25 people arrested after southern Indiana police bust 'major drug ring' with ties to Louisville (2025)

MADISON, Ind. (WDRB) -- Police in southern Indiana arrested 25 people on drug charges after a months-long investigation that was deemed "Operation Iceberg."

The Jefferson County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release Thursday the investigation began in February when police identified Christopher Dorten as a "major supplier" of meth in Jefferson County, Indiana. Officers eventually found Dorten made at least 65 trips to Louisville to purchase meth and cocaine.

Dorten was arrested Aug. 15 on four felony charges. Later that month, Michelle Childress was arrested during a search of her home, where Dorten operated part of his operation, the prosecutor's office said. She was charged with nine felonies.

"The community impact is great, because our community — along with every other community in the United States, unfortunately — is traumatized by drugs and drugs infiltrating through our borders up into our cities," Jefferson County Sheriff Ben Flint said Thursday.

Darren Richardson, who Sutter said Dorten would meet in Louisville, was arrested in Louisville on numerous felony charges.

Through its investigation, 22 others were arrested as part of the drug operation.

"This investigation was a major success resulting from hundreds of hours of work by officers from multiple law enforcement agencies," Jefferson County Prosecutor David Sutter said in a news release Thursday. "It demonstrates the positive outcomes that occur when law enforcement agencies collaborate."

The other 22 men and women were arrested Sept. 11. Their names and charges are:

• Jonathan David Clark, 50, Hanover:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 2 felony
  • Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
  • Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony
• Sabrina Clark, 35, Hanover:
  • Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony
  • Neglect of a Dependent, Level 6 felony
  • Possession of Marijuana, Class B misdemeanor
• Sean Eugene Cooksey, 56, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (three counts), Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Matthew R. Cyrus, 40, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 4 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Marijuana, Level 6 felony
• Ralph Wayne Davis II, 52, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (eight counts), Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
  • Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony
• Gregory Todd Griffin, 58, Versailles:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 2 felony
• Jonathon Grunden-Durham, 31, Madison:
  • Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 felony
• Jennifer Elizabeth Hendrix, 41, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
  • Dealing in Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Larry W. Howard III, 52, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (two counts), Level 4 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 4 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jeanie Carol Lansberg, 55, Commiskey:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
• Christian Lauderbaugh, 29, Hanover:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 2 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Mark Ellis Lewis, 58, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 2 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (three counts), Level 4 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (three counts), Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Richard Kyle Lock, 44, Dupont:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (four counts), Level 2 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Kelsey Luellen, 29, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
• Cheyenne Elaine Mason, 27, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 4 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (four counts), Level 5 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jennifer Phillips, 52, Madison:
  • Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony
• Jason Allen Posey, 47, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jordan Travis Stewart, 33, Lexington:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Chad Uebel, 48, Deputy:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 4 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (three counts), Level 2 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (two counts), Level 2 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 4 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jeremy Webster, 40, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (nine counts), Level 2 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (five counts), Level 4 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• R. Paul Yount II, 40, Madison:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
  • Dealing in Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Mandy Demaree, 51, Vevay:
  • Conspiracy to Deal Controlled Substances, Level 6 felony
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony
  • Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony

"We experience overdoses (and) we experience the impacts, the daily impacts of what these illegal drugs are doing to our communities," Flint said. "So I think it's imperative — as the sheriff and as any other law enforcement entities out there — that we rid that from our communities."

The Jefferson County Prosecutor's Office was aided in its investigation by the City of Madison Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Jennings County Sheriff's Office, Kentucky State Police, Indiana State Police and the U.S. Marshal's Office.

ISP said there may be more arrests in the investigation.

"We're standing up against drug-related crimes ... and we're going to find you," Flint said.

Related Stories:

• Southern Indiana woman charged with stealing thousands of dollars from KFC
• Man arrested with rifle outside Highlands bar in 2021 found with fentanyl, LSD in southern Indiana
• Federal investigation names 37 suspects in drug pipeline from California to Kentucky

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