Correspondent

In 2004 Claiborne County Sheriff Harry Shultz and agents of the 8th Judicial Drug Task Force started an undercover drug operation in the county. The operation consisted of purchasing marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription drugs and other narcotics from approximately 30 drug dealers in Claiborne County.

The efforts paid off on April 5th when 14 arrests were made in a county-wide round up. More arrests are pending as officers attempt to locate other alleged illegal drug dealers.

Leonard Epperson was arrested and charged with possession of Schedule IV drugs; and delivery or selling Schedule VI controlled substances. As warrants were being served by Sgt. Robert Chadwell additional charges were added including: possession of drug paraphernalia; felony possession of Schedule VI drugs for resale; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; and a second count of delivery or selling Schedule VI controlled substances.

Johnathan Young was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of Schedule VI drugs; and delivery or selling of Schedule VI controlled substances.

William Singleton was charged with two counts of delivery or selling of Schedule VI controlled substances.

Daniel Shenan was charged with two counts of delivery or selling of Schedule II controlled substances.

Douglas Heath was charged with delivery or selling of Schedule II controlled substances.

Lee Earls faces charges of delivery or selling of counterfeit controlled substances.

Randy Lane was charged with two counts of delivery or selling of Schedule VI controlled substances.

Eddie Martin was charged with two counts of delivery or selling of counterfeit controlled substances.

Danny Richardson was charged with four counts of delivery or selling Schedule VI controlled substances.

Chris Goins faces three counts of delivery or selling of Schedule VI controlled substances.

James Morris was charged with two counts of delivery or selling of Schedule VI controlled substances.

Harold Long was charged with delivery or selling of Schedule II controlled substances.

In an unrelated incident, Sgt. Chadwell stopped James Wallace Parkey of Tazewell for erratic driving on April 9th. According to the arrest report, Parkey was in possession of approximately five and one half grams of methamphetamine, packaged for resale. Several pills, suspected of being Schedule IV narcotics, were also alleged to be in his possession.

In a prepared statement, Shultz thanked agents of the 8th Drug Task Force and citizens who reported the sale of illegal drugs. He also commended officers of the Claiborne County Sheriffs Department, Tazewell Police Department, New Tazewell Police Department, Cumberland Gap Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

"Without all of us working together this and other operations would not be successful," the statement read.

Anonymous reports of illegal drug traffic may be made to the Claiborne County Sheriffs Department at (423) 626-6671 or the 8th Judicial Drug Task Force at 1-888-566-5840. Tips for Claiborne and other counties will be accepted at either contact number.