Illegal Drug Operation Results In Multiple Indictments

Winfield, TN (2007-11-30) A ten-month undercover illegal drug operation conducted by the Winfield Police Department culminated in the arrest of several people on Friday. Five of those arrested will also face TennCare fraud charges.

According to Chief Steve Trammell, a multi-jurisdictional task force arrested seventeen persons Friday on charges resulting from an ongoing intensive, illegal drug operation being conducted by the Winfield Police Department. “The illegal distribution of prescription medication, especially medicine prescribed for pain, is a real problem in our jurisdiction,” commented Chief Trammell. The problem is not isolated to the small Winfield community, as the task force arrested people throughout Scott County, along with several persons in Campbell and Morgan counties.

“Illegal use and trafficking of prescription medication is often associated with other criminal activity,” Trammell remarked. “Illegal drug users commonly commit other crimes, often to finance their habit,” he concluded.

The seventeen persons arrested were among those indicted by a Scott County Grand Jury on Monday, November 26, 2007. Several drug related indictments remain sealed, as authorities were unable to locate and arrest them on Friday.

The indictments and resultant arrests weren’t the effort of any single person, but a collaborative effort of many police officers and agencies. “I want to personally thank Oneida Police Chief Mike Cross and Scott County Sheriff Anthony Lay for their cooperation and assistance,” stated Trammell. “By working together, we were able locate, find and arrest these individuals and interrupt the flow of illegal drugs in our community,” he continued. “Without the cooperation of the local District Attorney General’s office, State Office of the Inspector General, the Oneida Police Department and Scott County Sheriff’s Department, these arrests wouldn’t have been possible,” he concluded.

Investigator Rob Reed of the Winfield Police Department, who lead the investigation, agreed, calling the operation a joint effort of the members of the Winfield Police Department and other local and state law enforcement officers. “The operation wouldn’t have been successful without the concerted efforts of the entire department,” he said. Reed also complimented the work of Inspector Lance Saylor of the Office of Inspector General TennCare Fraud Division, who made the TennCare cases against five of the people indicted.

Persons arrested Friday included:

Amanda Leigh Chambers, 23, of 292 Hunter Street, Helenwood was indicted on the sale of a Schedule III (Hyrdrocodone) controlled substance.

April Dae Ellis, 29, of 808 Pine Grove Road, Winfield was charged with the sale of a Schedule II (Morphine) controlled substance.

Donna C. Ellis, 48, of 241 Fountain Lane, Lafollette was indicted on the sale of a Schedule III (Hyrdocodone) controlled substance.

Vincent Matthew Ellis, 31, of 808 Pine Grove Road, Winfield. Ellis was indicted on two counts of the sale of Schedule II (Morphine) controlled substance.

William C. Ellis, 47, of Campbell County was indicted for the sale of Schedule II (Morphine) controlled substance; attempted Sale of a Schedule II (Methamphetamine) controlled substance of more than 0.5 grams; sale of Counterfeit (Methamphetamine) controlled substance; sale of Schedule IV (Xanax) controlled substance; sale of a Schedule II (Oxycontin) controlled substance; attempted sale of a Schedule II (Percocet) controlled substance; and sale of counterfeit (Percocet) controlled substance.

Casey A. Emmons, 27, of 292 Hunter Street, Helenwood. Emmons was charged with three counts of the sale of a Schedule III (Hydrocodone/Lorcet) controlled substance.

Joseph William Goodman, 42, of 1333 Court Lane, Oneida was indicted on the sale of a Schedule III (Lorcet) controlled substance.

Mary A. Goodman, 48, of 239 Pleasant Valley Lane, Oneida. Goodman was charged with the sale of a Schedule III (Lorcet) controlled substance. She was also charged with TennCare fraud for fraudulently obtaining TennCare medical assistance benefits.

Misty D. Kiser, 29, of 150 Slaven Drive, Winfield was indicted for the sale of a Schedule III ( Hyrdrocodone) controlled substance; attempt to sell a Schedule II (Morphine); sale of counterfeit (Morphine) controlled substance; attempt to sell a Schedule II (Morphine) controlled substance; and the sale of a counterfeit (Morphine) controlled substance.

Wayne Michael Kiser 34, of 219 Slaven Drive, Winfield was charged with three counts of the sale of a Schedule III (Hyrdrocodone) controlled substance; and TennCare fraud.

Bobby Ray Newport, 58, of 209 West Isham Road, Winfield was indicted for the sale of a Schedule III (Hyrdrocodone) controlled substance, distribution of marijuana and TennCare fraud.

Travis Audney Newport, 21, of 209 West Isham Road, Winfield was charged with the sale of a Schedule III (Hydrocodone) controlled substance.

Matthew Wade Phillips, of 241 Fountain Lane, Lafollette was indicted for the attempted sale of a Schedule II (Methamphetamine), sale of a counterfeit (Methamphetamine) controlled substance, and sale of a Schedule III (Hyrdocodone) controlled substance.

Brenda Carol Sexton, 57, of 192 West Isham Road, Winfield was charged with two counts of the sale of a Schedule II (Lorcet) controlled substance; two counts of the sale of a Schedule III (Oxycontin/Percocet) controlled substance; attempt to sell a Schedule II (Percocet) controlled substance; sale of a counterfeit (Oxycodone) controlled substance; attempt to sell a Schedule II (Percocet); sale of a counterfeit (Oxycodone) controlled substance; and two counts of TennCare fraud.

Steven Ralph Smith, 24, of 192 West Isham Road, Winfield was indicted for the sale of a Schedule III (Hyrdrocodone) controlled substance.

Leland Ray Webb, 41, of 150 Slaven Lane, Winfield was charged with sale of a Schedule II (Oxycontin) controlled substance, attempt to sell a Schedule II (Methamphetamine) controlled substance, two counts of the sale of counterfeit (Methamphetamine) controlled substance, attempt to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, and four counts of TennCare fraud.

Leland Shawn Webb, 18, of 584 Pea Ridge Road, Sunbright was indicted on the sale of a Schedule III (Hydrocodone) controlled substance, sale of a Schedule IV controlled substance (Xanax), sale of a Legend Drug (Viagra), attempt to sell a Schedule II (Morphine) controlled substance and sale of a counterfeit controlled substance.

Officers participating in Friday’s round-up included:

• Winfield Police Department – Chief Trammell, Investigator Robert Reed, Bryan King, William “Bill” Miller, Chad Jones and Adam Shinkle;
• Office of Inspector General – Inspector Lance Saylor;
• Oneida Police Department – Chief Mike Cross, Investigator John Terry, Investigator Paul D. Adkins, K-9 Officer Steven Ward and officer Gerry “Greasey” Garrett;
• Scott County Sheriff’s Department – Sheriff Anthony Lay, Chief Bobby Ellis, Chief Detective William “Bill” Lane, Detective Tommy Silcox, Detective Melissa Dunning, Sgt. Gary Sexton, Captain Tommy Jeffers, K-9 Officer Kris Lewallen, K-9 Officer Danny Phillips, SRO Troy Hull, SRO Brian Keeton, Deputy Andy Davis, Deputy Robert Fox, Deputy Roger Douglas, and Deputy Ben Potter;
• and Deputies from the Campbell County and Morgan County Sheriff’s Departments.