MANCHESTER (12-11-12) – A total of 24 people were being sought Tuesday, December 11, on charges related to illegal drug trafficking in Clay County.

The eight-month investigation was conducted in partnership between the Manchester Police Department and Operation UNITE detectives.

Most of the suspected illegal drug trafficking occurred in the city of Manchester and Curry Branch section of Clay County, said Paul Hays, deputy law enforcement director for UNITE.

“Chief Chris Fultz and Assistant Chief Patrick Robinson were very proactive in following up citizen tips about suspected drug activity,” Hays said. “The bits and pieces of information we received allowed us to conduct undercover buys.”

Clay County has the fourth most number of tips reported to UNITE’s toll-free Drug Tip Line (1-866-424-4382). Through November, Clay County citizens have provided 1,194 tips.

A majority of the cases involved the sale of Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, with some marijuana, Hays said.

“This is a great partnership,” Fultz stated. “It helps both agencies with manpower and cooperation. We will continue to battle the drug problem in our county.

Officers from the Manchester PD, UNITE, Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police began serving arrest warrants for the suspects Tuesday morning.

As of early afternoon they had located 18 individuals and lodged them in the Clay County Detention Center.

Those arrested were:

• James O. Acker, 45, Curry Branch Road, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Roy Boggs, 45, Twin Poplar Road, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, and two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Juliet Gregory, 29, Lovers Leap Road, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Sherry Hall, 43, Bridge Street, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Jerry Hinkle, 56, Richmond Road, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

• Tony L. Hinkle, 19, Richmond Road, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

• Danny W. Kilgore, 36, Lovers Leap Road, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Ronnie Lawson, 58, Beach Creak Apartments, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Kenna R. Marcum, 35, Oak Street, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Shannon McQueen, 30, Bowling Street, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, and one count trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces, first offense.

• Randy L. Napier, 46, Liberty Road, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Jeffery A. Pennington, 48, Cedar Street, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Billy Ray Sams, 51, Crawfish Road, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Bill Stanley, 40, Highway 80, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, and prescription drugs not in proper container, first offense.

• Jerry Travillion, 45, Caudill Gap Road, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, and one count each first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, and trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces, second offense.

• Betty Wagers, 55, Bridge Street, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Clifford Wagers, 41, Curry Branch Road, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

• Randy Wagers, 44, Curry Branch Road, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense.

Officials were continuing their search for the remaining suspects.