LONDON, KY (July 21, 2022) - Sheriff John Root is reporting that on Monday, July 18, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Interdiction Unit initiated an investigation that resulted in a seizure of approximately 1.25 pounds of crystal Methamphetamine, several hundred Fentanyl pills, small amounts of Cocaine, Heroin and Marijuana during a delivery to Laurel County.
The record setting narcotics seizure stemmed from an incident at the 49er Fuel Center truck stop off I-75 exit 49 in East Bernstadt, KY.
Arrested were Justin Cooper, Travis Jefferson, and Christopher Brown, all of Lexington, KY
All three were wanted for various warrants and firearm charges.
Justin Cooper was charged with:
- POSSESSION OF HANDGUN BY CONVICTED FELON
- PROBATION VIOLATION (FOR FELONY OFFENSE)
- TWO FAILURE TO APPEAR CHARGES
- PROBATION VIOLATION (FOR FELONY OFFENSE)
Travis Jefferson was charged with:
- SERVING PAROLE VIOLATION WARRANT
- PROMOTING CONTRABAND - 1ST DEGREE
- PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER I
- FAILURE TO APPEAR
- POSSESSION OF HANDGUN BY CONVICTED FELON
Christopher Brown was charged with:
- FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 1ST DEGREE (MOTOR VEHICLE)
- RECKLESS DRIVING
- POSS CONT SUB 1ST DEG 1ST OFF (HEROIN)
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA - BUY/POSSESS
- TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENC
- POSS OF MARIJUANA
- POSS CONT SUB, 3RD DEGREE - DRUG UNSPECIFIED
- PRESCRIPTION CONT SUB NOT PROPER CONTAIN 1ST OFF
- FAILURE OF OWNER TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED INS/SEC, 1ST OFF
- LICENSE TO BE IN POSSESSION,,PAROLE VIOLATION (FOR FELONY OFF)
These three individuals were lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photos of the accused are courtesy of the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Following the initial seizure and arrests, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the DEA, FBI, and the Lexington Police Department to further the investigation and identify the source of supply and on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 the Lexington Police Department assisted by the DEA, FBI, and Laurel County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence on Cambridge Drive in Lexington.
As a result of this search warrant, Law Enforcement seized approximately:
- 43 pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine
- 4.7 pounds of Cocaine
- Approximately 19,000 dosage units of Fentanyl pills
- 30.9 grams of Heroin
- Three firearms
Arrested at this location were Ariadna Lemus-Fuentes of Lexington and Jose Alberto Valles-Espinoza, a Mexican native.
Both were charged with:
- Federal drug trafficking charges
These two individuals were also lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photos of the accused from the Laurel County Sheriff's Office.
Assisting the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office during this investigation were the DEA London and Lexington Resident Offices, FBI London and Lexington Resident Agencies, London Police Department, Somerset Police Department, Lexington Police Department Emergency Response Unit and the Lexington Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Unit.
Sheriff Root also added “ The outstanding inter-agency cooperation was vital in the successful conclusion of these seizures and arrests.” Sheriff Root further added that the “War on Drugs” will continue.
The estimated street value of these narcotics is over $2.5 million dollars.
