11th drug suspect held in county jail

Published 11:28 am Thursday, June 14, 2012

An 11th suspect was arrested Wednesday afternoon on drug charges resulting from a yearlong investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.

Chasty Moore, 22, 1245 Mount Alban Road, Lot 6, was nabbed just after 1 p.m., said Sheriff Martin Pace, joining 10 other Warren County residents rounded up earlier in the day who face a number of charges related to fraudulent acquisition and distribution of prescription medications.

Moore was charged with one count of sale of Xanax and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, said Pace. Her bond was set at $9,000 — $7,500 for the sale charge and $1,500 on the conspiracy. She remained in the Warren County Jail this morning awaiting an initial hearing in justice court.

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Others arrested Wednesday face charges related to oxycodone and hydrocodone, both classified as Schedule II or III controlled medications under the Controlled Substances Act. Xanax is a Schedule IV drug.

Pace said illegally diverting, using and selling prescription drugs is outpacing the use of methamphetamine and cocaine.

“It’s the fastest-growing drug problem we have,” Pace said Wednesday. The drugs are readily available and highly addictive, he said.

Justice Court Judge Jeff Crevitt set bond for all defendants based on affidavits, not personal appearances by the 11, the sheriff said. Bond was set at $7,500 per count for sale charges and $2,000 for each count of fraudulent acquisition.

“We do expect more arrests to be made,” Pace said this morning, but he would not say how many and would not speculate on when they would be made.

Defendants arrested Wednesday morning, their charges and bond amounts were:

• Colum Woodson, 32, 2625 Alma St. — five counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $10,000

• Teresa Burchfield, 52, 1865 Ring Road — four counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $8,000

• Dianna Hodges, 24, 187 Grange Hall Road — sale of a controlled substance (hydrocodone); $7,500

• Dawn Burroughs, 57, 1309 River Bend Cove — five counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $10,000

• Allison Launius, 30, 2649 Oak Ridge Road, Lot 1 — sale of a controlled substance (hydrocodone); $7,500

• Albert Benson, 60, 915 Locust St. — five counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $10,000

• Joel Wright, 56, 1216 Bonelli St. — five counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $10,000

• Tim Buford, 51, 5615 Jeff Davis Road — two counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $4,000

• Christine Hicks, 42, 1512 Ethel St. — five counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $10,000

• Minor Ray, 50, 801 Clay St., Apt. 3E — five counts of obtaining controlled substance by fraud; $10,000

Wright and Buford remained in the Warren County Jail this morning. The others had posted bond and been released.