if (count_closing <= 0) { The bust is part of an ongoing investigation with the DEA. Though it worked for awhile, eventually WileyGreenhillstarted to run up a tab with the Prietos, according tocourt records. Updated: Jun. Jeremy Poiles has not yet been apprehended at this time and is a wanted fugitive. Kansas City Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Heroin, Cocaine Conspiracy. Narcotics detectives soon stopped the truck near Derby and Carey avenues, seven miles northwest of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. if (count_closing <= 0) { James Antonio Smith, 37, 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. In a Facebook post,. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Press Release. 2023 www.courier-journal.com. Bowling Green: (270) 781-4438 Brandon A. Williamson, 29,walked up behind him, leaned over and pointed a gun at Stepp. On March 26, one of the citations stated Thomas shot into a home with a semi-automatic rifle. } Both pleaded guilty in Louisville last year to trafficking more than 50 grams of meth. I take her to the store. Ryan Thruston, 33, 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. Main Office: Civil Action 3:20-CV-00809-GNS-CHL. February 28, 2023. studies CLAY COUNTY, Fla. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said Thursday 44 people are behind bars following a massive drug bust. Amber Lynn Stepp, 28, and a maleacquaintance drove to a Louisville home on a sunny day May 9, 2016as men tended the grill during a birthday celebration. He was "fronting" drugs loaning sometraffickers drugsbefore they paid for them. 8, 2021 at 9:32 PM PDT (KKTV) - A massive investigation resulted in 800 arrests, the seizures of more than eight tons of cocaine; 22 tons of marijuana; and 2 tons of. 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. All Rights Reserved. LOUISVILLE, KY. A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky returned an Indictment charging Andre Ross, Robert Ross, Cory Ross, and Seiko Ross, all of Louisville, with violations of federal drug and firearms laws. As a result of those search warrants, law enforcement seized additional methamphetamine, counterfeit pills containing suspected fentanyl, marijuana, firearms, and over $325,000 in cash. WAVE Weather Now Syncbak Channel Embed for PBE Page, LG&E gives power outage update for Fridays severe weather, Gov. Her friends saw her as a doting mother of a young son who loved to dance and act goofy. Muskegon police told reporters the number of gunshots indicatedsomeone wanted to senda message. Five days later, Hall was arrested in Vinita, Oklahoma,after police found 15 pounds of methin his rental car, according to a criminal complaint filed against him in federal court. Explore more on Drug Bust. Soon the two were tossingdice together at casinos and sharing gourmet meals at upscale restaurants. He workedfor the state of California, auditing local municipalities participating in state government welfare programs. But this is how we're living.". Thomas was charged with four counts of wanton endangerment. 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. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe. 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. That's when his estranged father came knocking. Louisville police seized a stash of fentanyl large enough to kill over 4 million people. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Aryan Khan Denied Bail By . The Indictment also alleges the possession of firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking. The men from Detroit established trust and Jose Prieto soonsent them50-pound shipments of meth from California to Kentucky. Louisville, KY 40202, Louisville: (502) 582-5911 According to the Indictment Andre Ross, age 45, Cory Ross, age 29, Robert Ross, age 27, and Seiko Ross, age 37, are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, also known as crack. Andre Ross, Cory Ross, Robert Ross, and Seiko Ross are also individually charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. For law enforcement, the case began a few years ago with one key question: Who was behind an influx of meth into Louisville? Two arrested in Pulaski Co. drug bust. Rattled residentsand many officers didnt know at the time of the Feb.1, 2018, shootout in Buechel, Kentucky, that the men inside the pickup were connected to a much largerdrug trafficking organization one that lured violent gangs from Detroit and ordered millions of dollars of methamphetamine fromMexicos infamous Sinaloa Cartel. 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. One way or another, were going to get a handle on gang activity in LMPD, said Shields. He established his own pipeline from Kentucky to California, bypassing his older brother. NELSON COUNTY, Ky. Police in Nelson County are investigating what they called an attempted murder-suicide. "His goal was to try and find what we call the plug, the source of supply that gets you power and control," the lead investigator told The Courier Journal. You have permission to edit this article. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. ', Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Bill Maher says COVID 'dissenters' are 'looking pretty good' following lab leak theory developments, 2022 Grayson County General Election Results. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. He later claimed the cartel torched his marijuana field as a warning and to stop him from making fast money to pay his debt. jQuery("#aws_ec_insertEC_alertIMG_0").show(); Police eventually tracked downWilliamson, who is serving a 10-year sentence in a Kentucky prison for second-degree manslaughter. Witnesses watched Williamsonshoot Stepp in the arm, then walkcloser andfire a bullet into her face. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force includesinvestigators from LMPD, Nelson County Sheriffs Office, Bullitt County Sheriffs Office and FBI Louisville. 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. GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was heckled by supporters of former President Donald Trump after delivering her speech at CPAC on Friday. ", Business: GE Appliances partners with major cloud company to focus on data capabilities, LMPD Chief Erika Shields said the "culmination of this joint, targeted investigation has resulted in some of the most violent offenders being taken off the citys streets.". Its the group WAVE 3 News uncovered that paid the bond for Kevon Lawless, he man suspected of killing Randolph and Waddles. Its 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. If convicted, the charge carries no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. And the money rolled in. