JEFFERSON COUNTY, Indiana — More than two dozen people have been charged with felonies after a months-long investigation into a drug trafficking operation between Kentucky and southern Indiana.
“This investigation was a major success resulting from hundreds of hours of work by officers from multiple law enforcement agencies,” Prosecutor David Sutter said in a news release on Thursday.
According to Sutter, “Operation Iceberg” began in February after authorities learned Christopher Dorten was a major supplier of methamphetamine in Jefferson County.
Detectives learned Dorten made at least 65 trips to Louisville where he allegedly obtained meth and cocaine from Darren Richardson, who is also known as Anthony Richardson, the prosecutor said.
In mid-August, Dorten was arrested and charged with multiple felonies including several counts of dealing in methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to deal methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to deal cocaine.
He is being held in Jefferson County on a $500,000 cash bond.
Kentuckiana drug operation
Police also arrested Michelle Childress during a search of her home because Dorten used it to further the multi-state drug operation, Sutter said. She is charged with nine felony drug charges and a misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Richardson was arrested in Louisville on a warrant for felony charges of conspiracy to deal methamphetamine and conspiracy to deal cocaine. He is being held at a Kentucky jail while waiting for extradition to Indiana, police added.
As detectives continued investigating the sprawling drug operation, police were able to arrest and charge 22 other individuals who Dorten was allegedly supplying illegal narcotics to.
They were all arrested on Sept. 11 and are each facing multiple felony drug charges:
- Jonathan David Clark, 50, of Hanover, Ind.
- Sabrina Clark, 35, of Hanover, Ind.
- Sean Eugene Cooksey, 56, of Madison, Ind.
- Matthew R. Cyrus, 40, of Madison, Ind.
- Ralph Wayne Davis II, 52, of Madison, Ind.
- Gregory Todd Griffin, 58, of Versailles, Ky.
- Jonathon Gruden-Durham, 31, of Madison, Ind.
- Jennifer Elizabeth Hendrix, 41, of Madison, Ind.
- Larry W. Howard III, 52, of Madison, Ind.
- Jeanie Carol Lansberg, 55, of Commiskey, Ind.
- Christian Lauderbaugh, 29, of Hanover, Ind.
- Mark Ellis Lewis, 58, of Madison, Ind.
- Richard Kyle Lock, 44, of Dupont, Ind.
- Kelsey Luellen, 29, of Madison, Ind.
- Cheyenne Elaine Mason, 27, of Madison, Ind.
- Jennifer Phillips, 52, of Madison, Ind.
- Jason Allen Posey, 47, of Madison, Ind.
- Jordan Travis Stewart, 33, of Lexington, Ky.
- Chad Uebel, 48, of Deputy, Ind.
- Jeremy Webster, 40, of Madison, Ind.
- R. Paul Yount II, 40, of Madison, Ind.
- Mandy Demaree, 51, of Vevay, Ind.
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