WORMSCAN: LOCLAXN [PART 4]
Local action in the Drug War. Local = Monticello, Wayne County, Kentucky, USA.
NOTES: I made a few corrections to spellings but left the original document mainly untouched. All dates are in YYMMDD format. These files are only a portion of the entire LOCLAXN file. I had to break it up due to length. There are hundreds of pages in these files.
This is a continuation of the file named LOCLAXN.
WORMSCAN: LOCLAXN [PART 1]
930914, Adair Co, KY, WFLW. Anthony D Belcher (33) and Alex D Wethington (34) were arrested by State Police after ten pounds of [processed?] marijuana was found in their basement late Sunday.
930914, Wayne Co, KY, WFLW. The score for the GMTF in the week ending 13 Sep was: Tuesday, 9 plots with 869 plants; Wed, 16 plots with 369 plants; Thurs, 1 plot with 2710 plants found 12 miles south of Monticello.
930915, Climax, Rockcastle Co, KY, WSEK. Hunters tripped a booby-trap and reported anonymously to the Sheriff. Three plots with 87 plants were found. The booby-trap was described as a battery and blasting cap (no dynamite). A house across the road from the contraband was raided and James F Dewey (39) was arrested and 195 more marijuana plants were found in a greenhouse under lights.
930916, Letcher Co, KY, WFLW. Howard Ratliff, Jr. (49 or 59) of Kings Creek, Letcher Co, KY, was arrested while cutting more than 400 marijuana plants in a field behind his house. Officer Ratliff is a fifteen year veteran Forest Ranger. His uniform is being subjected to forensic analysis to determine if he wore it in his marijuana patch (apparently a greater crime).
930917, Louisville, Jefferson Co, KY, many. Jim Greene, former High Sheriff of Jefferson County, Kentucky, goes for a six month vacation at Maxwell AFB (AL?) for tax evasion. Also $128,000 fine. He seemed bitter about it, complaining that he had made a deal for no prison time. He declared that, "My debt to society will be completely paid after this six months." This contradicts the three year probation. All they could make stick to Al Capone was tax evasion, too.
930920, Lexington, KY, KEY-18. In the Bearded Seal trial, Reda Ghazallah (27 or 37) was found guilty of cocaine trafficking. Abu ShaNab was found innocent of same.
930920, Kansas, KET-18. Kansas has suffered a 80% drop in marijuana production due to the summer's flooding.
930922, Monticello, KY, WMKZ. Grady Pauls indicted by grand jury for 443 marijuana plants.
930923, Kentucky, WMKZ. There is some sort of scandal in the GMTF. I only got part of the story, and it was never repeated. It apparently relates to falsification of expenses, not diversion of confiscated property. Since GMTF is a federally funded operation, this is a major crime. This may be the story reported on 931104 of expense account padding.
931019, Kentucky, WSEK. In Operation Fall Harvest, Kentucky State Police net 880 criminals on a total of 1331 assorted drug charges. Of these, 882 charges are felonies, including 214 for the crime of dealing the wrong kind of drugs to the wrong kind of informant within a thousand yards (or is it feet?) of a school. Two from Wayne County were apprehended; Jerry Bell Poore and Tim Denney.
931019, Perry Co, KY, WSEK. In a FBI-KSP joint operation, 150 pounds of inferior grade Mexican pot was prevented from being admixed with the superior Kentucky product. Operations were in Perry, Leslie, and Letcher counties, KY. The cops were especially impressed by their haul of weapons.
931019, London, KY, WSEK. Former Lexington, KY, Police Officer Bill Canan's trial started on 12 Oct. Today he took the witness stand and swore that he had never engaged in the trafficking of cocaine!! More to come, I expect. See 850912, 930409, 930716. He was eventually convicted on the cocaine trafficking and witness intimidation charges & not guilty on the weapons charge.
931021, Kentucky, KNN. The State (GMTF) marijuana harvest as of the end of September (why does it take three weeks to add up the numbers??) is 633,000 plants (down some from last year) and 628 criminals (up a bunch). The value of the harvest was set at 2.7 billion dollars (Two thousand seven hundred million dollars). That's $4000 per plant! Top counties were Wayne and Leslie. Also 841 pounds of processed marijuana were confiscated and 63 indoor growing operations discovered. The incidence of booby traps and heavy weaponry is up.
