(POMEROY, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood, Gallia County Sheriff Joseph Browning, Gallipolis Police Chief Clinton Patterson, Middleport Police Chief Bruce Swift, Meigs County Prosecutor Colleen Williams, and Gallia County Prosecutor Jeff Adkins announced today that 26 individuals have been arrested following a drug trafficking investigation in southeast Ohio.
Warrants have been issued for an additional 17 individuals.
Agents with the Major Crimes Task Force of Gallia and Meigs Counties, which includes authorities from the above mentioned agencies, arrested the 26 suspects on a total of 51 charges in Meigs and Gallia counties this week.
The investigation involves the trafficking and/or possession of several drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, LSD, and several types of prescription drugs.
Those arrested include:
- Leslie Storms, 42, Pomeroy
- Tina Storms, 40, Pomeroy
- Sarah Wood, 22, Pomeroy
- Ashley Smith, 24, Pomeroy
- Tonya Aeiker, 33, Rutland
- David Milliron, 34, Racine
- Felisha Stumbo, 27, Middleport
- Paula Gaster, 56, Middleport
- Willard Laudermilt III, 29, Middleport
- Amber Spradling, 29, Pomeroy
- Gary Kauff, 27, Middleport
- Heather Roush, 39, Middleport
- Daniel Jenkins, 20, Racine
- Tammy Thomas, 46, Middleport
- Amanda Holmes, 28, Gallipolis
- Tyrone Powell Jr., 28, Dayton
- Cole Simpson, 23, Gallipolis
- Taurean Ramsey, 35, Columbus
- Kelcie Baird, 20, Thurman
- Joseph Peck, 28, Thurman
- Raymone Jackson, 31, Galena
- Joseph Sexton, 20, Gallipolis
- Earl Hager, 55, Gallipolis
- Nancy (Kirk) Blackburn, 28, Gallipolis
- Porter Mitchell,38, Gallipolis
- Michelle Walker, 36, Thurman
A full breakdown of charges is available on the Ohio Attorney General's website.
Formation of the Major Crimes Task Force of Gallia and Meigs Counties, which is part of the Attorney General's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), was announced in December.
"In the short amount of time that this task force has been in existence those involved have made significant strides in fighting drug trafficking in southeast Ohio," said Attorney General DeWine. "Those in this area who are involved with drugs - especially heroin - should be on notice that law enforcement is watching."
"Today is a great example of the team work from the agencies involved in making this roundup a success," said Meigs County Sheriff Wood. "I'm proud of this task force for their hard work to thwart the drug epidemic. We must continue to fight for our families and children to make southeast Ohio a safer place to live."
"I'm very happy with the success of this task force because it shows what can happen when law enforcement agencies work together to combat drug trafficking, which is a very serious issue in this part of the state," said Gallipolis Chief Patterson. "Being a part of this task force helps us erase jurisdictional boundaries between our agencies for the common goal of keeping our communities safe."
In 2013, authorities working in OOCIC task forces across the state seized more than $14 million worth of drugs and more than $5 million in U.S. currency.
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