According to Claiborne County Sheriff David Ray, the round-up was the result of an ongoing investigation his office started several months ago. Assisting with the investigation was the 8th Judicial Drug Task Force, the TN Meth Task Force, agents of Inspector General Office, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, 15 alleged dealers were taken into custody and transported to the Claiborne County Justice Center where they were processed and arraigned before the court for a bond and a trial date. The round-up was to continue throughout the day and night until all of the indictments were served.
“If those who traffic in illegal sales of narcotic drugs think that the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office will discontinue fighting drug dealers, they better think again,” said Sheriff Ray. “We will continue to investigate, identify, and arrest anyone who is involved in drug trafficking. My best advice to drug dealers is simply leave Claiborne County.”
The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the citizens for their cooperation and information received and encourage those who have any information concerning illegal drug trafficking, please contact us, The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office at: (423) 626-3385.
Those arrested by 2 p.m. Wednesday and the charges against them were:
•Amanda Tuttle, age 25 of Tazewell, Sale of Schedule II
• Jonathan Seals, age 28 of New Tazewell, Possession of Schedule II for Resale, Possession of Schedule III for Resale, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Rickey Harvey, age 45, of Tazewell, Possession of Schedule II
• Justin Hill, age 25 of Harrogate, Sale of Schedule II
• Amber Lester, age 20, of New Tazewell, Sale of Counterfeit Control Substance
• Lee Graves, age 43 of Harrogate, Sale of Schedule II
• Darlene Keck, age 44 of New Tazewell, Sale of Counterfeit Control Substance
• Darrell Miller, age 24 of Tazewell, Sale of Schedule II, Sale of Schedule III, Sale of Schedule IV
• Christina Russell, age 29 of New Tazewell, Sale of Schedule III
• Debra Miracle, age 46 of New Tazewell, Sale of Schedule II
• Robert Brown, age 34 of Cumberland Gap, Sale of Schedule II
• Richard L. Roat Jr., age 53 of Speedwell, Sale of Schedule II, Sale of Schedule IV
• Nolan Ausmus, age 65 of Speedwell, Sale of Schedule II
• Dianna Hamblin, age 54 of Clairfield, Fraudulently obtaining Tenncare controlled substance benefits
• Alfred Pagano, age 69 of New Tazewell, Sale of Schedule III
The sheriff is one himself.
He was elected by the dealers.
They"OWED" him for all the
favors he did for them
when he was the judge.