The FBI wants the four Chinese nationals captured and is offering a $1 million reward, though taking them into custody to face charges in the U.S. will likely prove difficult. Its not just social media. He received an honorable discharge in 2008 and headed to college, earning a master's degree in accounting. The sheriff's office says during the investigation, deputies seized more than 40 grams of heroin and 13 grams of crystal meth. Wiley Greenhill or his designee would leave with the drugs. The police chief said they have found the average cost of a fentanyl pill in Paducah is $25, bringing the total value of the pills to about $200,000. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Quenton Hall, an alleged Greenhill drug courier known as "Q-Tip," gunned down 27-year-old Fernandez Bowman on Dec. 2, 2016, near Algonquin Park. The police chief broke down the events leading up to the arrests. LEXINGTON, Ky. ( WKYT /Gray News) - At least a dozen horses were killed in a barn fire in Lexington, Kentucky Friday morning. If Jose Prieto worried she might spill secrets to police, he was right. "The United States government is using every tool at its disposal to combat the fentanyl epidemic," Garland said, "Many of us have heard the stories of those who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning. Greenhill sent an associate to live with Jose Prieto for six months, working in the marijuana fields and gambling together in Las Vegas. A trusted shipper would then deliver the drugs and the Prietoassociate would leave the hotel with the drug payment. Stepp also said she was scared of an unnamed drug dealer. Every year it probably goes up by 5, he said. The Paducah Police Department offered thanks to the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Illinois State Police, McCracken County Sheriffs Department, and Kentucky Probation and Parole for their assistance during the investigation. Drug use by state: Where does Kentucky rank? SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) - Two men are facing charges in connection with a big drug bust in Kentucky. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. "It's no longer enough to protect our children from drug dealers in the park or on the street cornerbecause now those drug dealers ply their deadly trade on social media apps running on the phones in our kids' pockets," Monaco said. Agents believed Jose Prietobegan to see her as a liability. A witness told Louisville police Williamson grabbed a Gucci backpack from Stepp's back seat and ran to the back of the homein the Portland neighborhood, according to a recorded police interview. Each defendant is facing up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, three years of released supervision, and having to forfeit any assets used to facilitate the crimes. LONDON, Ky. (LEX18) Agents across Kentucky arrested 12 people and confiscated more than 10,000 oxycodone pills. A year later, drug ring member Roger Dale Goodman, 37, and hisbuddies headed to pick up a box with 2 pounds of meth for the organization. Witnesses watched Williamsonshoot Stepp in the arm, then walkcloser andfire a bullet into her face. And in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 50 million fentanyl-laced pills, more than double the amount collected the year prior, the Justice Department said. 36-year-old Amanda Barrett of Stinnett, 28-year-old Nicholas Begley of Hyden. large ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation, Kentucky drug trafficking operation busted, over $2M and 10,000 pills seized, Drug disposal program aims to prevent addiction in Kentucky, DEA nets over 10K pounds of unused drugs in Kentucky takeback event. Louis Prieto missed his father and agreed to help him out of his bind. Those who were politically connected, including hisgrandfather, became targets. The investigation revealed Jose Luis Barata Vazquez, Alexey Barata Hernandez, Yoleisys Reyes Castillo, Dioslen Jimenez Ortiz, Kaid Rogers, Allison Renee Rogers, Michael King, Christopher King, Floyd Barker, Sheila Barger, and Samuel Barger were conspiring to distribute oxycodone. LSD, MDMA, and GHB are found in Kentucky. DEA agents led the three-year investigation anddubbed it "Operation Triple Crown," the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing, as they worked to track the pipeline's origins fromLouisville and Detroitback to the father-and-sonsuppliers in California. You need to take that rock that I gave you on your finger and go pawn it if you need money for your kids. Police also found 36 pounds of THC dab butter, nine pounds of THC edibles, 351 THC vape pens, 1.5 pounds of mushrooms and assorted drug paraphernalia, according to a release from the Bardstown Police Department. That way "everybody has to come to you.. Monday when they smelled the odor of marijuana. Hallpumped the gas and struck a police car. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, online atwww.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips app available atwww.p3tips.com. The Prietossent associates to gas stations and other locations in Southern Californiato pick up drugs, the lead investigator said. The case isn't over. The Northeast Kentucky Drug Task Force executed a search warrant which led to one of the largest drug busts involving fentanyl in Boyd County History, according to a news release. Vernon Street Somerset, KY 42501 Phone: (606) 678-8191 Email: news@somerset-kentucky.com Services About Us Contact Us Advertise with Us Submission Forms. The police department requested a search warrant for a residence in the 700 block of Poplar Flat Road. I think she may have been given an ultimatum," to take her own life or the drug ring would kill her or someone she loved. WAYNE COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - One Wayne County woman is facing a host of charges following a traffic stop. When officers finally stopped him, they found marijuana and pills in his pockets, large amounts of meth and heroin in the center console and a loaded 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun in the driver's seat. Those under investigation were well known in the Paducah are and by police for their significant criminal histories, according to the Laird. