JONESVILLE, Va. — Eight individuals were arrested in Lee County recently on charges relating to the distribution of Oxycontin and several are repeat drug offenders.

Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons reported that the investigation was initiated by his office nearly 18 months ago. After the case developed and because of more information obtained, federal authorities from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms joined the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Abingdon was also involved.

Parsons said the cases were based on “informant statements along with undercover purchases of Oxycontin from several of the indicted individuals.”

The arrests were made on Dec. 22.

63-year-old Nancy Lou Bell of Maynardville, Tenn. was charged with bringing Oxycontin into Lee County to be distributed by the others named in the indictment, according to Parsons.

Bell and Iris Gibson, 44, of Rt. 2 Jason Drive, Trailer #6 in Jonesville, Va., were both charged with four counts of distribution of Oxycontin and conspiracy to distribute Oxycontin, along with knowingly and intentionally leasing, renting, or maintaining a place for drug distribution.

Several of those arrested for the conspiracy to distribute Oxycontin were also arrested on March 20 in a county-wide drug round-up led by the Lee County Sheriff’s Dept. Those repeat offenders included Leslie Clasby, 34, of Rt. 3 Box 978 Jonesville, Va. and Joyce Hopkins, 43, and Timothy O. Hopkins both of Slemp’s Trailer Park in Jonesville.

Others picked up on Tuesday were Misty Parker, 22, of 1467 Whiteside Drive, Morristown, Tenn. and Timothy Ray Pace, 28, and Kimberly Dawn Smith both of Riverside Trailer Park in Pennington Gap, Va.

Parsons said all those arrested were taken to Federal Court in Abingdon for arraignment.

The sheriff commended all of those officers working on the investigation and praised the “spirit of cooperation that exists between federal agencies and his office,” which made the multi-state investigation possible.

An arrest is an accusation only and those arrested are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.