931101, Monticello, KY, WMKZ. Donald Lee Hollars of Race Street was arrested for marijuana trafficking, possession of a schedule two substance (whatever that means), and possession of a firearm by a felon.
931104, Kentucky, KET-WAVE. Joseph Shawn Kelley and three other National Guard members of GMTF plead guilty to padding their expense accounts in last summer's War on Drugs.
931108, Evansville, IN, WKYU. A trial starts today at Vanderburgh Circuit Court for Richard Witlow (38), an Evansville, IN, narcotics agent. Witlow is charged with attempted bribery, attempted theft, and theft. Witlow solicited $100,000 to disappear evidence from Harris Roach, father of Tocio Roach, who was convicted of cocaine trafficking along with his wife. The FBI was present at the cash pickup. Witlow is also accused of stealing $6500, a semiautomatic pistol, and a gold bracelet while searching the home of Edward Cooper.
931110, Somerset, KY, WSEK. Somerset police arrested Darrell Haggard (38) for marijuana and cocaine possession at a routine traffic stop.
931110, Garrard Co, KY, WSEK. Kenton Caudill (34) and Hazel Padget (35) were arrested for selling 5 oz of cocaine for $8500 to an undercover narc. That's $61 per gram.
931112, Miami, FL, WMKZ-USA radio. A stash of cocaine was found in a Miami, FL, warehouse hidden in religious books. Four tons of coke was valued at 400M$; $100 per gram.
931113, Whitesburg, Letcher Co, KY, WKYU. Circuit Court Judge Larry Collins is sentenced to five years for taking a bribe to protect drug dealers. Also some other official has been implicated. See 921123, 921218, 930820, 930824.
931113, McCreary Co, KY, personal communication from Earl McGuire. Dick Young was arrested for loaded gun in car, 2 oz marijuana, and a pipe, on Rattlesnake Ridge, McCreary Co. He was hauled to Cookeville, TN.
931114, LA, & Corbin & Pineville, KY, WSEK. A van containing 146 pounds of Mexican marijuana was stopped in Louisiana. It took so long to turn the occupants that the van, confidential informants, marijuana, and a herd of Federal Agents was loaded aboard an Army C-130 and flown to Corbin, KY, to make the pickup connection. Three more criminals from Pineville were arrested at Corbin.
931114, Mt Vernon, KY, WSEK. A Grand Jury recommendation for an investigation into the murder of Gary Shepherd was rejected because the State Police are still investigating themselves. Shepherd's plantation was about 50 plants. He was shot in self defense by the SWAT team after less than one hour of negotiations. See 930809.
931124, Somerset, KY, WSEK. Brenda Jean Smith (26) of Dixie Bend and James Lee Stevens (37) of Mt Zion Road were arrested for possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, etc.
931201, Lexington, KY, KET. Six are sentenced in the Bearded Seal cocaine operation to from 17 months to 6 years.
931210, Louisville, KY, KET. In what is described as a major LSD raid, six are arrested in Louisville. LSD, marijuana, paraphernalia, and $10,000 is cash were taken.
931213, Morehead, KY, KNN, WSEK etc. Twelve students charged with assorted drug trafficking at Morehead State Univ. This was the result of a State Police Undercover Operation running since spring semester.
931216, Lexington, KY, WSEK. Lexington Police Officer Bill Canan has his convictions on cocaine trafficking, intimidation of witnesses, and carrying a false DEA badge upheld.
931217, Lexington, KY, KET. "Randy" Ghazallah, kingpin of the Bearded Seal cocaine ring, is sentenced to 30 years. Ten have been previously sentenced, and more indictments are promised for next year.
931217, Hardin Co, KY, KET. $293,000 in captured drug money is given to an assortment of agencies. The loot was the result of a "routine traffic stop" in Hardin County, KY.
931231, Nigeria, Paul Harvey. Heroin valued at over one billion dollars was seized in Nigeria. The source was Thailand. If it's over a billion dollars, Nigeria is "local".
940104, Lexington, KY, KET. Horrace Inman, 15 year veteran of the Lexington Police Force, is charged with felony possession of cocaine. The Police Department has no further comment.
