Southwest Virginia Drug Sweep Nets 32 Arrests

By Michael Owens
Reporter / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: July 11, 2008

Local and state authorities arrested 32 people targeted in an ongoing drug investigation in Wise County on Thursday, according to the county’s commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

The investigation, code-named “Operation Street Sweeper,” has nabbed more than 400 people in nine mass arrests since April 2006. It targets such illegally used and sold prescription drugs, such as hydrocodone, as well as marijuana and cocaine.

A total of 63 people were indicted by a multi-jurisdictional grand jury for Thursday’s sweep, according to a news release from Wise County prosecutor Ronald K. Elkins.

“It takes a massive amount of work and investigation to arrest 63 drug offenders, and these police officers should be commended for their hard work and sacrifices,” Elkins said in the release.

The remaining 31 offenders are still being sought.

Agencies involved in the investigation and arrests are the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Narcotics Task Force, Virginia State Police, and the police departments of Big Stone Gap, Coeburn, Norton, Wise, Pound and St. Paul.

The Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office reports these arrests and charges on Thursday:

* Danny Lee Arwood, 45, of Wise, two counts distribution of lortab, and one count each of distributing percocet, distributing marijuana, distributing cocaine, conspiracy to distribute percocet, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

* Sheila Jean Arwood, 40, of Wise, distributing percocet, distributing marijuana, conspiracy of distribute percocet and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

* Daniel Van Bentley, 54, of Wise, distributing lortab.

* Martha Caroline Corder, 44, of Coeburn, distributing avinza and distributing methamphetamines.

* Parlee Honeycutt, 47, of Wise, distributing anexsia and drug distribution within 1,000 feet of a school.

* Nancy Elizabeth Harvey, 31, of Coeburn, distributing morphine and conspiracy to distribute.

* Raymond David Hoback, 46, of Coeburn, distributing endocet.

* Jacob Dale Moore, 27, of Wise, distributing lortab and conspiracy to distribute.

* Regina Ann Pridemore, 39, of Coeburn, distributing roxicet and distributing xanax.

* William Joe Castle, 53, Wise, distributing oxycontin, distributing xanax and distributing suboxone.

* Johnathan Pilkenton, 22, of Norton, distributing cocaine.

* Kevin Scott Sturgill, 46, of Wise, distributing oxycontin.

* Ray Allen Branham Jr., 21, of Coeburn, distributing endocet and distributing loracet.

* Michael Edward Courtney, 54, of Coeburn, distributing loracet and distributing lortab.

* Ginger Richardson Elkins, 38, of Wise, distributing lortab.

* John Dukes, 26, of Wise, with two counts of distributing cocaine, and two counts of conspiracy to distribute.

* Kimberly Jolene Plaster, 28, of Coeburn, distributing endocet and conspiracy to distribute.

* Michael Edward Plaster, 37, of Coeburn, distributing endocet and conspiracy to distribute.

* Terry Lee Porter, 29, of Coeburn, distributing oxycontin.

* Marcus Eugene Scott, 51, of Wise, distributing marijuana.

* Clifford Steffey Jr., 36, of St. Paul, distributing hydromorphone, distributing morphine and distributing marijuana.

* Michael Allen White, 22, of Coeburn, distributing loracet, distributing xanax and two counts of distributing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.

* Emma Jean Mullins, 76, of Wise, distributing lortab and distributing valium.

* Linda L. Mullins, 59, of Wise, distributing lortab.

* Beverly Lynn Garrett, 49, of Coeburn, distributing suboxone and distributing lortab.

* Della Sue Adkins, 40, of St. Paul, two counts of distributing dolophin and one count each of distributing mehtamphetamine and distributing adderall,

* Emmitte R. Meade, 68, of Wise, two counts of distributing percocet and one count of distributing endocet.

* Michelle Lynn Bay, 21, of Norton, three counts of distributing cocaine and two counts of conspiracy to distribute.

* Mark Dwayne Forney, 42, of Norton, distributing cocaine.

* David Allen Adkins, 47, of Wise, distributing lortab.

* Josh Erexson, 28, of Wise, distributing lortab.

* Anthony Ronald Roberts, 51, of Caslewood, distributing cocaine.

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