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Greenhill associates later told investigators they relocated because they heard Louisville was "chill,"meaning the drug trade was less competitive so they could establish a foothold,said Shawn Morrow, special agent in charge of the ATF's Louisville Field Division. Sheworried she now owed the drug-ring money after police intercepted the meth and money, according to court records. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Dyke is prosecuting the case. Tracy Dotson, spokesperson with Louisville Metro Corrections Lodge 77, said the FOP is proud of the officers but took issue with the insinuation Metro Corrections officers arent law enforcement. 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. Wiley Greenhill or his designee would leave with the drugs. 717 West Broadway 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. But federal prosecutors contended during a bond hearing that he mainly used his auto business to hide his real income from selling drugs. Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl rose 55.6% in 2021. Darrion Lamont Moody, 35, of Evansville, Indiana has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Dec 6, 2007. According to the criminal complaints, between January 6, 2021, and January 11, 2021, Watkins coordinated the purchase of approximately 150 pounds of methamphetamine with an unidentified male, located in Los Angeles, California, and counterfeit pills containing suspected fentanyl from a source in Phoenix, Arizona. "LMPD is grateful to have such strong federal partnerships and looks forward to further dismantling organized criminal activity," Shields added. var myObj_closing = JSON.parse(data); var count_closing = myObj_closing.count; In addition, court records show Andre, Robert and Seiko Ross wereindividually charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. .done(function( data ) { Agents wouldn't give names of suspects or reveal the states involved. 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 U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday. His partnerfired back, killing the gunman and anotherpassenger. I take her to work. By Region 8 Newsdesk. WAVE Troubleshooters uncovered the gang is connected to famous Louisville rapper EST Gee. The search and seizure yielded a significant result for Metro Corrections, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, and the community. Staff Photo by Morris Stephenson: Sheriff W.Q. Bench exodus: Louisville judge known for his bowties and odd humor to retire. The original story from Aug. 19, 2021, is below. A trusted shipper would then deliver the drugs and the Prietoassociate would leave the hotel with the drug payment. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. The operation was a yearlong effort between local and federal law enforcement agencies members from which are part of a gang force that for the last year has shifted its focus to target groups that perpetuate violence in the city. We are grateful to the many agencies that worked cohesively with our Street Crimes Unit to investigate this Drug Trafficking Organization and successfully secure indictments for those involved. Investigators say they're members or associates of the "local drug trafficking organization and street gang"called "Everybody Shines Together.". Furthermore, Coleman said on January 11, 2021, the DEA and local law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by another suspected member of the Watkins drug trafficking organization in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the vehicle traveled from Arizona to Kentucky. He was given a $20,000 bond and placed on HIP. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. Additionally, according to the criminal complaints, on January 13, 2021, federal and local law enforcement executed multiple search warrants at locations associated with the Watkins drug trafficking organization in Owensboro. 24, 2021 at 4:49 PM PDT ALLEN CO., Ky. (WBKO) - On Tuesday, the Barren River Drug Task Force, the Allen Co. Sheriff's Dept., and the Scottsville Police Dept. The sheriffs office said there are possible pending federal charges as well. "Make sure you're on the right team.". Al-Jebori pleaded guilty in 2018 to distributing meth and is serving a sentence of sevenyears and eight months in federal prison, court records show. var myObj_closing = JSON.parse(data); var count_closing = myObj_closing.count; MORRIS STEPHENSON Staff Writer. The men had prior felony convictions fordrug and firearm-related offensesin Jefferson County and in Mississippi, according to the indictment. The following people are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, including meth, fentanyl, cocaine and heroin: Some of the individuals are also facing other gun and drug charges. Press Release. ROY STUCKER; and COURTNEY BROWN POTTER, on behalf of herself and her minor child, S.W. Beshear declares state of emergency; 3 dead due to severe storms, Man killed in Blankenbaker Lane crash identified by officials, Louisville mayor declares state of emergency due to severe weather. At that time, DEA agents estimate that amount was worth about $150,000 on the West Coast, but could yield as much as $500,000 in Louisville. We dont want to take off one or two individuals at a time, we want to make a bigger impact by taking off the whole group, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Jones said. Reporter Beth Warren: bwarren@courier-journal.com; 502-582-7164; Twitter @BethWarrenCJ. Several people were inside of the home at the time and the shooting was caught on video. Official websites use .gov A locked padlock Partygoers scrambled in another direction toward an alley. Louis Prieto had settled in Los Angeles, a two-hour drive southwest of his father in Apple Valley. Police officials blamed the violent drug trade for a jarring spike inhomicides and an overdoserate that averagednearly a death a day. 