LOUISA – An investigation into the illegal sale of prescription medication by Operation UNITE has resulted in arrest warrants for 24 individuals.

UNITE detectives, along with officers from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and Louisa Police Department, set out to serve the warrants during a roundup conducted Friday morning August 20. By mid-afternoon 17 of the suspects had been charged.

“Most of the cases resulting from our six-month investigation came through a coordinated effort with both the city and county law enforcement agencies,” said Dan Smoot, director of UNITE’s drug task force. “These departments provided assistance in developing informants and providing essential manpower.”

Most of the illegal sales involved the drugs Oxycodone and Suboxone. Smoot noted that several of those sought Friday have previously been arrested by UNITE on trafficking charges.

Those arrested Friday and lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Johnson County were:

• Michael D. Blankenship, age 37, South Highway 3, Louisa, second-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.

• Tina Blackburn, age 24, Highway 1, Louisa, first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.

• Roy Bowen, age 59, Pine Street, Louisa, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Tommy L. Cantrell, age 43, Rabbit Lane, Louisa, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Terry Brandon Emory, age 27, Wallace Street, Louisa, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and persistent felony offender.

• Tammy Jo Evans, age 38, Cranberry Drive, Louisa, first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.

• Ruben Ison III, age 29, Wallace Street, Louisa, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Lowell Maynard, age 46, Right Fork of Torchlite, Louisa, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Troy Miller, age 26, Lawrence Square Apartments, Louisa, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.

• Lynette Slone, age 47, Mattie Road, Louisa, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a minor.

• Chad Stepp, age 25, Adams Street, Louisa, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and two counts second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Rebecca A. Ward, age 38, South Highway 3, Louisa, second-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance and persistent felony offender.

• Amy West, age 28, Cranberry Drive, Louisa, first-degree conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.

• Elisha Wilks, age 63, Big Cat Ford Road, Louisa, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• William Wilks, age 47, Diamond Ridge Road, Louisa, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Tane Michelle Woods, age 33, Wallace Street, Louisa, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Connie J. Workman, age 50, Sullivan Street, Louisa, three counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

To view photos click here.