940106, Lexington, KY, KET. Four men from Dayton, OH, were accosted with 2 oz crack cocaine, $2000 in cash, and a 38 pistol at a routine traffic stop on the interstate.
940128, Knox Co, KY, KNN. A marijuana greenhouse and three criminals were apprehended in Knox County, KY, yesterday. Jack Edward Sears, John Sears, & John(?) Smith were arrested.
940128, Static, Clinton Co, KY, WFLW, WSEK. A major amphetamine lab was found in the basement of a rural house along US127 one mile north of the Tennessee line. The Sheriff noticed a car in the yard of a supposedly abandoned house, and thought that perhaps he could catch a burglar. Two men claimed to be repairing floors and plumbing, but the floors did not look refurbished. Permission was extorted to search the premises, and laboratory equipment was found in the basement. Production was stated to be one pound per day at $1800 per ounce. A great show was made of how dangerous the chemicals are. An Ohio hazardous waste outfit will be paid an estimated $10,000 to remove these chemicals. Arrested were Karl W Powell (51) and Jerry Beatty (55) of Jamestown, TN. The property was owned by Mrs J H Cross of Albany, and leased to Charles Gross.
940129, Pulaski Co, KY, WKYM. Danny Paul Poore & Jerry[??] Poore were arrested yesterday in Pulaski Co for drug trafficking.
940204, Louisville, KY, KET. Valley High School Coach George Hudson and 16 others (mostly juveniles) were arrested at a crack house. 7K$ of cash and 2K$ to 4K$ in drugs were seized.
940216, Monticello, KY, WFLW. Scott Hurt, marijuana possession & paraphernalia.
940217, Albany, KY, KET. In what is called the biggest underground marijuana growing operation in Kentucky history, a growing operation was busted in Clinton county, 4 miles west of Albany. Two workers were caught in the raid. The land owner was Paul Avery. A criminal conspiracy is evident, because of the size of the operation. The TV shots showed a house with a walkin cellar of about 20 x 30 feet. Maybe 200 plants two inches tall in pots, and maybe 10 lights on growing plants. One plant in the foreground looked three feet tall with mature buds about two inches in diameter.
940218, Albany, KY, KNN & WFLW. The arrestees are Ricky Lee Daniels (31) & David Gene Tapley (30). The volume was one thousand plants and 30 pounds of processed product, a "multi-million dollar operation". The operation was conducted in two underground greenhouses, entered thru a 60 foot tunnel from an unobtrusive tool shed on a 150 acre farm with two lavish houses. Power was a generator "the size of a car". Police have been investigating for two or three years. Later info stated that the growing room was constructed from an Olympic size swimming pool with a wall down the middle and covered over. The police were alerted by complaints from the neighbors of late night helicopter landings. The entrances were spotted by IR helicopter.
940218, Lee County, KY, KNN. Lee County, KY, Sheriff Brandenburg passes a lie detector test, proving that he was not responsible for the disappearance of 1650 marijuana plants worth $100,000 [must be real little plants] from evidence. This merited attention because his predecessor was Sheriff Mann, presently serving time for extortion and cocaine trafficking.
940221, Murl, Wayne Co, KY, WSFC. Joey Frost was arrested at his home with 6 pounds of marijuana Friday.
940222, Beattyville, Lee Co, KY, WKYU, WSEK. Lee County Sheriff Douglas Brandenburg was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury last Friday on charges of conspiracy to distribute hundreds of pounds of Mexican and domestic marijuana. Their market was southeastern and eastern United States. 25 others were also arrested, though no names were given. As of 22 Feb, Sheriff Brandenburg was being held without bond. The Federal investigation has been ongoing since Sheriff Mann was caught. See 940404, 960608.
940223, Beattyville, Lee Co, KY, WSEK. Sheriff Brandenburg is released on $25,000 bail on drug conspiracy charges. Strangely, the charges are now cocaine trafficking.
940225, Nicholasville, KY, KNN. A mass arrest of drug buyers from the police in Jessamine County netted 40 criminals, of which 10 were juveniles.
940312, Tateville, KY, WSEK. Berl Martin Smith and Emma ? (both 26) were arrested in a marijuana raid in Tateville, Pulaski County, KY. The normal charges of possession, cultivation, paraphernalia.
