11 jailed for drug trafficking
Published 12:39 pm Thursday, November 10, 2016
The Lawrence Drug and Major Crimes Task Force has arrested 11 Ironton and Pedro residents for allegedly selling drugs.
According to a release from the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office, three Pedro residents were arrested following a two-month investigation into the sale of oxycodone.
On Nov. 3, Steve R. Akers, 50, of 18023 State Route 93; Anthony R. Collins, 41, of 19609 State Route 93; and Travis Lee Bloomfield, 28, of 18023 State Route 93, were arrested.
During controlled purchases of oxycodone, Collins and Bloomfield separately traveled to Akers’ residence, obtained oxycodone tablets and provided the oxycodone to a confidential informant,” according to the release. All three were arrested in Pedro while a search warrant was executed at Akers’ residence.
During the arrests oxycodone, alprazolam, marijuana, cash and firearms were allegedly seized.
The case will be presented to a grand jury in November.
On Nov. 8 and 9, eight Ironton residents were arrested as a result of secret indictments returned by a grand jury.
The investigations allegedly involved trafficking in heroin, crystal methamphetamine, oxycodone and Suboxone.
Those arrested were: David D. Valentine, 56, of 2543 S. Fifth St.; Larry S. Williams, 38, of 1416 S. Ninth St.; Kimberly D. Cochran, 35, of 620 N. Sixth St.; Wanda J. Stapleton, 45, of 2440 S. Sixth St.; Richard W. Gee, 54, of 1014 Ellison Avenue; Chasity Lynn Hall, 21, of 620 N. Sixth St.; Randall Lee Boggs, 35, of 513 N. Sixth St.; and Joshua Allen Gee, 26, of 620 N. Sixth Street.
Assisting in the investigations were the drug task force, sheriff’s office, prosecutor’s office and Ironton Police Department.