Nearly 200 people die every day from fentanyl poisoning. In the past week, a McKracken County grand jury indicted 23, and earlier this week a grand jury indicted several other people related to the case, said Laird. The investigation is continuing and additional charges and arrested are expected. The Paducah Police Department is asking for help locating those who have not yet been arrested. For law enforcement, the case began a few years ago with one key question: Who was behind an influx of meth into Louisville? . The following suspects were arrested on charges including: Austin Shepherd, 38, of Allen; trafficking in heroin, meth and fentanyl, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia. WAYNE COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - One Wayne County woman is facing a host of charges following a traffic stop. The investigation revealed Jose Luis Barata Vazquez, Alexey Barata Hernandez, Yoleisys Reyes Castillo, Dioslen Jimenez Ortiz, Kaid Rogers, Allison Renee Rogers, Michael King, Christopher King, Floyd Barker, Sheila Barger, and Samuel Barger were conspiring to distribute oxycodone. All rights reserved. LONDON, Ky. - An investigation into a Louisville-based drug trafficking operation led to 12 people being arrested.Officials from the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, the Barbourville Police Department, the Clay County Sheriff's Office, and the Manchester Police Department worked with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigators, resulting in Thursday's grand jury indictment . 14, 2023 at 9:38 AM PDT | Updated: moments ago. Several agencies including, the DEA Criminal Diversion Group, the Kentucky Attorney General's Office, Barbourville Police, and several other departments helped to arrest the following people: Jose Luis Barata Vazquez, Alexey Barata Hernandez, Yoleisys Reyes Castillo, Dioslen Jimenez Ortiz, Kaid Rogers, Allison Renee Rogers, Michael King, Christopher King, Floyd Barker, Sheila Barger, and Samuel Barger. With Goodman in jail,Laura Dawn Pack, 36,stepped in to pickup drug shipments for the organization. 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Narcotics detectives soon stopped the truck near Derby and Carey avenues, seven miles northwest of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Both pleaded guilty in Louisville last year to trafficking more than 50 grams of meth. According to the criminal complaints, between January 6, 2021, and January 11, 2021, Willie Watkins, age 30 of Owensboro, Kentucky coordinated the purchase of approximately 150 pounds of suspected methamphetamine with an unidentified male, located in the Los Angeles, California area, and counterfeit pills containing suspected fentanyl from a source in the Phoenix, Arizona area. The conspirators were said to be distributing oxycodone in Madison, Estill, Clay, and Laurel counties from September 2019 to March 2022. Announcing the charges on Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Justice Department officials laid the loss of hundreds of thousands of American lives from fentanyl squarely at the feet of the defendants. Both were untrue, police say. On top of arresting 12 people, the joint investigation seized approximately 10,000 diverted oxycodone pills and over $2 million. Just a real great accomplishment by these guys.. A second warrant was obtained to search the safe, uncovering 4.5 ounces of meth and an undisclosed amount of cash. Goodman pleaded guilty in 2019 in federal court to meth trafficking and is serving a 10-year sentence. First published on April 14, 2023 / 11:53 AM. Published: Apr. Louis Prieto had settled in Los Angeles, a two-hour drive southwest of his father in Apple Valley. (WFIE) - Officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration say they executed nine search warrants Wednesday morning. Anytime we can take this much methamphetamine, fentanyl and firearms off the streets it is huge! LSD, MDMA, and GHB are found in Kentucky. Several documents in the case of the Prietos and Greenhills remainsealed and some people linked to the case, including a veteran defense attorney and friends of a homicide victim, declined to be interviewed, citing the volatility of the drug ring. Stepp later told police the three had flown on one-way tickets to Phoenix to buy meth and possibly heroin to bring back to Louisville, according to an investigatory letter in Kentucky court records. Stepp also said she was scared of an unnamed drug dealer. Updated: May. Sheworried she now owed the drug-ring money after police intercepted the meth and money, according to court records. The cartel routinely sent large shipments of meth across the border into California and from there, the Prietos coordinated the distribution across the country. Jose Prieto was 11 whenhis father hurried their family out of hishomeland and into the U.S. as refugees. These arrests follow a drug investigation by Kentucky State Police that began 18 months ago. February 08, 2022 12:09 PM. The police chief broke down the events leading up to the arrests. The newsroom's investigation revealed the drug ring's links totheshooting of Detective Hyche,the killing of a 28-year-old mother and a 27-year-old man in Louisville, themurderof a man inDetroitand the mysterious death of a woman in a casino in Tunica, Mississippi. More suspected crimes linkedto the ring remain under investigation. Although individuals in Kentucky struggle with different types of drug abuse, there are many types that are among the most common. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. After learning of the stop, as monitored by law enforcement over judicially authorized intercepts over Willie Watkins telephone, Watkins made several calls to multiple individuals discussing the seizure of the narcotics by law enforcement and the calculated amount of money he had lost as a result. DEA agents led the three-year investigation anddubbed it "Operation Triple Crown," the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing, as they worked to track the pipeline's origins fromLouisville and Detroitback to the father-and-sonsuppliers in California. He also later worked in the private sectoras an accountant. Her body was found July 5, 2018, on the floor of her casino hotel room with a gunshot to the head. Task Force, authorities . Agents who monitored Jose Prieto's movements and phonesay Pack became entwined in a romantic relationship with him. A Philadelphia police car with flashing lights in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WLWT-TV. They also admitted tomoney laundering due to the evidence unearthed by the DEA andInternal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation. 20, 2021 at 9:32 PM PDT. LEXINGTON, Ky. ( WKYT /Gray News) - At least a dozen horses were killed in a barn fire in Lexington, Kentucky Friday morning. In Louisville, he became a silent partner for Good Wheels auto repair shop on SouthSeventhStreet, southwest of downtown. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The FBI wants the four Chinese nationals captured and is offering a $1 million reward, though taking them into custody to face charges in the U.S. will likely prove difficult. Soon the two were tossingdice together at casinos and sharing gourmet meals at upscale restaurants. Dalawang drug suspects, patay matapos mauwi sa shootout ang buy-bust ops sa Nueva Ecija; nasa P14-M halaga ng hinihinalang shabu, nasabat . The woman pleaded guilty to using fake documents and credit-card information from other employees to help cover the fraudulent purchases. Police stopped the car, and a drug-detecting dog sniffed out 40 pounds of meth. / CBS News. Police officials blamed the violent drug trade for a jarring spike inhomicides and an overdoserate that averagednearly a death a day. and last updated 8:11 PM, Jul 20, 2022. Johnnie Lee. I think that the criminal histories will let you know what kind of people are involved in the trafficking of fentanyl, he said. The DEA appreciates the exceptional work by all our partners who brought these individuals to justice., ATF is committed to protecting the public in Western Kentucky, said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow. The Bardstown Police Department seized over 100 pounds of marijuana and $50,000 during a search at a home in Bardstown late last week, according to police. Two men are facing charges in connection with a big drug bust in Kentucky. Its not just social media. Stay tuned; more to come., DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon said, Today was a big win for the fine citizens of Owensboro. Lexington murder suspect offered 2 alibis. Please enter valid email address to continue. Once manufactured, the investigators allege the cartel used a network of vehicles, tunnels, aircraft, and couriers to smuggle the fentanyl into the United States, despite knowing the drug would kill Americans. When they got out of prison, Greenhill flew to California to meet Jose Prieto. Police say Wesley Aaron Calhoun and Dennie A. Smith, both from Somerset, are facing charges of conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute. Investigators began to see proof of theDetroit link. The remaining seven are wanted for active indictment warrants. We are grateful to them. HAZARD, Ky. 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