-- — Nineteen individuals have been arrested by law enforcement officers in Franklin County on drug dealing and related charges, reported Sheriff Ken Murphy. 

It was the county’s largest drug sweep, according to the sheriff.

The groundwork was laid in 2004, when officers organized the Franklin County Drug Task Force, which has provided an opportunity to utilize multiple resources and assets in dealing with  investigations and related crimes. Sheriff’s deputies have been assisted throughout this investigation by Batesville and Brookville officers, Indiana State Police, Indiana Conservation Officers and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.

This 18-month massive effort began 10 days after Murphy took office in January 2011. “It takes that long” to build cases, he reported. “We probably made at least 30 buys,” two or three from several of the suspects.

“We’re still working on it and we’re going to arrest more people. That I can promise you.”

The sheriff awakened at 2 a.m. Thursday, July 19, then met with an estimated 20 law enforcement officers at the Franklin County Security Center, Brookville, in the early morning hours for a briefing and squad assignments. “Shortly before daylight, officers began rounding up the suspects. By 8:30 a.m. all ... were in custody,”  after 12 felony arrest warrants and four  search warrants were executed, according to Murphy.

Three hours after the raids were completed, the sheriff said, “I wasn’t surprised at the number” of arrests. “The surprise I got today was  with how smooth this thing went ... it was flawless.”

He added, “We got great help” from the Batesville Police Department. Chief Stan Holt made an officer available whenever he or she was needed. BPD’s new K-9, Jinx, participated in the searches. “We were very pleased to have her over here.”

Murphy noted, “This has been an outstanding collaborative effort on the part of law enforcement and the citizens of Franklin County. We received excellent information and cooperation from our citizens. Prosecutor (Melvin) Wilhelm provided financial assistance in the form of drug buy money and the Stayin’ Alive Local Coordinating Council provided grant dollars to cover the manhours involved.”

One suspect was most upsetting to the sheriff. Marcus Linson “was willing to deliver heroin into our community. That just really, really rankles me. I know people are driving down there (to Cincinnati) to get it ... the next thing you know, if we don’t address this, you’ve got somebody coming out here, living and dealing. We’ve got to put a stop to this.”

Officers called Linson July 2. “We had warrants,” Murphy recalled. “We wanted to pick him up out here” so his vehicle could be seized. “He sold us $400 worth of heroin. Every road was blocked between I-74 and Brookville.” After Linson sold the drug to an undercover officer for the third time, he was arrested in New Trenton.

“Each individual drug has a schedule assigned to it,” explained the sheriff. During the searches and drug buys, officers found Schedule I substances, such as heroin; Schedule II opiates or opium products, such as cocaine, oxycodone and adderall; Schedule III stimulants, including Suboxone; and legend drugs, which are prescription drugs, such as clonazepam, possessed by someone without a prescription.

In addition to the 12 arrested on warrants, one other was discovered at a home while his partner was taken into custody and arrested as well and six had been arrested prior to July 19. These suspects are being held in the Franklin County Security Center:

Jeremy Stone, 25, Metamora, dealing in a narcotic drug (heroin), a Class B felony;  dealing in a Schedule III controlled substance, a Class B felony; 

Marcus Linson, 34, Fairfield, Ohio, dealing in a narcotic drug (heroin), a Class B felony (three counts);

Travis Gabbard, 22, Brookville,    dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony (two counts); theft, a Class D felony;

Charles Rayburn, 33, Laurel, dealing in a Schedule II controlled  substance, a Class B felony; and  maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony;

Jason Helms, 25, Brookville, dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony (four counts);  conspiracy to deal, a Class B felony;    maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony (three counts);

Phyllis Schmidt, 68, Brookville, conspiracy to deal in a controlled substance, a Class B felony;

Stacy Hess, 30, Greensburg, dealing in methamphetamine, a Class B felony;

William Miller, 40, Metamora,   dealing in a Schedule III controlled substance, a Class B felony (two counts); maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony; possession of paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor;

Freddie “Joe” Banks, 43, Laurel, dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony (three counts); maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony (three counts);       

Loretta Cooper, 47,       Brookville, dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony;

Bonny Johnson, 25, Brookville, dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony; maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony; possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, Class A misdemeanors; neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony;  

Aaron West, 29, Brookville, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia, Class A misdemeanors; neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony;

Ricky Haffner, 53, Brookville, dealing in a Schedule II controlled  substance, a Class B felony;    

Jamie Baker, 25, Laurel, dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, two counts as a Class B felony and one count as a Class A felony; dealing in a legend drug, a Class D felony.

Floyd Davidson, 30, Laurel, dealing in a Schedule II controlled  substance, a Class B felony (two counts); conspiracy to deal (two counts);

Michael Davidson, 26, Laurel, dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, a Class B felony;  conspiracy to deal (two counts);

Wonda Dameron, 55, Milan, dealing in a Schedule II controlled  substance, a Class B felony; conspiracy to deal (two counts);

Katelyn Dameron, 24, Milan, dealing in a Schedule II controlled  substance, a Class B felony (three counts); conspiracy to deal (two counts).     

Alisha Gabbard, 27, Brookville, was arrested in Harrison, Ohio, and is housed in a justice center there until she waives extradiction, according to the sheriff. She is charged with dealing in a narcotic drug (heroin), three counts as a Class A felony, one count as a Class B felony.

An individual found guilty of a Class A felony can be sentenced from 20-50 years in prison and fined up to $10,000.  The sentence for a B felony is from six to 20 years with a maximum $10,000 fine.  A Class D felony carries a sentence from six months up to three years with a maximum $10,000 fine.  The sentence for Class A misdemeanor is up to one year in jail and a maximum $5,000 fine.

The sheriff explained his department will be working with the prosecutor in an effort to seek restitution for all expenses incurred in each of these investigations. “We want to send a message, if you are going to deal or deliver drugs in Franklin County, you are going to pay a heavy price. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the task force are working very hard to keep our community safe and inviting to persons who live, visit and work in our county.”

Debbie Blank can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 113; or debbie.blank@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.