940312, Hazard, KY, WSEK. Kentucky State Police Narcotic Officer Mark Lopez is indicted on five charges of forgery. What he forged was another officer's signature on reports on how he used money which was supposed to be used for undercover drug buys. He was also reprimanded for taking home ("I didn't steal it! Honest!!") vehicles seized in drug raids.
940315, Kentucky, WSEK. The USDEA reports that in 93 Kentucky lead the nation in the number of marijuana growing arrests with over 1900. Kentucky was second in number of plants seized with 645,232. Hawaii had 779,000. The Kentucky harvest was 923,000 in 92, including the monster plantation in Mercer County. Wayne County lead the state with 71,800. Leslie, Clay, Perry, and Clinton followed.
940317, Wayne County, KY, WFLW. Danny Paul Poore is indicted on a mixed bag of about 8 marijuana and drug trafficking charges, plus arson. Also Roger Ramsey, Dishman, and Gerald Singer for drug trafficking.
940318, Middlesboro, KY, KNN, WKYU, WSEK. Two Middlesboro, KY, city police and another former policeman are among eight charged with drug trafficking. This is the result of a FBI sting called "Operation Broken Shield". The investigation started October 92. Steeley Arlis Barnett and Garrett Russell are the greedy cops. Their business included OH, PA, and TN as well as Kentucky. 940401, WSEK. The FBI had wiretapped the home phone of Officer Barnett.
940330, Lexington, KY, WSEK. Five persons were convicted of crack cocaine dealing in Lexington. Serita Brookes was the leader of the "First Family". This was a mid level importing operation, from [New York?].
940331, Lexington, KY, KET. Seven are arrested in Lexington, KY, for marijuana trafficking. This was the result of a two to several month operation by DEA and Lexington police. Imports were from Phoenix in 100 pound lots, every 6 to 10 days. The TV shot looked like pound sausage rolls. The criminals were from Lexington, Arizona, & Texas. Besides the 100 pounds of marijuana, police took guns, $25,000 in cash and two vehicles. First is Charles Chaney (30).
940402, Knox Co, KY, WSEK. Yesterday, The Judge ruled: The greenhouse equipment used by the Sears gang to grow marijuana has been donated to a school for educational purposes. The criminals were identified as Jack Sears, Keith Sears, and ?.
940404, Madison Co, KY, KET. Twice convicted murderer and sometimes FBI Confidential Informant Robert Foley (37) [still 37?] is on trial (moved to Madison Co) for the murder of four more persons in 89. [So that's before the Vaughn murders, & while he was working for the FBI?] Three bodies from Van Wert, Ohio, Kimberley Bowersocks (20), Lillian Cantini (26), and Jerry McMillan (36) and one from Laurel Co, KY, Calvin Reynolds (22) were found in the septic tank on a burnt-out farm near Baldrock in western Laurel County, KY. On September of 93, Foley was convicted of murder for disposing of two other persons who had become inconvenient to his operations. He was also earlier convicted in a single murder. See 911029
940404, Beattyville, Lee Co, KY, KET. Irvine Shouse (32), a prospective witness to the theft of pot from the Lee Co jail has unexpectedly become dead. No other reason for his demise was apparent. Sheriff Brandenburg is out on bond on charges of conspiracy to traffic in drugs. See 940222.
940408, Madison Co, KY, KET. FBI Confidential Informant Robert Foley refuses to take to the witness stand in his own defense. He is convicted on all counts of murder after 2.5 hours deliberation.
940411, Mt Vernon, KY, KNN. It has been determined by a county jury that Gary Shepherd forced the confrontation with GMTF, justifying his execution. But see a letter from his family's attorney in WORMSCAN.& Date: Thu Dec 01, 1994 9:07 am CST
940415, Lexington, KY, KNN. Terry York (29) was found with 60 marijuana plants growing in his basement as a result of a confidential tip.
940425, Owensboro, KY, WKYU. After a five month investigation, Bee's Classic Motorcycle Shop on Highway 60 E, Owensboro, KY, was raided by 10 assorted cops last Saturday. $3million (5 to 6 pounds) in methamphetamine, $12,000 is cash, 17 guns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, a police scanner, and drug paraphernalia were seized. Arrested were Bert Bloomer (42) of Macio, Harold Feldman (64) of Owensboro, and Theresa Lawrence (25) of Owensboro. The source of this dangerous drug was thought to be out of state.
