20 suspects indicted in Ohio Co. after massive drug bust

OHIO CO., Ky (WFIE) - Nearly two dozen people have been indicted for drug crimes in Ohio County.

Ohio County Sheriff Adam wright says his 15 deputies and 2 detectives have been working 24/7 since the summer to crack down on drug trafficking and possession.

He says many of his deputies have put in 16 hour days.

This week, they've been rounding up and serving indictments to 20 individuals from Beaver Dam to Owensboro to Russellville to Morgantown.

This operation has been about more than sending a message to criminals.

Sheriff Wright says the driving force behind it all has been the 15 overdoses in Ohio County over the past year.

"We see loved ones every day that are seeing their kids, their aunts, their uncles, their mom and their dad," said Wright. "In one instance, we arrested the elderly female who was a grandmother, so we continue to see this plague ruin our community."

Only one of the county's overdoses this year resulted in a death, but Wright says that's one too many.

He says he hopes that the 20 individuals charged so far seek rehabilitation.

The doors of the Ohio County Sheriff's Office are open to anyone seeking help.

"If somebody came in my office tomorrow and said, 'Hey, I've got a problem and I want help,' we will bend over backwards to help them. We will literally put them in our patrol car and drive them to a treatment center to get them the help that they need."

Sheriff Wright says their work isn't done yet. He says four more federal indictments were obtained and will be served on a future date.

During this operation, the sheriff's department seized the following:

Over 33 ounces of Methamphetamine

$11,000 in cash

Over 16 grams of Molly (MDMA)

The sheriff's office says deputies conducted a round up and served indictments over the past two days.

The following suspects were presented to the Ohio County Grand Jury and indicted:

Ryan Littlejohn of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 3rd or > Offense (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia

Jennifer West of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)

Victoria Workman of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia

Possession of Marijuana

Cathryn Decker of Russellville, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine),

Drug Paraphernalia

Possession of Marijuana

Bruce Evans of Cromwell, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine),

Drug Paraphernalia

Possession Marijuana

Misty Corum of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia

Sherman Pogue of Hartford, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia

Mark Durden of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia

Parker Ashby of Owensboro, Ky.

Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense > 10 Dose Units (MDMA)

Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense > 10 Dose Units (Psilocybin)

Drug Paraphernalia

Cyrus Simpson of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense > 10 Dose Units (MDMA)

Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense > 10 Dose Units (Psilocybin)

Drug Paraphernalia

Lucas Tinsley of Hartford, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine), Drug Paraphernalia -Firearm Enhanced

Taylor Burden of Centertown, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Degree-Drug Unspecified

Drug Paraphernalia- Buy/Possess

Prescription controlled substance non in proper container 1st

Kelly Owen Jr of Utica, Ky.

Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

Desirae Hall of Hartford, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 2nd Offense (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia -Firearm Enhanced

Jayden Sorrells of Centertown, KY

Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense > 10 Dose Units (MDMA)

Trafficking Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense > 10 Dose Units (Psilocybin)

Drug Paraphernalia

Shannon Dowell of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)

Autumn Embry of Hartford, Ky.

Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

Giving an Officer False Identifying Information

Clifton Simpkins of Morgantown, Ky.

Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 3rd Offense or > (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia

Possession of Marijuana

Penny Fields of Beaver Dam, Ky.

Possession Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 1st Offense (Methamphetamine)

Drug Paraphernalia

Possession of Marijuana

Kevin Baize of Cromwell, Ky.

Criminal Mischief 1st Degree

Wanton Endangerment 1st Degree

Additionally, deputies say four more federal indictments were obtained and will be served in the future.