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Kentucky Justice S01E01 Drug Bust Shootout. Mar 29, 2012 ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police in Hardin County have announced the arrest of nearly two dozen and have issued an arrest warrant for eight other people. On Friday, the Treasury Department also announced sanctions against two Chinese companies for their role in supplying the precursor chemicals. ROLLA, Mo. For Greenhill, a small-time criminal from Detroit, the case agent said, it was a chance to be his own boss. OWENSBORO, Ky. - An Owensboro Drug Trafficking Organization is behind bars and charged with multiple felonies after being caught with 151 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of counterfeit pills with suspected deadly fentanyl, and other drugs, announced United States . GREENUP COUNTY, KY (WOWK) On Tuesday, the Greenup County Sheriff's Office arrested multiple people for drug trafficking. More suspected crimes linkedto the ring remain under investigation. Courtney Willis, 26, a Greenhill drug ring associate, allegedly stole meth from the organization and returned to his home state of Michiganto visit family in Muskegon Heights, a three-hour drive northwest of Detroit near Lake Michigan. The Prieto ring also is suspected offunneling a similar volume to Chicago, Atlanta,Detroit, Buffaloand cities in New Jersey, according to the DEA agent, who The Courier Journal isn't naming because of the sensitivity of his work. As with all the other drugs, meth is sold in bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and on the street. The newsroom's investigation revealed the drug ring's links totheshooting of Detective Hyche,the killing of a 28-year-old mother and a 27-year-old man in Louisville, themurderof a man inDetroitand the mysterious death of a woman in a casino in Tunica, Mississippi. FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) - Three people were arrested Monday after drugs, including fentanyl, were found at a home in Allen, the Floyd County Sheriff's . He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with the Anderson News and the Cats Pause. At the same time, Greenhill'sbrother, Jamarr Greenhill, cut ties and branched out on his own. BOYD COUNTY, KY (WOWK) A Detroit man was arrested after a drug task force seized more than approximately one kilo of pressed fentanyl in Boyd County, Kentucky on Saturday evening. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Less than a month before her death, police stopped Stepp and two menat an airport in Arizona and found more than $20,000 hidden inside the lining of her suitcase. Narcotics detectives soon stopped the truck near Derby and Carey avenues, seven miles northwest of the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. When they got out of prison, Greenhill flew to California to meet Jose Prieto. At least 21 indictments and additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues. According to the complaints, on January 11, 2021, members of the DEA from multiple districts and local law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by another suspected member of the Watkins DTO in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the vehicle travelled from Arizona toward the Western District of Kentucky. Law enforcement officials. Its a historic amount for this area, that I am aware of, said Officer Shawn Dobbs, Somerset Police Dept. . Investigators say the accused part of the "Chapitos" network facilitated the purchase of the precursor chemicals of fentanyl from China, manufactured the deadly drug in Mexico, and then worked to smuggle the substance into the U.S. Four Chinese nationals and one Guatemalan national were charged with supplying fentanyl ingredients to the cartel. Lexington murder suspect offered 2 alibis. As an adult, Jose Prieto settled in the Californiatown of Apple Valley, known for its fruit orchards. Both pleaded guilty in Louisville last year to trafficking more than 50 grams of meth. Greenhill associates later told investigators they relocated because they heard Louisville was "chill,"meaning the drug trade was less competitive so they could establish a foothold,said Shawn Morrow, special agent in charge of the ATF's Louisville Field Division. Two Kentucky men arrested in record drug seizure. Still, the story told by agents, defendants and prosecutors in interviews or court records reveals much about thecriminal enterprise and its deadly operation in Louisville and across the country. Seven months later, a drug ring associate wasaccused of killing a man in Louisville. We know that nothing can repair the harm they've suffered or bring back the loved ones they have lost.". They also sent associates to Louisville and put them up in hotels, where they waited for Wiley Greenhill or one of his associates to bring money to their hotel room, the DEA agent said. Nearly 200 people die every day from fentanyl poisoning. The HIP Officers were checking the home of Marvin Thomas, 23, on Bessels Blvd. The Bardstown Police Department seized over 100 pounds of marijuana and $50,000 during a search at a home in Bardstown late last week, according to police. