TERRE HAUTE —
Twenty-three people face drug-related charges following a roundup of people police suspect of being involved in dealing cocaine and dealing and manufacturing methamphetamine in Vigo County.
Nineteen people were arrested on warrants obtained during an investigation by members of the Vigo County Drug Task Force, along with members of the Terre Haute Police Department, Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Safe Streets Task Force and local canine units.
In announcing the arrests during a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said the suspects were not believed to be working in conjunction with one another, though many of them knew each other.
A total of 40 felony charges have been filed against those 18 suspects, ranging from class-A felony drug dealing charges to class-D felony maintaining a common nuisance.
Four other suspects were arrested without warrants during the roundup for charges ranging from manufacturing meth to possession of precursors with intent to manufacture.
Modesitt called the arrests “very significant” for local crime-fighting efforts.
“Over the last year, we have seen the fruits of working with federal law enforcement agencies in breaking up drug distribution rings in this area,” Modesitt said. “These successes provided us the opportunity to conduct an intense, focused operation directed at hitting street-level dealers over the last few months.
“As families and children are spending more time outside in yards and on baseball fields, we want everyone to feel safe in the community. And we know all too well the violence often associated with drug dealing.”
Several of those arrested also have prior criminal convictions.
Those arrested during Operation Stoned Cold and the charges against them were:
• James Compton, 24, charged with three counts of dealing methamphetamine and one count of maintaining a common nuisance. His prior convictions are for burglary and criminal conversion.
• Lorrie McGee, 49, charged with dealing cocaine. She has a prior conviction for possession of cocaine.
• Lucas Carter, 29, charged with dealing in methamphetamine. He has prior convictions for check deception in Parke and Sullivan counties, as well as armed robbery, theft, forgery, domestic battery and driving drunk in Vigo County.
• James Carten, 32, charged with two counts of dealing in a controlled substance and maintaining a common nuisance. He has pending charges of dealing in a controlled substance and maintaining a common nuisance.
• Christina Carten, 36, charged with dealing in a controlled substance and maintaining a common nuisance. She has pending cases on the same charges.
• Gregory Barton, 38, charged with two counts of dealing methamphetamine. He has prior convictions for residential entry, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and battery resulting in bodily injury.
• Debra McCarty, 44, charged with two counts of dealing methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance. She has convictions in Vermillion County for theft and purchase of precursor violations.
• Gary Buza, 56, charged with dealing in methamphetamine. He has prior convictions in Parke County for battery and possession of chemical reagents, as well as Vigo County convictions for theft, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief, possession of methamphetamine and drunken driving.
• Antonio Vaughn, 23, charged with dealing in cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance. He has two prior convictions for dealing cocaine.
• Umba K. Maloba, 34, charged with two counts of dealing methamphetamine. She has prior convictions for neglect of a dependent, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
• Anthony Brown, 46, charged with two counts of dealing cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance. He has prior convictions for failure to stop after an accident, driving with a controlled substance and driving while intoxicated.
• James Fullerton, 50, charged with dealing methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance. He has pending cases on the same charges.
• James Leffler, 45, charged with possession of methamphetamine. He has convictions for dealing a controlled substance, dealing in and possession of methamphetamine, criminal recklessness, reckless driving and public intoxication.
• Anthony Nettles, 43, charged with two counts of dealing in cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance. He has prior convictions for reckless driving, theft, possession of and dealing in cocaine, maintaining a common nuisance, armed robbery and resisting law enforcement.
• William Roberts, 43, charged with dealing in cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance. He has prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, resisting law enforcement, robbery, carrying a handgun without a license, public intoxication and habitual traffic violator.
• James Dodd Jr., 32, charged with two counts of dealing in a controlled substance and maintaining a common nuisance. He has prior convictions for possession of marijuana, carrying a handgun without a license, possession of cocaine, driving while suspended, resisting law enforcement and criminal recklessness.
• Craig Grigbsy, 49, charged with two counts of dealing in cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance. He has prior convictions for burglary, robbery, residential entry, theft and domestic battery.
• Shawn Beasley, 41, charged with dealing in methamphetamine. His prior convictions include battery, resisting law enforcement, carrying a handgun without a license, residential entry, criminal recklessness and battery.
• Shawn Lofston, 39, charged with dealing methamphetamine.
Arrested without warrants as part of the operation were:
• Kelsey Whitman, 23, charged with possession of chemical reagents.
• Levi Wells, 21, charged with dealing methamphetamine.
• Nickaray Hughes, 19, charged with maintaining a common nuisance.
• James King, 21, charged with dealing methamphetamine.
Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.
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Police arrest 23 people on drug-related charges
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