Drug sting nets 10 across county
The Franklin County Drug Unit assisted by Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies and Russellville Police Officers conducted an early morning roundup on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, according to officials.
Ten people were arrested on various drug related charges stemming from grand jury indictments and felony warrants.
The Franklin County Drug Unit consists of officers from the Russellville Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. Officers from the Franklin County District Attorney’s office and the Red Bay Police Department were also involved, according to officials.
Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the different agencies working together are important to putting a case like this together.
“The County Drug Unit depends on everyone working together,” Oliver said. “It is important that we work together and combine our resources in order to apprehend people like this.”
Those arrested were Denise Terry Miller, 43, of Phil Campbell; Karla Laraye Watson, 40, of Russellville; Howard Ray Trapp Sr., 65, of Phil Campbell; John Randall Scott, 54, of Russellville; Marsha Dean Pruitt-Bey, 38, of Russellville; Steven Dewayne Pounders, 44, of Spruce Pine; Rayburn Carl Nix, 65, of Spruce Pine; Samuel Lewis Hillman II, 42, of Russellville; Tammy Sue Bell, 35, of Russellville; Jeremy Wayne Tucker, 39, of Russellville.
Denise Terry Miller is charged with possession of a controlled substance. Karla Laraye Watson is charged with four counts of distribution of a controlled substance. Howard Ray Trapp, Sr. is charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled substance. John Randall Scott is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Marsha Dean Pruitt-Bey is charged with distribution of a controlled substance. Steven Dewayne Pounders is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rayburn Carl Nix is charged with possession of a controlled substance. Samuel Lewis Hillman II is charged with distribution of a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Tammy Sue Bell is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and drug trafficking. Jeremy Wayne Tucker is charged with distribution of a controlled substance. All those charged are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Oliver said that most of the substances involved with this roundup was methamphetamine but that there were a few other substances as well.
“We had been watching these folks for a while,” Oliver said. “The Drug Unit did a good job of putting our resources together and working this case for about six months.
“Everything went smoothly for the most part,” Oliver said.
Possession of a controlled substance can either result in a felony or misdemeanor depending on the type of drug and the amount of the drug involved as well as the intent.
Distribution of a controlled substance can carry a penalty of 10 to 99 years in prison and up to a $60,000 fine.