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. (Courtesy: Appalachia HIDTA) All rights reserved. Muskegon police told reporters the number of gunshots indicatedsomeone wanted to senda message. Chris graduated from UK in December 2018. He established his own pipeline from Kentucky to California, bypassing his older brother. The Paducah Police Department provided details on some of those involved and some of their histories. Hall pepperedBowman'ssilver sedan with bulletsin the 1600 block of South 25th Street. He contacted his son, Louis Prieto, though the two hadn't spoken in more than 15 years because of a dispute. "His goal was to try and find what we call the plug, the source of supply that gets you power and control," the lead investigator told The Courier Journal. The potential penalty for the offense charged is a prison term of 10 years to life, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, and not less than 5 years of supervised release. and last updated 8:11 PM, Jul 20, 2022. EL MENCHO: A ruthless Mexican drug lords empire is devastating families with its grip on small-town USA. Task Force, authorities . He workedfor the state of California, auditing local municipalities participating in state government welfare programs. Al-Jebori pleaded guilty in 2018 to distributing meth and is serving a sentence of sevenyears and eight months in federal prison, court records show. She said online platforms are usually where the initial contact between buyer and sellers occurs and described social media applications as the "super highway" of the fentanyl supply chain. The news comes just one day after Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco met with members of Mexican security officials in Washington, D.C. in part to discuss the fentanyl crisis. HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Wednesday morning, troopers with Kentucky State Police Post Hazard and deputies with the Leslie County Sheriff's Office arrested 14 people in a drug bust, with seven more. (LEX 18) Authorities say five arrests in Kentucky have resulted in what's being considered the "biggest drug bust in Laurel County involving meth" as . The cartel routinely sent large shipments of meth across the border into California and from there, the Prietos coordinated the distribution across the country. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served a tour in Iraq, latervolunteering to go back in place of a friend who had a family hardship. But agents say he secretly cultivateda different crop marijuana. Investigators were listening when Pack called boyfriend Jose Prieto. Several agencies including, the DEA Criminal Diversion Group, the Kentucky. Deputies seized heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, pills and other drugs they said were being sold from the home. But the mother of a little girl and boynever made it out of her silver Ford Fusion. Bethany Hall, 37, of Stanville; outstanding warrant, possession of marijuana and tampering with physical evidence. We look at that and see, can we trace that back.'. Garland said Friday that the Sinaloa Cartel is "largely responsible" for the increased fentanyl trafficking into the U.S. Our Street Crimes Unit, along with our federal and local partners, have worked tirelessly to take down this drug trafficking organization., Sheriff Keith Cain said, This investigation is yet another example of the strong relationship that exists between local law enforcement and our federal partners. Jose Prieto was 11 whenhis father hurried their family out of hishomeland and into the U.S. as refugees. They were listening when Louis Prieto told an associate that his fatherwas upset and in Louisville and that Wiley Greenhill's life was in danger, according to a transcript of court testimony. For law enforcement, the case began a few years ago with one key question: Who was behind an influx of meth into Louisville? FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) Three people were arrested Monday after drugs, including fentanyl, were found at a home in Allen, the Floyd County Sheriffs Office said. In California, DEA agents say Jose Prietoran up a significant gambling debt tied to the Sinaloa Cartel once led by legendarykingpin Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn. The owner,Alaa Al-Jebori, also known as Alan Hanson, repaired cars but also used the shop as adrug drive-thru. But federal prosecutors contended during a bond hearing that he mainly used his auto business to hide his real income from selling drugs. With Goodman in jail,Laura Dawn Pack, 36,stepped in to pickup drug shipments for the organization. Police officials blamed the violent drug trade for a jarring spike inhomicides and an overdoserate that averagednearly a death a day. Following the seizure of the narcotics in Oklahoma City, Willie Watkins was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Authorities with several police agencies assisted, including Dayton Police Department, Ft. Thomas Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Newport Police Department, Covington Police Department, Cincinnati Police Department, Kentucky Probation and Parole, Campbell County Police Department and the Campbell County Sheriffs Department. In turn, that meant he couldn't pay the Prietos. NEW CLOSER LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIPS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY RESULT IN MOST SIGNIFICANT DRUG SEIZURE IN OWENSBORO HISTORY. We know they were supplying large amounts of fentanyl to this community, Laird said. He also later worked in the private sectoras an accountant. Nelson County officials said the investigation is ongoing.. Tunica police ruled Pack's deatha suicide. From 2016-18, the Prieto drug ring dominated the meth trade in Louisville, saturating the citywith more than 100 kilogramsworth millions of dollars, thelead investigator told The Courier Journal. 20, 2021 at 9:32 PM PDT. The police department requested a search. As Detective Hyche stepped toward it toarrest Goodman, a backseat passenger opened fire. Based on the evidence obtained from the long term investigation and the search warrants, additional members of the Watkins DTO, including Christopher McNary, age 31 of Owensboro, Kentucky, Richard Cason, age 29 of Owensboro, Kentucky, Keith Watkins, age 28 of Owensboro, Kentucky, and Samuel White, age 27 of Owensboro, Kentucky were also charged in a second criminal complaint with conspiring with each other and others to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Kentucky drug trafficking operation busted, over $2M and 10,000 pills seized. 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