LOW LEVEL OFFENDERS. WHAT STARTED WITH A SINGLE TIP IN MADISON, INDIANA, TOOK POUNDS OF METH AND COCAINE OFF THE STREETS AND PUT MORE THAN TWO DOZEN PEOPLE BEHIND BARS. WE’RE NEVER GOING TO COMPLETELY STOP THE THE DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS, BUT ANYTIME WE CAN PUT A DENT OF THIS SIZE INTO IT, IT’S IT’S REALLY GOING TO, WE BELIEVE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HOPEFULLY MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES A LITTLE BIT SAFER. SERGEANT STEVEN WILLIS WITH ISP SAYS THE INVESTIGATION, DUBBED OPERATION ICEBERG, INCLUDED MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND MONTHS OF COMBINED EFFORTS. THE FIRST ARREST CAME IN AUGUST. CHRISTOPHER DORTON, WHO POLICE SAY WAS A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF METH IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, INDIANA. NEIGHBORS IN MADISON WERE SHOCKED TO LEARN WHO AND WHAT WAS JUST A FEW DOORS DOWN IS TERRIFYING. TO THINK THAT SOMEBODY IS SELLING THAT STUFF AND WE DON’T NEED THAT ON ON OUR STREET. NOW, ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, INVESTIGATORS USED A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT TO GET CLOSER TO DORTON OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS, THEY ARRANGED CONTROLLED BUYS AT PLACES LIKE THIS GAS STATION AND DETECTIVES SAY THEY WEREN’T JUST BUILDING THEIR CASE AGAINST HIM. THEY WERE GETTING MORE NAMES THAT INCLUDED HIS ALLEGED SUPPLIER, DARREN RICHARDSON, WHO WAS ALSO ARRESTED IN AUGUST. POLICE SAY IN JUST A FEW MONTHS TIME, DORTON MADE AT LEAST 65 TRIPS TO LOUISVILLE TO BUY DRUGS AND THIS WEEK EVEN MORE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED. BUT SERGEANT WILLIS WARNS IT’S LIKELY THAT NUMBER WON’T STOP AT 25. WE’D LIKE TO THINK THAT THAT DRUG DEALERS IN LOUISVILLE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE A LITTLE WORRIED THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR NEXT.
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'Operation Iceberg': 25 arrested after massive drug bust in southern Indiana
Dozens of people have been arrested and are facing charges after a massive drug bust in southern Indiana, which police say has connections to Louisville.Multiple law enforcement agencies worked on "Operation Iceberg," a months-long investigation that led to the removal of pounds of meth and cocaine from Jefferson County, Indiana. "We're never going to completely stop the distribution of drugs but anytime we can put a dent this size into it, it’s really, we believe going to make a difference and hopefully make our communities a little bit safer," Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with Indiana State Police told WLKY.Police said the investigation began in February when they discovered that Christopher Dorten was "a major supplier of methamphetamine in Jefferson County." According to court documents, a confidential informant was used and controlled buys were made from Dorten on multiple occassions.Dorten allegedly made at least 65 trips to Louisville, where he was getting meth and cocaine from Darren Richardson, who police say also goes by Anthony.Police arrested Dorten on Aug. 15, charging him with multiple counts of dealing meth and cocaine. He's currently being held on a $500,000 bond in Jefferson County, Indiana.Connected to Dorten, police then arrested Michelle Childress, who they say Dorten used to expand his operation. She is facing nine felonies, including conspiracy to deal meth and cocaine, among others.Richardson was arrested on Aug. 16 on a warrant for felony charges of conspiracy to deal meth and cocaine. He's being held in Louisville waiting extradition to Indiana.These three initial arrests then led police to 22 more on Sept. 11.Those arrested and charged are as follows: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 felonySabrina Clark, 35, Hanover – Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony; Neglect of a Dependent, Level 6 felony; Possession of Marijuana, Class B misdemeanorSean 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 felonyMatthew 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 felonyRalph 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 felonyGregory Todd Griffin, 58, Versailles – Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 2 felonyJonathon Grunden-Durham, 31, Madison – Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 felonyJennifer Elizabeth Hendrix, 41, Madison – Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Dealing in Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felonyLarry 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 felonyJeanie Carol Lansberg, 55, Commiskey – Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felonyChristian Lauderbaugh, 29, Hanover – Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 2 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felonyMark 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 felonyRichard Kyle Lock, 44, Dupont – Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (four counts), Level 2 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felonyKelsey Luellen, 29, Madison – Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felonyCheyenne 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 felonyJennifer Phillips, 52, Madison – Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felonyJason Allen Posey, 47, Madison – Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felonyJordan Travis Stewart, 33, Lexington – Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felonyChad 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 felonyJeremy 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 felonyR. Paul Yount II, 40, Madison – Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Dealing in Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felonyMandy Demaree, 51, Vevay – Conspiracy to Deal Controlled Substances, Level 6 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ind. —
Dozens of people have been arrested and are facing charges after a massive drug bust in southern Indiana, which police say has connections to Louisville.
Multiple law enforcement agencies worked on "Operation Iceberg," a months-long investigation that led to the removal of pounds of meth and cocaine from Jefferson County, Indiana.
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"We're never going to completely stop the distribution of drugs but anytime we can put a dent this size into it, it’s really, we believe going to make a difference and hopefully make our communities a little bit safer," Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with Indiana State Police told WLKY.
Police said the investigation began in February when they discovered that Christopher Dorten was "a major supplier of methamphetamine in Jefferson County." According to court documents, a confidential informant was used and controlled buys were made from Dorten on multiple occassions.
Dorten allegedly made at least 65 trips to Louisville, where he was getting meth and cocaine from Darren Richardson, who police say also goes by Anthony.
Police arrested Dorten on Aug. 15, charging him with multiple counts of dealing meth and cocaine. He's currently being held on a $500,000 bond in Jefferson County, Indiana.
Connected to Dorten, police then arrested Michelle Childress, who they say Dorten used to expand his operation. She is facing nine felonies, including conspiracy to deal meth and cocaine, among others.
Richardson was arrested on Aug. 16 on a warrant for felony charges of conspiracy to deal meth and cocaine. He's being held in Louisville waiting extradition to Indiana.
These three initial arrests then led police to 22 more on Sept. 11.
Those arrested and charged are as follows:
- 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