940425, Morganfield, Union Co, KY, KNN. Two men from Washington and Taylor counties, KY, were arrested at the Morganfield airport Friday with a load of marijuana. James Bell Rich (40) of Springfield and ? were arrested after selling more than thirty pounds of processed marijuana to an undercover cop at the airport. Rich is the pilot who had to be rescued after he ditched in the Gulf near St Petersburg, FL, last year after passing out in Kentucky and flying on autopilot until he ran out of gas.
940429, Barbourville, Knox Co, KY, KNN. Senator Tom O'Dell Smith's conviction is upheld for solicitation of a $10,000 bribe for his efforts to reduce the sentence of a drug dealer. Senator Smith offered his services to the wife of the unfortunate citizen.
940504, Simpson Co, KY, KNN. Yet another drug sweep of 17 criminals.
940504, Beattyville, Lee Co, KY, KNN. Beattyville, KY, Chief of Police Townsend is suspended following the strange death of drug dealer in Lexington who had implied involvement with the disappearance of marijuana from evidence.
940504, Louisville, KY, KNN. There is an investigation of police drug tactics as a result of the attack on a black police officer mistaken for a drug dealer a couple weeks ago.
940505, Lexington, KY, KET. Big drug raid with National Guard helicopters on Hollow Creek Road nets six crack dealers.
940505, Leslie Co, KY, KET. Deputy Sheriff Lyn Doyle Parr and Roger Wells were sentenced for protecting marijuana dealers.
940506, Middlesboro, KY, KET. Middlesboro Policeman Garrett Lee Russell was given a postponement of his trial for running a multi-state marijuana trafficking ring.
940521, Laurel Co, KY, KNN. Gilbert & Juanita Cauldwell (39) were arrested yesterday with 20 bags of marijuana & some alcohol.
940524, Atlanta, GA, Paul Harvey. A Nigerian gang has been importing heroin into Atlanta GA. $33 million. # arrested.
940601, Middlesboro, KY, KNN. Middlesboro Police Officer James Patterson pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking. Sentencing is scheduled for August. Note that as of 941104 he was still running loose and still doing coke.
940603, Lexington, KY, KET. Seven people, including James Lee Sanford and Robert Sanford, were arrested on cocaine and marijuana charges. Included in the booty was $40,000 and two cars.
940604, Louisville, KY, KNN. FBI Agent Withers is accused of heroin trafficking. He reputedly stole 100 pounds of heroin from the evidence room and sold it to dealers who were under FBI surveillance. Solicitations were by telephone and mail, and payment was to various Post Office boxes. Much of the evidence was found in a relative's home in Louisville, KY.
940603, Somerset, Pulaski Co, KY, WSEK. A criminal was arrested 8 miles south of Somerset by the Pulaski County Sheriff on a home search warrant. Assorted drug charges against James? Woolsley. Prescription drug not in original container, paraphernalia, drug trafficking, marijuana.
940610, Beattyville, Lee County, KY, KET? Sheriff Brandenburg is real careful when he busts 123 marijuana plants. He is under indictment for trafficking in marijuana confiscated last year.
940613, Sunnybrook, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. 175 marijuana plants were discovered by Deputy Sheriff Hale last Saturday in Sunnybrook. No arrests.
940614, Hazard, KY, WKYU, KNN. A internal investigation hearing in Frankfort was indefinitely postponed for another of Kentucky's Finest yesterday. Hazard Post Kentucky State Police Officer Mark Lopez (28) is accused of stealing $2000 [not clear if of or in addition to] marijuana from evidence and threatening to kill an informant. WSEK says that an informant got $450, but Officer Lopez claimed $2475 in his report. No mention of how much marijuana he scored.
940614, Nicholas County, KY, WMKZ. A drug sweep in Nicholas County, KY, collects eight drug dealers, including two females.
940614, Somerset, KY, WSEK. Somerset Police get $5850 in booty from the sale of the property of drug criminal Robert M Little.
940621, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. The GMTF take in Wayne County last week was 8 plots with 4382 plants.
940621, Wayne Co, KY, WFLW. Wayne County now leads the United States in number of marijuana plants per area! The London Kentucky State Police in the week ending 20 Jun harvested over 3000 plants in 43 plots. The biggest haul was 1000 in Burnett Hollow. Other locations were in Monticello, along Rts 90, 92, 674. Half the harvest was reported to be males.
