His partner. According to the federal Indictment, members of the Drug Trafficking Operation, as early as 2016 and continuing through January 13, 2021, conspired with each other and others to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. (Quint) Overton, left, and two Franklin County deputies unload a van of . Oct 9, 2021. GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was heckled by supporters of former President Donald Trump after delivering her speech at CPAC on Friday. Others are dead or at large. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl rose 55.6% in 2021. The bust is part of an ongoing investigation with the DEA. Sheworried she now owed the drug-ring money after police intercepted the meth and money, according to court records. The allegations involve large quantities of illegal drugs bound for the Western District of Kentucky, said Acting U.S. Attorney Bennett. The family is considering moving. if (count_closing <= 0) { LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Ten Louisville residents have been charged as part of a bust targeting a Louisville drug trafficking organization, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Updated Jun 11, 2021, 4:29pm EDT. They formed a partnership, discussing drug shipments and prices, the agent said. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served a tour in Iraq, latervolunteering to go back in place of a friend who had a family hardship. If Jose Prieto worried she might spill secrets to police, he was right. .done(function( data ) { If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. He quit his job in 2016andopted to be a stay-at-home dad to his newborn son while his wife, who worked for L'Oreal cosmetics, supported the family. You need to take that rock that I gave you on your finger and go pawn it if you need money for your kids. Despite Assistant Director Durhams misleading statement, we applaud our sworn Officers commitment to this community and public safety. Seven people were arrested as part of a drug gang take down, but three are still on the run. I commend the DEA for spearheading the criminal investigation into this activity as well as our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners both here in the Commonwealth and from across the U.S. - who assisted in the effort., DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, Operation Reapin Benefits in support of DEAs Operation Crystal Shield, was a perfect example of how local, federal and state law enforcement partners collaborated at the highest possible levels and crushed a violent drug trafficking organization operating out of Owensboro, Kentucky, Louisville, Kentucky, Orange County, California, Phoenix, Arizona and ultimately Mexico., During the course of this investigation the fine men and women of the Owensboro Police Department, the Daviess County Sheriffs Office members of the DEA Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) River City Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives conducted ten judicially authorized federal write-taps on members of this Owensboro based drug trafficking organization which to date has resulted in the seizure of (238) pounds of methamphetamine, (81) pounds of marijuana, (4.5) pounds of fentanyl pills, (20) ounces of cocaine, (23) firearms including assault rifles with high capacity magazines, $350,000 USC, (6) vehicles, and the arrest of 28 individuals on federal/state drug charges. Agents who monitored Jose Prieto's movements and phonesay Pack became entwined in a romantic relationship with him. Five of the defendants face additional firearms and trafficking charges. . During a bond hearing for Jose Prieto, federal prosecutors in Louisvillecited Pack's suspicious death asone of the reasons heposed a danger to potential government witnesses and others. "We hear gunshots all the time," Krista Gwynnsaid at the press conference Tuesday. The members of the organization were charged as follows: Willie Watkins, 30, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. "She can't even walk to the store because she's scared of a stray bullet. "We're not placing resources there sufficiently. Christopher McNary, 31, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. These arrests should send a loud and clear message to violent criminals that the FBI Safe Streets Task Force will deploy its collective strength to ensure the safety and security of our neighborhoods, said Acting Special Agent in Edward J. 3 still on the run after major drug gang busted in Louisville. Two months after Bowman's slaying, the drug ring wassuspected of a revenge killing in Detroit. Jordan B. Taylor, 22, of Corbin, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of three-year-old Amoura M. Smallwood. LOUISVILLE, Ky. A grand jury has indicted four Louisville men on firearm and drug charges after police and federal agents conducted search warrants at several apartments in Newburg, the. We are not taking to the street and demanding an impact to lower those (shootings)," he said. Quenton Hall, an alleged Greenhill drug courier known as "Q-Tip," gunned down 27-year-old Fernandez Bowman on Dec. 2, 2016, near Algonquin Park. The Prietosestablished the Louisville pipeline in 2016 after another one of Jose Prieto'ssons befriended Wiley Greenhill while both were inmatesat theRoederer Correctional Complex, an Oldham County prison about 23 miles northeast of Louisville. After several shots hit into Bowman's chest, his car struck a telephone pole and fence before coming to rest against a house near South 25th Street and Burwell Avenue. /* closing frontend */ PARAGOULD, Ark. Detectives with the Louisville Metro Police Departments MajorCase Investigation Unitand special agents from theFBISafeStreetsTaskForce executed the search warrants Aug. 12 at three apartments on Norene Lane, Crafty Drive and Russett Boulevard, according to a criminalcomplaint. A prior conviction could mean a sentence from 10 years to life in prison and no less than eight years of supervised release. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. He established his own pipeline from Kentucky to California, bypassing his older brother. A trusted shipper would then deliver the drugs and the Prietoassociate would leave the hotel with the drug payment. The Indictment also alleges the possession of firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking. CLARKSVILLE Two men have been arrested and more than $3 million seized in cash and drugs as part of a bust into a multi-state drug operation. v. LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT; UNKNOWN METRO POLICE OFFICERS; and WESLEY TROUTMAN PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS. Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com. The Prieto ring also is suspected offunneling a similar volume to Chicago, Atlanta,Detroit, Buffaloand cities in New Jersey, according to the DEA agent, who The Courier Journal isn't naming because of the sensitivity of his work. "The charges set forth in the indictment are the result of the ongoing work of LMPD and the strong working relationships it maintains with our federal law enforcement agencies, acting U.S. Attorney MichaelBennett said in the release. When officers finally stopped him, they found marijuana and pills in his pockets, large amounts of meth and heroin in the center console and a loaded 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun in the driver's seat. Officers were able to stop the vehicle, finding the driver to be 41-year-old Joshua Preece of Kimper. His sonis serving a sentence of seven years and three months. Keith Watkins, 28, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Hyche recovered and returned to work. The lead agent saiddrug ring members are suspected of hiringWilliamsonof Detroitas a hitman to silence Stepp, a drug courier with inside knowledge ofthe organization. Ky. high school wrestling coach accused of attacking, threatening to kill wife. Lock Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain said about the arrests, This investigation is yet another example of the strong relationship that exists between local law enforcement and our federal partners. Reach her at 502-582-4469; kkachmar@courierjournal.com or @NewsQuip on Twitter. Karlchaze D. Thruston, 32, of Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. An official website of the United States government. The narcotics unit continues to investigate the bust. Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Narcotic Bureau. jQuery("#aws_ec_insertEC_alertIMG_1").hide(); It's all Krista and Nevada Gwynn wantfor theirchildren. jQuery("#aws_ec_insertEC_alertIMG_0").show(); It's part of a story the WAVE Troubleshooters have been unraveling linked to the murders of 3-year-old Trinity Randolph and her father, Brandon Waddles. Published: Oct. 10, 2021 at 7:05 PM PDT FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - Floyd County Sheriff's Office K9 "Drago" led deputies to their largest heroin bust to date. "And we'll look for every tool available the group violenceinterventions are one, these larger group prosecutions are one, but for us to bring those numbers down, we have to have a functioning, effective, supported police department," Coleman said. Kala Kachmar is an investigative reporter. OWENSBORO, Ky. Fifteen defendants involved in an Owensboro based Drug Trafficking Organization have been charged by a federal Grand Jury for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, among other charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. He said the FBI in the last year has beefed up its criminal enterprise efforts including bringing in new agents as part of its effort to tackle violent crime. Jose Prieto sought out someone with a strong business background to help him earn money to pay off the cartel. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Once they started the search, the officers and deputies found five loaded guns, plus an AR-15 stile rifle, nearly five pounds of heroin and about $31,000 cash, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said. In this case Metro Corrections and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office partnered to conduct a closer examination of the residence. ", Edward Gray, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's Louisville Field Office, said the arrests "should send a loud and clear message to violent criminals thatthe FBI Safe Streets Task Force will deploy its collective strength to ensure the safety andsecurity of our neighborhoods. Dec 6, 2007. They also sent associates to Louisville and put them up in hotels, where they waited for Wiley Greenhill or one of his associates to bring money to their hotel room, the DEA agent said. In January of 2020, Jeffersontown Police arrested Thomas after an undercover purchase of meth. The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Three of the suspects, Jones, Summers, and Reed, remain on the run. Police said the large drug bust was just one of. LOUISVILLE, Ky. As Louisville Metro Police Detective Darrell Hyche stepped toward a white pickup truck to make a traffic stop, a gunman fired bullets into his face and head. In California, DEA agents say Jose Prietoran up a significant gambling debt tied to the Sinaloa Cartel once led by legendarykingpin Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn. SYRACUSE, NEW YORK Jose Campusano, 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Utica, New York, pled guilty to selling cocaine and illegally reentering the United States. jQuery.post( "/wp-content/plugins/entity-closing-lite/post/list-front.php", { wcdAlphabet: "All", wcdPageSize: "10", wcdPagenumber:"1", wcdType:"", liteClosingAlert:"1" , wpbCheck:"3", chkClo:cl_wpb_key }) Press Release. Brandon A. Williamson, 29,walked up behind him, leaned over and pointed a gun at Stepp. Jose Prieto was 11 whenhis father hurried their family out of hishomeland and into the U.S. as refugees. Activists chants of trans rights rang out near, An eastern Kentucky man is facing a murder charge in the death of his girlfriends toddler. A lock ( Wathana Insixiengmay, 34, of Nampa, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for possessing, with the intent to distribute, 15 pounds of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Sign up for auto email alerts for crime around an address. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A gang of drug dealers accused of selling meth, fentanyl, and cocaine has been busted by FBI and Louisville Metro Police investigators. Yet, within three years, investigators crippled thedrug ring and sent the father and son and two dozen of their associates to federal prison. 50 face charges in drug bust. "And it's infuriating to talk to victims' families (because) there has not been that focus locally.". The gang "was identified as being one of Louisville's most violent," said Robert Brown, special agent in charge of the FBI Louisville Field Division. 0. Special Agents from FBI Knoxville and FBI Indianapolis also assisted in yesterdays operation. They believe it came from Colorado. var cl_wpb_key = "9e71ca787b"; "LMPD is grateful to have such strong federal partnerships and looks forward to further dismantling organized criminal activity," Shields added. The U.S. Updated: Feb. 14, 2023 at 10:59 PM EST | By WKYT News Staff. The Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing is now competing with Hershey's Canada after the candy company featured a trans woman on its chocolate bar honoring International Women's Day. Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain said, These indictments are the result of an ongoing investigation that initially identified (5) Co-conspirators in a major narcotics criminal enterprise operating in the Owensboro-Daviess County area. Upon conviction, the conspiracy charge carries a penalty of five to 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million and no less than four years of supervised release. Officers said the shooting was in retaliation over a game of dice from the night before. //jQuery("#message_alertIMG_1").html("No closings reported yet"); Collins. DEA commends the outstanding work by the United States Attorneys Office, Western District of Kentucky, the Daviess County Commonwealths Attorneys Office, and all the agencies who participated in this multi-jurisdictional investigation., These violent organizations use every means to push their drugs and criminal activities into communities both large and small, stated ATF Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division. CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. }); //WD-2023 All rights reserved. Someonefired 13 rounds athim inside a relative's house on Feb. 1, 2017, striking Willis nine times. The cartel routinely sent large shipments of meth across the border into California and from there, the Prietos coordinated the distribution across the country. The investigation is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Evansville Indiana Resident Office, Albuquerque District Office, Phoenix Field Division, Orange County District County Office, Oklahoma City, Flagstaff Resident Office, Paducah POD, Springfield, Missouri, and SOD); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bowling Green, Kentucky; HSI Oklahoma City; Owensboro Kentucky Police Department, Daviess County Sheriffs Office; Criminal Interdiction Team of Central Oklahoma; Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office; Oklahoma City Police Department; Arizona Highway Patrol; and the Daviess County Commonwealths Attorneys Office. Pair indicted for 20-pound meth bust. 717 West Broadway The officers arrested Andre Ross, 45, Cory Ross, 29, Robert Ross, 27, and Seiko Ross, 37, following the searches and charged each man with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. What community leaders say. Monday when they smelled the odor of marijuana. All rights reserved. A locked padlock Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Agents persuaded judges to let them monitor drug traffickers' phones and movements. LOUIS - A man from Texas and a woman from St. Louis were indicted Wednesday on drug conspiracy charges after multiple kilograms of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine were found during a traffic stop on Interstate 44 in St. Louis County. Kansas City Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy. My son shouldn't be dead. If convicted, the charge carries no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. While California legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2018, illegal grows of the crop have been on the rise in the state. Updated: 7:58 PM EDT March 14, 2022 LOUISVILLE, Ky. Police have seized a massive amount of drugs and cash that led to a Bardstown man's arrest over the weekend. Louisville narcotics detectives teamed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and soon zeroed in on drug trafficker Wiley Greenhill, who moved from Detroit to the Derby City to form adrug ring. Kent Brown. As an adult, Jose Prieto settled in the Californiatown of Apple Valley, known for its fruit orchards. The picture that developeddepicts how Cuban refugee Jose Manuel PrietoJr., 56, built a drug ring in California that stretched from the West Coast northeastto Buffalo, New York, and south to Atlanta before leading his son, a U.S. Air Forceveteran,on a path to prison. On March 26, one of the citations stated Thomas shot into a home with a semi-automatic rifle. Special agentsfrom the FBI's offices in Knoxville, Tennessee,and Indianapolis alsoassistedin the Louisvilleinvestigation, according to the release. 60 people were arrested in Kentucky after a United States Drug Enforcement Administration drug bust of more than 800 pounds of methamphetamine. Main Office: Kentucky Online Offender Lookup [v 3.4.0.1] Copyright 2023 - Kentucky Department of Corrections But the lead agent told The Courier Journal: "Were not fully convinced. Narcotics detectives soon stopped the truck near Derby and Carey avenues, seven miles northwest of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Two arrested in Pulaski Co. drug bust. Both pleaded guilty in Louisville last year to trafficking more than 50 grams of meth. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Violence is what makes a gang legitimate, and what theyre describing here, the narcotics, that funds the mission of violence, said LMPD Chief Erika Shields. Western District of Kentucky Her body was found July 5, 2018, on the floor of her casino hotel room with a gunshot to the head.
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