The attorney general said the U.S. government would work to seek their extradition to face charges on American soil. The Paducah Police Department provided details on some of those involved and some of their histories. 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. An investigation that began in January resulted in the arrest of area drug distributors and their sources of supply. From 2016-18, the Prieto drug ring dominated the meth trade in Louisville, saturating the citywith more than 100 kilogramsworth millions of dollars, thelead investigator told The Courier Journal. 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. (LEX 18) Authorities say five arrests in Kentucky have resulted in what's being considered the "biggest drug bust in Laurel County involving meth" as . 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. SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) - Two men are facing charges in connection with a big drug bust in Kentucky. Rattled residents and many officers didn't know at the time of the Feb. 1, 2018, shootout in Buechel, Kentucky, that the men inside the pickup were connected to a much larger drug trafficking. First published on April 14, 2023 / 11:53 AM. He workedfor the state of California, auditing local municipalities participating in state government welfare programs. 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As the case grew more complex and widespread,ATF agents called in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Louisville. K-9 officer Fabi was deployed and alerted. 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(WAVE) - Metro Corrections Officers made a large drug bust while doing a home incarceration, or HIP check, which yielded drugs, guns and thousands of dollars in cash. The dog also sniffed out three suitcases on the plane stuffed with an estimated 80 kilos of cocaine the. 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. "Make sure you're on the right team.". After all the damage they levied personally or indirectly, Jose Prieto and his son quietly surrendered to police outside their West Coast homeson Aug. 13,2019. 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. Yet, within three years, investigators crippled thedrug ring and sent the father and son and two dozen of their associates to federal prison. Two Kentucky men arrested in record drug seizure. FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) - Three people were arrested Monday after drugs, including fentanyl, were found at a home in Allen, the Floyd County Sheriff's . All rights reserved. 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. Police said a total of 23 people were charged during the 18-month investigation, with 14 arrests this week. Any sentences will follow after the conviction by the court. Two men are facing charges in connection with a big drug bust in Kentucky. ", The agent said: "After her arrest, she's scared to death of Jose Prieto.". Hall had been on the run for several weeks when Louisville Metro Police say they caught up to himon Jan. 31, 2017, inhis white Dodge Durango and triedto stop himin the 4700 block of Dixie Highway. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) - Federal and local authorities announced what they call the largest drug seizure in the history of Owensboro. Muskegon police told reporters the number of gunshots indicatedsomeone wanted to senda message. The woman pleaded guilty to using fake documents and credit-card information from other employees to help cover the fraudulent purchases. However, investigators haven't found enough evidence to file charges. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WLWT-TV. 14, 2023 at 9:38 AM PDT | Updated: moments ago. On Wednesday, five search warrants were served with a large number of drugs and cash being recovered. According to the Justice Department, between August 2021 and August 2022, 107,735 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, two-thirds primarily from fentanyl. OWENSBORO, Ky. - An Owensboro Drug Trafficking Organization is behind bars and charged with multiple felonies after being caught with 151 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of counterfeit pills with suspected deadly fentanyl, and other drugs, announced United States . GCSO says they stopped a car on Main Street in Greenup, and the driver, Sarah James, 42, of Hood Run Road in Greenup, Kentucky, had a suspended license. Chris Leach is a breaking news reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Updated on: April 14, 2023 / 7:23 PM Seven months later, a drug ring associate wasaccused of killing a man in Louisville. When Greenhill's tab climbed to $400,000, Jose Prieto cut him off. Goodman pleaded guilty in 2019 in federal court to meth trafficking and is serving a 10-year sentence. The conspirators were said to be distributing oxycodone in Madison, Estill, Clay, and Laurel counties from September 2019 to March 2022. 20 arrested in large NKY drug bust; fentanyl, meth, heroin seized. All rights reserved. Police say the investigation began in February when a Somerset police officer found 10 grams of meth and a safe when conducting a search warrant at Smiths home. Jose Prieto was 11 whenhis father hurried their family out of hishomeland and into the U.S. as refugees. fefemer. Just a real great accomplishment by these guys.. 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. The owner,Alaa Al-Jebori, also known as Alan Hanson, repaired cars but also used the shop as adrug drive-thru. Please enter valid email address to continue. Nearly 200 people die every day from fentanyl poisoning. ROLLA, Mo. SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) - Two men are facing charges in connection with a big drug bust in Kentucky. . We sit next to the interstate and lots of United States highways come in and out of this community.. 