940621, Louisville, KY, KET\WHAS. Louisville Police Officer George Bell is busted for cocaine possession.
940623, Danville, KY, KET\36. Tami (sp?) convicted for the second time for killing two men in his marijuana patch.
940628, Somerset, Pulaski Co, KY, WSEK. After an investigation of one month by Sheriff, Ferguson police, and probation & parole, Michael E South (27) of Lakeview Drive was arrested for felony marijuana cultivation.
940628, Beattyville, KY, Kentucky Tonight, KET. Beattyville Police Chief Townsend is finally fired after being on suspension with pay since May. The fate of the 16,000 marijuana plants which were disappeared under his care is still unknown.
940629, Wayne Co, KY, Earl McGuire repeating radio news. Marijuana take is 4996 plants in 4 plots and 2600 plants in 2 plots. He reported lots of helicopter activity further down old Rt 92. Three helicopters with spotters dangling on cables this morning. Two nets of marijuana captured.
940701, Pulaski Co, WSEK. $195,000 has been given for another year of the local Drug Task Farce. 75% federal money, 25% from local taxpayers. This pays for a director, a secretary, and two undercover narcs.
940705, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. In the week ending 04 July, Kentucky State Police harvested 12851 marijuana plants in 89 plots in the Beaver Creek, Powersburg & Sunnybrook areas of Wayne County.
940707, Louisville, Jefferson County, KY, WKYU. A NCIC All Points Bulletin is out for Special Deputy Badges issued by Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Green. Sheriff Green is presently serving time for tax evasion (he didn't report the money he extorted from his deputies).
940709, Wayne Co, KY, WFLW. The Sheriff reported harvesting 125 marijuana plants in the Sunnybrook & Powersburg area yesterday.
940712, Wayne Co, KY, WFLW. The week's State Police marijuana take was 13327 plants in 124 plots. On Thursday alone, 9433 were harvested in southern and southwestern parts of Wayne County.
940712, Eastern Kentucky, WKYU, WMKZ. An unnamed Eastern Kentucky man (25) pleaded guilty to selling marijuana within 1000 yards of a school in the Mexican dilution connection. He was sentenced to 8 months in jail. The real target is Lee County Sheriff Douglas Brandenburg.
940715, Berea, KY, WKYM. In what is called the biggest marijuana crop (in what area?), 262 plants were found in 2 plots near I-75. The plants were about three feet tall and were valued at $314,400. I presume that is for the whole haul, not each plant. If so, that's still $1200 per plant!
940715, Frankfort, KY, KNN. Another roundup of 60 drug criminals on 109 charges in Frankfort, KY. Mostly crack and marijuana users.
940715, Wayne Co, KY, WFLW. The State Police marijuana harvest for Wayne County this year is 50197, and the state total 107902. The Wayne County harvest is valued at $100,081,500. This is about $1994 per plant. The news announcer had trouble with these big numbers and it doesn't come out even, so there is probably an error.
940720, Wayne Co, KY, WKYM, WMKZ. The State Police Govner's Marywanna Task Farce got 5177 plants in 39 plots in the week ending 18 July. Most came from the southern part of the county, around Rt 200. The total for the London Post was 20233 plants in 363 plots. And today, the Sheriff's Department got 202 plants; 156 in Oil Valley and 46 in Shaw Valley.
940727, Lexington & Beattyville, KY, WSEK. Deceased drug dealer Irvine Shouse (32) died 03 Apr 94 of acute cocaine and dilaudid (sp?) (a strong cancer painkiller) poisoning. No fowl [sick] play is suspected! Shouse claimed that Beattyville Police Chief Townsend tried to sell him part of the 1600 marijuana plants which were disappeared from evidence and mysteriously reappeared in his car trunk, but didn't live long enough to tell that to a jury.
940727, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. Zeke Jones of Slavens was arrested yesterday for marijuana cultivation, marijuana possession, and paraphernalia possession by the Wayne Co Sheriff.
940800?, Irvine, Estill County, KY, KNN. 4600 marijuana plants were spotted by chopper west of Irvine in Estill County.
940800?, Wayne County, KY,. Dewayne Hicks indicted by Grand Jury for marijuana cultivation.
