(AP Photo/Matt Rourke). That's when his estranged father came knocking. RACELAND, KY (WOWK) - A man is facing multiple charges after a traffic stop led to a drug bust in Greenup County. We look at that and see, can we trace that back.'. That is 2,391 Kentuckians who died from overdoses in 2021 up from the 2,104 in 2020. He didn't know Louisville police had intercepted the package, mailed through a private parcel service, and watched as Goodman picked it up from a porch in Buechel, then drove off in his white Chevy pickup truck. Witnesses watched Williamsonshoot Stepp in the arm, then walkcloser andfire a bullet into her face. Investigators say the accused part of the "Chapitos" network facilitated the purchase of the precursor chemicals of fentanyl from China, manufactured the deadly drug in Mexico, and then worked to smuggle the substance into the U.S. Four Chinese nationals and one Guatemalan national were charged with supplying fentanyl ingredients to the cartel. Both SWAT teams were able to safely secure the two locations and locate some of the wanted persons, Laird said. 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. 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The HIP Officers were checking the home of Marvin Thomas, 23, on Bessels Blvd. K-9 officer Fabi was deployed and alerted. A Philadelphia police car with flashing lights in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. All five men are charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846. Chris graduated from UK in December 2018. In turn, that meant he couldn't pay the Prietos. Jose Prieto sought out someone with a strong business background to help him earn money to pay off the cartel. Hall pepperedBowman'ssilver sedan with bulletsin the 1600 block of South 25th Street. The potential penalty for the offense charged is a prison term of 10 years to life, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, and not less than 5 years of supervised release. But a series of betrayals were coming, dooming the father and son's joint enterprise. Seven months later, a drug ring associate wasaccused of killing a man in Louisville. 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 owner,Alaa Al-Jebori, also known as Alan Hanson, repaired cars but also used the shop as adrug drive-thru. Bethany Hall, 37, of Stanville; outstanding warrant, possession of marijuana and tampering with physical evidence. The individuals arrested during this investigation were responsible for peddling poison into Owensboro and our surrounding communities. Anytime we can take this much methamphetamine, fentanyl and firearms off the streets it is huge! Somerset police then notified their DEA Task Force officer, who partnered with the FBI and spent the next few months tracking the activity of both Smith and Calhoun. 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. 64-year-old Doug Caldwell of Hyden, 47-year-old Tony Collett of Stinnett, 57-year-old Scott Hazlett of Hyden, 59-year-old Tresa Hazlett of Hyden, 56-year-old Chrisley Lowe of Hyden, 44-year-old Gloria Lowe of Hyden, 56-year-old Wyckliffe Morgan, Jr. of Stinnett, 27-year-old Kasey Roberts of Stinnett, 66-year-old Henry Smith of Stinnett, 42-year-old Tommy Smith of Stinnett, 52-year-old Randal Wells of Busy, and 44-year-old Shannon Wilder of Essie were all arrested for trafficking methamphetamine, and taken to the Leslie County Detention Center. WAYNE COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - One Wayne County woman is facing a host of charges following a traffic stop. Police said a total of 23 people were charged during the 18-month investigation, with 14 arrests this week. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Louis Prieto missed his father and agreed to help him out of his bind. When Greenhill's tab climbed to $400,000, Jose Prieto cut him off. The remaining seven are wanted for active indictment warrants. The police chief said they have found the average cost of a fentanyl pill in Paducah is $25, bringing the total value of the pills to about $200,000. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Knowing how dangerous this drug is, we began focusing on identifying how the fentanyl was coming into our community, said Paducah Police Chief Brian Laird, during a news conference Friday. Task Force, authorities conducted a search warrant at a home in Grayson, Kentucky where they found and seized nearly 1,000 doses of fentanyl, cocaine, firearms and more than $8,000 in U.S. currency. OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) - Federal and local authorities announced what they call the largest drug seizure in the history of Owensboro. However, investigators haven't found enough evidence to file charges. Law enforcement officials. 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. 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. Traffickers should take heed to keep their poison out of Daviess County and the Western District of Kentucky, said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman They disregard at their own peril as federal, state, and local law enforcement here stand united to take their dope and send them to federal prison. Investigators were listening when Pack called boyfriend Jose Prieto. He was "fronting" drugs loaning sometraffickers drugsbefore they paid for them. Yet, within three years, investigators crippled thedrug ring and sent the father and son and two dozen of their associates to federal prison. The police chief said overdoses in Paducah have continued to rise year-over-year. HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Wednesday morning, troopers with Kentucky State Police Post Hazard and deputies with the Leslie County Sheriffs Office arrested 14 people in a drug bust, with seven more wanted. For law enforcement, the case began a few years ago with one key question: Who was behind an influx of meth into Louisville? And in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 50 million fentanyl-laced pills, more than double the amount collected the year prior, the Justice Department said. 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. 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. "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. When ATF agentsmade an undercover buy from a Greenhill associate inLouisville, they traced a stolen.38-caliber Smith & Wesson Special theDetroit Police Department once issued to one of its officers. Based on the evidence obtained from the long term investigation and the search warrants, additional members of the Watkins DTO, including Christopher McNary, age 31 of Owensboro, Kentucky, Richard Cason, age 29 of Owensboro, Kentucky, Keith Watkins, age 28 of Owensboro, Kentucky, and Samuel White, age 27 of Owensboro, Kentucky were also charged in a second criminal complaint with conspiring with each other and others to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. 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. Copyright 2021 WSAZ. The Prietossent associates to gas stations and other locations in Southern Californiato pick up drugs, the lead investigator said. 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 DTO in Owensboro, Kentucky. Narcotics detectives soon stopped the truck near Derby and Carey avenues, seven miles northwest of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. 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. Louis Prieto had settled in Los Angeles, a two-hour drive southwest of his father in Apple Valley. 15 Best Amazon Clothing Brands Including Closet Staples and Statement Pieces, Memorial Day Sales 2023: The Best Early Memorial Day Deals You Can Shop Now, 45 Best Wedding Gifts That Are Way More Unique Than a Blender, 25 Trendy Amazon Spring Fashion Finds You'll Want in Your Closet ASAP. Police say the new motivation to focus on drug enforcement resulted in 282 drug arrests last year. Kentucky State Police say troopers stopped a vehicle on U.S. 23 regarding a traffic violation and smelled "a strong odor of marijuana" while speaking with the driver. HENDERSON, Ky. (WFIE) - Authorities say 49 people were charged in connection to a large-scale narcotics trafficking investigation in Henderson County. He also started a business buying and selling used cars. He established his own pipeline from Kentucky to California, bypassing his older brother. Investigators caught her with sevenpounds of meth and more than $44,000 in drug proceeds. According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, deputies executed a search warrant on Friday, Oct. 29, at the home of Edgar "Eddie" Castle, 53, in Sitka, Kentucky, after authorities were able to "make numerous controlled drug buys" at the home during the investigation. Vernon Street Somerset, KY 42501 Phone: (606) 678-8191 Email: news@somerset-kentucky.com Services About Us Contact Us Advertise with Us Submission Forms. Other charged individuals include operators of secret labs in Mexico where fentanyl is made, weapons dealers who help the Sinaloa Cartel arm its security, and money launderers who funded the operations. Calhoun was also charged with possession with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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