Two of the 10 persons indicted after a Lawrence Drug Task Force undercover investigation were arrested Wednesday.

Friday, August 17, 2001

Two of the 10 persons indicted after a Lawrence Drug Task Force undercover investigation were arrested Wednesday.

Randy Bailey, 42, of 1720 Campbell Dr., Ironton, and James Eric Lewis, 38, of 1539 County Road 21, Ironton, faced arraignment in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Thursday afternoon, Sheriff Tim Sexton said.

Bailey was arrested on four counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs; Lewis was jailed on two counts aggravated trafficking in drugs, one count trafficking in marijuana and one count trafficking in drugs, the sheriff said.

The task force’s and supporting agencies’ undercover operation led to 10 secret indictments by the Lawrence County Grand Jury on Tuesday.

The investigation took several months and involved the sale of illegal narcotics and prescription pills, with several indictments charging crimes related to trafficking in Oxycontin, Sheriff Sexton said.

More arrests are expected as the investigation continues, he said.

The Lawrence Drug Task Force is in its fourth year of operation, supported by a grant from the Office of Criminal Justice Services (a branch of the Ohio Attorney General’s office.)

Local participating agencies of the task force include the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, county Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr.’s office, Ironton Police Department, Coal Grove Police Department and South Point Police Department.

The Proctorville Police Department also assisted in the current investigation.