940800?, Wells, Pulaski County, KY,. Ellis Davis of Wells, western Pulaski County, KY, arrested for marijuana cultivation, etc, etc, after a month's investigation.
940802, Daniel Boone National Forest, KY, WKYU. The take for three weeks of harvest activity by the Governor's Marijuana Task Farce is 92,000 plants in 1500 plots. It was noted that the plots are becoming smaller.
940804, Middlesboro, KY, KNN. Former Middlesboro Police Chief Steeley Barnett and sidekick Gerald Pratt, superintendent of the streets department now want to plead guilty to federal drug trafficking charges.
940805, Jefferson Co, Louisville, KY, KNN. The Grand Jury is ready to indict 50 jailors and employees of the Jefferson KY County jail on charges of drug smuggling within the jail.
940806, Covington, KY, KNN. State Police have arrested another 30 drug dealers in Covington. Mostly crack cocaine.
940822, Albany, KY, WFLW. Federal Grand Jury indictments have been handed down for six criminals the case of the Olympic swimming pool pot factory. The raid last February got 1276 plants and 70 pounds of processed marijuana (up from the 1000 plants and 30 pounds gathered then). The operation was detected by infrared. Criminals are: John Avery (55) charged with eight counts of assorted conspiracy and laundry of $62,000; Michelle Avery Daniels (32) his daughter; Ricky Lee Daniels (31) her husband; Sherry Avery Daniels (33) another daughter; and David Stonecipher, a good ole boy.
940823, Wayne Co, KY, WFLW. The Sheriff's Dept harvested 204
marijuana plants in Mt Pisgah and Jabez last Friday.
940825, Lexington, KY, KET. Police made a raid on what was described as a big drug ring on Oxford Circle, Lexington. Only a minor amount of drugs were found, but it had to be a big drug ring because they got $30,000 in cash for their efforts.
940826, Casey Co, KY, WSEK. A state police drug sweep got 13 criminals in Casey County and one in Russell County on mostly cocaine and within 1000 yards of a school charges.
940826, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. The Sheriff harvested 18 marijuana plants near Flats Springs yesterday.
940827, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. The Sheriff harvested 331 marijuana plants yesterday in Slickford and Slat.
940903, Breathitt Co, KY, WKYU, KNN, WSEK. Three men were killed by explosive device booby-traps in a marijuana patch on remote coal company land near Evanston in eastern Breathitt County, Kentucky. There were 55 plants in 4 plots. The victims were Luke & Lloyd Miller of Waldo, Magoffin County, and Luther van der Pool, of Martin in Floyd County.
940906, Pikeville, KY, WKYU. The trial of Lee County, KY, Sheriff Douglas Brandenburg is scheduled to start today in Pikeville. Sheriff Brandenburg is accused of importing cheap Mexican marijuana to adulterate his higher quality domestic product.
940906, Pikeville, KY, KET. George Nobel, Jr., of Breathitt County pleads guilty in the Mexican adulteration operation. He is the fourth of seven to plead guilty. He got seven years. Sheriff Brandenburg still maintains his innocence.
940907, Pikeville, KY, KNN. Lee County Sheriff Douglas Brandenburg is said to have taken payments of "thousands of dollars per month" to protect the drug operations in his county, starting shortly after he was elected and ending in June 94 as his operation was taken down by federal action.
940908, Eastern Kentucky, KNN. Yet another drug sweep nets 32 "A-level dealers" in Knox, Whitley, and Laurel counties. An "A-Level dealer" is defined as on who supplies a street-level dealer. KET. This is a continuation of an investigation which in February got $21,000 in cash along with the criminals.
940909, Pikeville, KY, WKYU. Three more co-defendants plead guilty in the Lee County Sheriff Douglas Brandenburg marijuana adulteration trial.
940909, Breathitt Co, KY, KNN. The marijuana booby traps each contained ammonium nitrate equivalent to 2 to 4 sticks of dynamite. Ignition was by a battery & spark. Police still claim not to know why the victims were in the marijuana patches! Anybody wanna make a guess?
940909, Pikeville, KY, KNN. Lee County Sheriff Douglas Brandenburg is given a mistrial. The reason given is that his co-conspirators have all plead guilty, and it looks bad for him.
