Attorney General Stumbo Announces Round Up Of Drug Suspects in Franklin and Woodford Counties

FRANKFORT, KY (January 5, 2006) – Attorney General Greg Stumbo announced today that agents from the Kentucky Bureau of Investigation (KBI), along with the Kentucky State Police, Woodford County Sheriff's Department, Frankfort Police Department and Versailles Police Department, spread out across Franklin and Woodford Counties serving warrants on 19 individuals for prescription fraud and drug diversion. The drug round up began in Franklin County, with ten arrests, on Wednesday and continued in Woodford County, with nine arrests, today. Three individuals have not yet been arrested.

The KBI obtained sealed indictments from Grand Juries in Anderson, Franklin, Jefferson, Shelby and Woodford counties following an investigation into the doctor shopping cases. The cases were referred to the KBI by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of the Inspector General. Using the Kentucky All Schedule Electronic Reporting Act (KASPER), the Cabinet gathered information on individuals obtaining numerous prescriptions for controlled substances from multiple doctors.

Obtaining a prescription by fraud or deceit is a Class D Felony punishable by up to five years in prison (KRS 218A.140(1A)). “It is unfortunate that people get hooked on pain killers and will go from county to county seeking doctors who will prescribe the narcotics,” said Attorney General Stumbo. “What they don’t realize is that the KASPER system is in place to track this very activity. Not only is prescription fraud and drug diversion a crime but addicts often resort to other crime to feed their habit. My Office will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases.”

In September, the KBI, along with officers from the Prestonsburg Police Department and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department served warrants on 12 individuals in Floyd County. The law officers obtained sealed indictments from the Floyd County Grand Jury for the multiple arrests after several months of undercover operations. Twelve people were charged with a total of more than 50 drug counts. Charges included Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit and Doctor Shopping.

Names of Individuals Arrested in Round-Up:
All are charged with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit

Mitchell, Heather, age 31 – Indicted in Woodford and Franklin Counties, lives in Franklin County
McElewee, Kenneth, age 47 – Indicted in Franklin County, lives in Franklin County
Winn, Stephen, age 50 – Indicted in Franklin County, lives in Franklin County
West, Carrie, age 39 – Indicted in Franklin County, lives in Franklin County
Sewell, Paul, age 39 – Indicted in Franklin County, lives in Franklin County
Biggs, Lori, age 35 - Indicted in Franklin County, lives in Anderson County
Dennis, Nancy, age 54 – Indicted in Jefferson County, lives in Franklin County
Hendren, Teresa, age 47 – Indicted in Jefferson County, lives in Franklin County
Gilliam, Melissa, age 35 – Indicted in Fayette County, lives in Anderson County
Bowles, Paula, age 48 – Indicted in Anderson County, lives in Shelby County
Smith, Mearion, age 26 – Indicted in Woodford County, lives in Woodford County
Shanks, Denise, age 49 – Indicted in Woodford County, lives in Woodford County
Adkins, Anthony, age 50 – Indicted in Fayette County, lives in Woodford County
Rigsby, Phyllis, age 49 – Indicted in Fayette County, lives in Woodford County
Snapp, Janet, age 42 – Indicted in Fayette County, lives in Woodford County
Todd, John, age 61 – Indicted in Fayette County, lives in Woodford County
Wright, Patricia, age 54 – Indicted in Fayette County, lives in Woodford County
Kinder, Walter, age 35 – Indicted in Woodford County, lives in Woodford County
Monroe Triliby, age 38 – Indicted in Fayette County, lives in Woodford County

Lori Lynne Biggs	Nancy Dennis
Teresa Hendren	Walter Kinder
Kenneth McElewee	Heather L. Mitchell
Paul Wayne Sewell	Denise M. Shanks
Mearion Smith	Carrie Jea West
Stephen Carl Winn	Anthony Adkins
Janet May Snapp	Johnny H. Todd
Patricia A. Wright	Phyllis Rigsby
Triliby Monroe