TAZEWELL, Va. — Authorities across southwest Virginia are still seeking a dozen individuals facing charges in a major drug round-up that has already led to 32 arrests and 160 drug related charges.

Agencies held a press conference Friday at the Tazewell County Courthouse to describe the ongoing sweep and the prosecutions of people arrested and charged as a result of an operation lasting more than 8 months. The resulting charges contain a “smorgasbord of various narcotics,” said Commonwealth Attorney Dennis Lee.

“It took wonderful teamwork to develop these suspects, make these cases and develop these arrests,” Lee said.

Tazewell County Sheriff H.S. Caudill said officers in the county are aggressive in drug enforcement. Some of the suspects arrested in the Sept. 9 sweep have previously served prison time on drug related charges only to resume their activities after being released.

Many of the drug trafficking cases are developed from tips made by members of the public, Lee said. The attention is causing drug dealers to change their venues.

“We’ve been seeing a shift in locations during the last several years,” he said. Dealers are more often using public places such as store parking lots to conduct their business; authorities are discussing steps with business owners to help stop the practice.

“There’s no sense in taking your kids to the grocery store and seeing people dealing drugs in the car next to you,” Lee said.

Despite the large number of arrests, the region generally does not see large drug rings, Lee added. Most illicit sales are conducted by individuals or pairs of people.

“Once in a while you see an organized ring,” he said.

One person arrested Thursday in the sweep, Billy Wayne Deel, 60, of Pilgrim Knob, Va. is also facing firearms charges after handguns, assault rifles and a sawed off shotgun were found during the raid on his home, Lee said. In Virginia, it is illegal to possess both firearms and Schedule II controlled substances. Deel has been charged with distribution of oxycodone and other drugs.

Another source of leads are generated by the Virginia State Police-Drug Diversion, which investigates of misuse of prescriptions to obtain controlled drugs. Such cases usually involve prescription fraud and “doctor shoppers” who write unnecessary prescriptions for controlled substances.

Painkillers such as oxycodone are usually found during drug arrests, but not much cocaine is seen, Caudill said. Most of the prescription drugs are brought to Tazewell County from out of state because local seminars for the county’s doctors and pharmacists help them watch for prescription fraud.

State Police investigating drug diversion do a good job, but there are only two officers available to cover 17 counties, Caudill said.

“I think the sheriff’s offices ought to have the right to investigate doctors’ offices and pharmacies that are doing illegal drug activity,” he said.

Medicine theft is also a big problem, Caudill said. Drugs are often stolen by members of the patients’ families, and there are times when false reports about stolen pain medications are submitted so new prescriptions can be obtained.

Agencies that participated in the investigation and arrests included: Tazewell County Narcotics Task Force; Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office; Richlands Police Department; Bluefield, Va. Police Department; Tazewell Police Department; Virginia State Police; Virginia State Police–Drug Diversion: Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department; Buchanan County Narcotics Task Force: Russell County Sheriff’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.



Tazewell County Circuit Court drug indictments Sept. 9.

Lisa Illene Alley, 37, Richlands, Va., prescription fraud.

Lisa Illene Alley, 37, Richlands, Va., prescription fraud (10 counts), Medicaid fraud (10 counts).

Curtis Leone Barnette II, 27, Winston-Salem, N.C., distribution of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance (two counts).

Tonya Michelle Barton, 27, Richlands, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts), distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts).

Estle Ray Blevins, 47, Bluefield, Va., criminal solicitation.

Estle Ray Blevins, 47, Bluefield, Va., possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jason Andrew Blevins, 21, Bluefield, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Jason Andrew Blevins, 21, Bluefield, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Vickie Maria Rose Byrd aka Vickie Maria Rose, 35, Doran, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute an imitation controlled substance, distribution of imitation controlled substance, distribution of Clonazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

James Albert Casey aka “Butterball”, 37, Cedar Bluff, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, false pretense.

Teddy Vaughn Collins, 50, Richlands, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Gary Wayne Davis, 50, Raven, Va., distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance.

Billy Wayne Deel, 60, Pilgrims Knob, Va., distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Hydromorphone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance (two counts).

Wanda Shea Justus Frazier, 36, Richlands, Va., prescription fraud (16 counts),

Rhonda Gail Honaker, 36, Doran, Va., prescription fraud (35 counts), uttering a forged prescription (three counts), attempted prescription fraud (three counts).

Douglas Arthur Horn, 51, Pilgrims Knob, Va., distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, (two counts)

James Curtis Hylton, 63, Richlands, Va., distribution of Buprenorphone, a Schedule III controlled substance.

Ashlie Marie Lee, 26, Cedar Bluff, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Methamphetamine, a Schedule Ii controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or distribute Clonazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, distribution of Clonazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Larry Douglas Lowe, 37, Jewell Ridge, Va., distribution of Morphone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts), distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Larry Edward Mullins, 48, Doran, Va., sale or distribution of marijuana (misdemeanor).

Charity Witt Patton, 27, Richlands, Va., prescription forgery, uttering a forged prescription, prescription fraud.

William Robert Peak, 30, Richlands, Va., possession of Amphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Rex Allan Perricellia, 53, Raven, Va., distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance (two counts), solicitation of prostitution (misdemeanor).

Andrew Jackson Pickett Jr., 47, Richlands, Va., distribution of Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance (two counts), possession of marijuana (misdemeanor).

Randall Lynn Price, 49, Cedar Bluff, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Marvin Thomas Proffitt, 22, Doran, Va., manufacture of marijuana.

Melissa Ann Pruitt, 28, Red Ash, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or distribute Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Methadone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Marla Alice Salyers aka Marla Alice Hicks, Cedar Bluff, Va., distribution of Methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance (three counts), child abuse.

Marla Alice Salyers aka Marla Alice Hicks, Cedar Bluff, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to sell or distribute Clonazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, distribution of Clonazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Charles Kenneth Shepard, 45, Tazewell, Va., distribution of Dronabinol., a Schedule III (controlled substance.

Johnny Curtis Short, 58, Richlands, Va., distribution of Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance.

William Terry Sparks, 44, Cedar Bluff, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts), distribution of Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance (three counts)

Nathan Garnett Stevens aka “Churn”, 66, Lebanon, Va., distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance (two counts), criminal solicitation, prescription fraud.

Clyde Wilson Cartwright II, 39, Boissevain, Va. conspiracy to sell or distribute Morphine, a Schedule II controlled substance, distribution of Morphine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Lauren Nicholle Pruett aka Nikki Pruett, 21, Bluefield, Va., conspiracy to sell or distribute Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance, distribution of Hydrocodone, a Schedule III controlled substance.