940912, London, KY, KNN, WSEK. The drug trial of Middlesboro Officer Garrett Lee Russell starts today. He is accused of three counts of dealing in cocaine, marijuana, and pain killers, 1 count of possession, 2 of use of a firearm in the commission of drug dealing. He was arrested in March in "Operation Broken Shield", after a 20 month investigation. He is accused of also being a USER, using, dealing and letting his customers use in his cruiser. All of his co-conspirators have pleaded guilty , but this apparently is not sufficient for a mere city cop to be given a mistrial.
940912, Bardstown, Nelson Co, KY, KET\WHAS. State Police seized 250 pounds of Mexican marijuana in a vacant house in Bardstown, Kentucky. It was in five bales which looked a bit over a foot cubed. This inferior furrin pot was valued at $1/2 million, or $2000 per pound.
940912, Louisville, KY, KET(WHAS). The Jefferson County Grand Jury is investigating drug smuggling in the Jefferson County Jail. Thirty indictments are expected. Five jailer officers have already resigned.
940914, London, KY, WKYU. Middlesboro City Police Officer Garrett Lee Russell claims on the witness stand that the FBI Special Informant who busted him is the same [ ] who addicted him to cocaine.
940914, Wayne Co, KY, WKYM. Bob Sharp of Shaw Valley was arrested by the Sheriff on marijuana trafficking charges in a raid on Tuesday.
940916, London, KY, WSEK. Middlesboro City Police Officer Garrett Lee Russell claims that FBI Informant Benny Meyers gave him free cocaine, and then demanded that Officer Russell supply him with other drugs. He carried a firearm during these drug transactions because it was part of his uniform.
940916, London, KY, WKYM. Middlesboro Kentucky City Police Officer Garrett Lee Russell is convicted of drug dealing charges, but not of the use of a firearm in the commission of a drug crime charges.
940922, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. The take for Wayne County, Kentucky, by the Governor's Marijuana Task Farce so far in 1994 is 68,489 plants.
940922, Louisville, KY, KNN. 16 persons have been indicted for drug smuggling (including cigarettes) at the Jefferson County jail. 8 of these are staff, the rest, inmates.
940923, Perry Co, KY, WSEK. State Trooper Tony Watts was snake bit in Perry County while cutting down marijuana. In addition to the copperhead, 89 plants, a 4-wheeler and two criminals were taken.
940927, Wayne Co, KY, WMKZ. One hundred pounds of processed marijuana was found by the Sheriff in an abandoned house in Sumpter. 320 plants were seized in Cooper and Griffin.
940930, Cave-In-Rock, IL, WSEK (ABC?). Kentucky & Illinois authorities have found $ 1/4 million in marijuana on an island in the middle of the Ohio River at Cave-In-Rock, IL. That's Tolu, Crittenden Co, KY.
940930, New Haven, LaRue Co, KY, KET\WAVE. A fortified barn on the property of J E Fisher near New Haven, KY, contained three elaborate marijuana grow rooms. Over 100 plants worth $150,000 to $175,000 were found by an assortment of cops. They were very coy about how they were informed of this indoor plantation.
941004, Beattyville, Lee Co, KY, KNN. Beattyville, KY, Police Chief Townsend is suing someone for $700,000 over the accusation of his involvement in the disappearance of marijuana from a Lee County, KY, jail cell.
941007, Lexington, KY, KET. Big drug raid with 50 cops on crack house at 408 E Second St nets 12 criminals. This resulted from a tip from an anonymous informant.
941014, Shively, Jefferson Co, KY, KNN. In what is claimed to be the biggest (indoor?) marijuana operation in Jefferson County (Louisville) KY, in five years, a 500 (900?) plant operation was found in Roscoe Driskell's cold and dry storage. This was a sophisticated operation with timer controlled lights and water, and the 500 plants in various stages of growth. These 500 plants were purported to be worth one million dollars. The site was reported by an anonymous informant, and was under observation for three months.
941014, Louisville, KY, KNN. At the Standiford Field airport, Louisville, 17 pounds of methamphetamine were seized from David McKennon and Shannon Kelley of Fresno, CA. This is touted as a big bust.
941019, Monticello, KY, WFLW. Grand Jury indictments are: Bob Sharp, marijuana cultivation 0.5