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. Additionally, Mr. Cason is charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking for events occurring on or about January 13, 2021. Stone, 42, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel to two counts of SYRACUSE, NEW YORK Omar Fuentes, 26, of Syracuse, New York, was sentenced yesterday to a total of 121 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy involving the distribution of heroin and cocaine, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that conspiracy. If convicted, the charge carries no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, spent weeks interviewing agents, prosecutors, defense attorneys and local police and siftingthrough court, police and jail records in four statesto piece together details of thecriminal enterprise and thedestructive swath it cut across the U.S. culminating in arson, a toxic romance,betrayal and deadly revenge. He was charged with trafficking, tampering with physical evidence, fleeing or evading police, and criminal trespass. Seven months later, a drug ring associate wasaccused of killing a man in Louisville. Nache Moore, 31, 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. "We hear gunshots all the time," Krista Gwynnsaid at the press conference Tuesday. She put her affairs in order, including signing over custody of her son, and headed to a Tunica casino. According to an arrest citation, Joshua- a teacher at Pike Central High School- showed slurred . Federal prosecutors will seize millions in cash and several pieces of jewelry of untold value from two men who operated retail locations in . 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. Western District of Kentucky Greenhill sent an associate to live with Jose Prieto for six months, working in the marijuana fields and gambling together in Las Vegas. You need to take that rock that I gave you on your finger and go pawn it if you need money for your kids. Less than a month before her death, police stopped Stepp and two menat an airport in Arizona and found more than $20,000 hidden inside the lining of her suitcase. A witness told Louisville police Williamson grabbed a Gucci backpack from Stepp's back seat and ran to the back of the homein the Portland neighborhood, according to a recorded police interview. Together, they could make fast cash, a lot of it. Tunica police ruled Pack's deatha suicide. Offender Information No information found for that offender. 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. According to the sheriff's office, a woman was found inside the garage there with a gunshot wound to the back. Bullitt County deputies bust 14 stores for allegedly selling drugs, paraphernalia Louisville, KY 53 Cloudy 30% MORE Advertisement Bullitt County deputies bust 14 stores for allegedly. 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. One recovering addict who spent years on the streets says his "guardian angel" saved him. William Harvey Duhart, 37, of Phoenix, Arizona, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. Jordan B. Taylor, 22, of Corbin, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of three-year-old Amoura M. Smallwood. A nine-page federal indictment accuses 10 people of running the drug trafficking gang. "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. Four Louisville Men Indicted On Federal Drug And Firearms Charges Press Release Four Louisville Men Indicted On Federal Drug And Firearms Charges Wednesday, August 18, 2021 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Kentucky LOUISVILLE, KY. Courtney Willis, 26, a Greenhill drug ring associate, allegedly stole meth from the organization and returned to his home state of Michiganto visit family in Muskegon Heights, a three-hour drive northwest of Detroit near Lake Michigan. ", The agent said: "After her arrest, she's scared to death of Jose Prieto.". This is a significant removal of weapons and drugs off our streets by Metro Corrections HIP. An official website of the United States government. In January of 2020, Jeffersontown Police arrested Thomas after an undercover purchase of meth. That associate would deliver the drugs to a shipper, someone designated to get the drugs to Louisville andother destinations. Western District of Kentucky Agents believed Jose Prietobegan to see her as a liability. 50 face charges in drug bust. Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 15_5 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) CriOS/103.0.5060.63 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1, Muhlenberg Co. man one of two brothers arrested in shooting death of Indiana woman 10 years ago, KY House votes to ban gender-transition medical care for juveniles, Man facing murder charge after beating girlfriends toddler to death, Nissan recalling over 700,000 Rogue, Rogue Sport SUVs, South Carolina woman says traffic stop led to her brain tumor diagnosis, 'Family has power': Recovering addict who witnessed more than 100 overdoses rescued by long lost sister, Daily Wire's Jeremy Boreing offers alternative to Hershey's after controversial International Women's Day ad, Presidential candidate Nikki Haley heckled by Trump supporters at CPAC: 'We love Trump! Thomas, whose address is listed as Chicago on court documents, has a history of multiple arrests, including several felonies. 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. Milan Alexander, 42, who maintains residences in both Joplin and Webb City, was charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Copyright 2021 WAVE 3 News. The case involving the four Louisville men is part of the DOJ's Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that the department says is meant "to reduce violent crime in the places we call home, not to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions as if they were ends in themselves.". 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. 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. } She, Nissan is recalling over 700,000 Rogue and Rogue Sport compact SUVs because they may turn off accidentally while driving. Find Drug Bust Latest News, Videos & Pictures on Drug Bust and see latest updates, news, information from NDTV.COM. Seven people were arrested as part of a drug gang take down, but three are still on the run. Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Narcotic Bureau. 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. 08-24-2021. 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. Yet, within three years, investigators crippled thedrug ring and sent the father and son and two dozen of their associates to federal prison. This is just the beginning., LMPDs Chief Erika Shields commented, The culmination of this joint, targeted investigation has resulted in some of the most violent offenders being taken off the citys streets. a gunman fired bullets into his face and head, A ruthless Mexican drug lords empire is devastating families with its grip on small-town USA, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Her body was found July 5, 2018, on the floor of her casino hotel room with a gunshot to the head. "This type of collaboration is crucial as we continue to focus our efforts on the most significant drivers of violence in Louisville. They formed a partnership, discussing drug shipments and prices, the agent said. 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. 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. Most of the defendants were arrested in a coordinated law enforcement sweep in November .