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 two men, identified as Cody Dennis, 33, of Lexington, KY, and Cole Salyers, 35, of Georgetown, KY, were arrested and taken to the Floyd County Jail. Jose Prieto sought out someone with a strong business background to help him earn money to pay off the cartel. Deputies seized heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, pills and other drugs they said were being sold from the home. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. On top of arresting 12 people, the joint investigation seized approximately 10,000 diverted oxycodone pills and over $2 million. 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. Kentucky drug trafficking operation busted, over $2M and 10,000 pills seized. Both SWAT teams were able to safely secure the two locations and locate some of the wanted persons, Laird said. Her body was found July 5, 2018, on the floor of her casino hotel room with a gunshot to the head. Officials from the Kentucky Attorney Generals Office, the Barbourville Police Department, the Clay County Sheriffs Office, and the Manchester Police Department worked with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigators, resulting in Thursdays grand jury indictment in London. He received an honorable discharge in 2008 and headed to college, earning a master's degree in accounting. Twenty people have been arrested in a monthslong drug investigation in Northern Kentucky, officials with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force announced Thursday. You need to take that rock that I gave you on your finger and go pawn it if you need money for your kids. Sheworried she now owed the drug-ring money after police intercepted the meth and money, according to court records. Investigators say all of the suspects were taken to the Floyd County Jail, and more arrests are expected in the case. Hyche's partner returned fire, killing two passengers. / CBS News. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. At the same time, Greenhill'sbrother, Jamarr Greenhill, cut ties and branched out on his own. 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. In the face of unimaginable pain, those families have shown extraordinary bravery in sharing their stories. EL MENCHO: A ruthless Mexican drug lords empire is devastating families with its grip on small-town USA. I dont think thats a good combination.. 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. 1:13. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. They formed a partnership, discussing drug shipments and prices, the agent said. The Paducah Police Department is asking for help locating those who have not yet been arrested. Authorities said two people were inside the barn at the time of the fire but were able to get out. Twenty people have been arrested in a monthslong drug investigation in Northern Kentucky, officials with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force announced Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke). 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. A Philadelphia police car with flashing lights in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. With Goodman in jail,Laura Dawn Pack, 36,stepped in to pickup drug shipments for the organization. 60 people were arrested in Kentucky after a United States Drug Enforcement Administration drug bust of more than 800 pounds of methamphetamine. Witnesses watched Williamsonshoot Stepp in the arm, then walkcloser andfire a bullet into her face. 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. In turn, that meant he couldn't pay the Prietos. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Published: Apr. They were listening when Louis Prieto told an associate that his fatherwas upset and in Louisville and that Wiley Greenhill's life was in danger, according to a transcript of court testimony. All rights reserved. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. KSP: 14 people arrested in Leslie County drug bust, seven people wanted, Weekday broadcast of WYMT Mountain News at 11, Dealership owner, salesman rolled back mileage on cars before reselling them, police say, Police asking for help to find suspects involved in theft from Corbin store. She said online platforms are usually where the initial contact between buyer and sellers occurs and described social media applications as the "super highway" of the fentanyl supply chain. Reporter Beth Warren: bwarren@courier-journal.com; 502-582-7164; Twitter @BethWarrenCJ. In 2016, the cartel issuedJose Prieto an ultimatum: Work for them selling their drugs or be killed. For Greenhill, a small-time criminal from Detroit, the case agent said, it was a chance to be his own boss. Dealership owner, salesman rolled back mileage on cars before reselling them, police say, Teenager dies after being pinned by vehicle, Kentucky mom now facing charges in connection with death of child, Gun found in Ripley High School students truck, Thousand-ton rockslide cleared in Boone County. 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. BEAVER DAM, Ky (WEHT) - According to the Ohio County Kentucky Sheriff's Office, on January 25 around 7:52 a.m. members of the Ohio County Sheriff's Office, the Pennyrile Drug Task Force The seizure includes 151 pounds of meth, which they say is. Both pleaded guilty in Louisville last year to trafficking more than 50 grams of meth. 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