Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies arrested over a dozen people wanted on alleged drug trafficking charges Monday morning as part of Operation April Foolish.
Police began hitting the streets shortly after 8 a.m. in search of 20 people for whom deputies had obtained an arrest warrant, and arrested 13 of those individuals Monday.
Sheriff Colan Harrell said that one person, Johnny Blakely, 49, of the Ky. 92E area, is also potentially facing federal firearms charges after deputies found about 10 firearms at his residence, including two that were allegedly illegally modified.
Blakely was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled substance, two counts of having a prescription not in its original container, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
Other charged Monday include:
• Gary Croley, 45, of Powers Hollow, Williamsburg – trafficking in marijuana.
• James Durham, 69, of the Gatliff – two counts of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Gregory Waddell, 45, of Meador Creek Road, Rockholds – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Hiram Smith, 57, of Cumberland Falls Road, Corbin – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Dewey Wilson, 59, of Amos Falls Road – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Edna Canada, 28, of Hwy 204 in Canadatown – two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Ricky Taylor, 35, of Hwy 904 in Gatliff – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Freddie Taylor, 38, of the Sally Gap – two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Norman Peace, 63, of Verne Road, Williamsburg – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Jimmy Canada, 35, of River Road near Canadatown – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Rick Claxton, 38, of Smith Branch, Williamsburg – second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
• Heather Ward, 26, of Meador Creek Road, Rockholds – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
All of the offenders were lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.
More arrests are expected in connection with the case.
Kentucky State Police Trooper David Lassiter and Constables Lonnie Foley and Andy Moses also assisted with the roundup.
Operation UNITE provided funding assistance for the investigations.
