salyersville, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (second offense), and second-degree persistent felony offender.
€ Creed Edward Arnett, age 33, of River Road, Salyersville, four counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Lora Ball, age 38, of State Route 378, Salyersville, two counts of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Jamie Bailey, age 35, of Porter Road, Royalton, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Kerry A. Burke, age 27, of Bull Mire Road, Royalton, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Bridgette L. Carty, age 27, of State Route 7, Royalton, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Elwood Fletcher, age 49, State Route 378, Salyersville, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Amanda Howard, age 25, of Bull Mire Road, Royalton, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Bobby D. Howard, age 36, of State Route 7, Royalton, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ James K. McGuire, age 68, of Route 40, Salyersville, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Remonia Mills, age 36, of Boyd Branch, Paintsville (Johnson County), two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and cocaine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and first-degree persistent felony offender.
€ Roger L. Nickels, age 46, of Mill Fork Road, Royalton, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
€ Edison Porter, age 42, of Roanne Road, Royalton, trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces. Additional charges are pending.
€ Jeremy M. Puckett, age 32, of Flynt Branch Road, Salyersville, first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance (OxyContin) and possession of drug paraphernalia.