Learn why. Investigators say they're members or associates of the "local drug trafficking organization and street gang"called "Everybody Shines Together.". Warren wrote about Adam's addiction, his death and thedecision by his parents to tell their family's story; to serve as a witness to others who experienced remarkable grief and the loss of loved ones at the height of Kentucky's addiction crisis. The FBI Louisvilles Safe Streets Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and investigators from Louisville Metro Police Department, Nelson County Sheriffs Office, Bullitt County Sheriffs Office, and Homeland Security Investigations, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Internal Revenue Service are investigating the case. Copyright 2021 WDRB Media. Paducah:(270) 442-7104. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider This courier system returned between one and four million dollars to the Flores brothers each month. Its not uncommon for politicians to place additional pressure on the chief of police to do something, so the politician has a record of tough stances and results when it comes to drug arrests. In the spring and summer, we expanded our reporting efforts to peel back more layers and better understand the cartel's presence nationwide: Reporter Kirby Adams, who had a 13-year career as a WHAS-TV anchor before joining our newsroom in 2014, worked with Strupp and visuals editors Jeff Faughender, Mary Ann Gerth and Scott Utterback to produce and narrate a related 15-minute documentary. An official website of the United States government. Mexican drug lord's super cartel infiltrates US small towns, How a Mexican cartel turned a rural area into a hidden cocaine hub, One mistake trapped a desperate dad in a Mexican drug cartel's web. More independent reporting wading through reams of public court documents and traveling to several cities around the U.S. and Mexico led to more discoveries. A locked padlock But, so too does our unflinching commitment to invest significant resources whenneeded to tell stories that are important to our readers and the communities we serve in Kentucky or around the country. A few months after Adam's death, the Cooleys met Warren for lunch. There's often weeks or months of planning. Lock In Lexington, a horse groomer at historic Calumet Farm surreptitiously directed the flow of at least $30 million worth of illegal drugs transported from CJNG members in Mexicoto Kentucky's two largest cities, Louisville and Lexington. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. marcus johnson basketball 7th grade; does ari fleischer have a glass eye; milford oh accident today Advertisement Court documents. LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The last of 26 defendants charged in the largest Jefferson County, Kentucky drug trafficking organization was sentenced in United States District Court this week, by Senior Judge Charles R. Simpson III, for his role in the distribution of cocaine, brought into the United States through a Mexican drug cartel, to metro Louisville for distribution, announced David J. Hale . The gang members arrested last week have terrorized our communities for far too long, but they will be held accountable for their actions. 64-year-old Doug Caldwell of Hyden, 47-year-old Tony Collett of Stinnett, 57-year-old Scott Hazlett of Hyden, 59-year-old Tresa Hazlett of Hyden, 56-year-old Chrisley Lowe of Hyden, 44-year-old Gloria Lowe of Hyden, 56-year-old Wyckliffe Morgan, Jr. of Stinnett, 27-year-old Kasey Roberts of Stinnett, 66-year-old Henry Smith of Stinnett, 42-year-old Tommy Smith of Stinnett, 52-year-old Randal Wells of Busy, and 44-year-old Shannon Wilder of Essie were all arrested for trafficking methamphetamine, and taken to the Leslie County Detention Center. In March 2017, the family planned to travel to Campbellsville, Kentucky, where Adam was to voluntarily enter a residential rehab facility. "That he could break the cycle that had such a powerful hold on him. All rights reserved. Seven people were arrested as part of a drug gang take down, but three are still on the run. 717 West Broadway Then he vanished, How this couple ran a redneck' meth empire in an Appalachian county ravaged by addiction, How a Mississippi trooper almost took down the world's most powerful cartel boss, Mother searches photos of mutilated dead men, hoping to find her abducted son. The indictment follows a criminal complaint previously filed in federal court against Eric Mosley. As part of the investigation, police found a stolen vehicle, over $160,000 in cash, one kilogram of cocaine, meth and multiple firearms. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Scott Davis and Robert B. Bonar and was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Louisville Division Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division, and Metro Louisville Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and the Indiana and Kentucky State Police. Lock Most politicians are highly aware of the community sentiments towards drugs and crime, especially before important elections. tessa fowler 2017 The lawsuit said that he was detained more than 10 miles from Taylor's house and that officers identified Glover before executing the search warrant at Taylor's house, where they didn't find any drugs. My job is to anticipate whats coming, when its coming and to build the best possible defense for those whom I represent. She also ushered them to our building's basement. Both were lodged in the Floyd County Jail. LOUISVILLE, Ky. ( FOX 56) - A partnership between Louisville Metro Police Department and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency led to the execution of another large drug bust on Monday. If you believe youre under investigation, you need to speak with a serious criminal defense attorney with specific experience in the area of law that applies to your situation. Drug stash large enough to kill 4 million people seized in Louisville, Precautionary boil advisory issued for water customers in east Jefferson County, Police: Woman accused of buying nearly $9K in clothes with stolen credit card, LMPD investigating after body found in Valley Station cemetery, Louisville co-workers share $50K after winning Ky. Lottery scratch-off, Elizabethtown high school student crowned Miss Kentucky Teen USA. I know my record, and yes, Im proud of it. Who is El Mencho, the most powerful drug kingpin in the world? Not one person has explained anything to me," Palmer told The 19th. The FBI said it will continue to focus on taking whole groups off the street at once, target drugs, guns, and other violent crimes. "She was an essential worker. Taylor's family is being represented by Benjamin Crump, a well-known civil-rights attorney who has represented other black shooting victims, including Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin. We hired afreelance writer in Mexico City, Karol Suarez, and photographer Cristopher Rogel Blanquet, to tell the story of CJNG's violence in Mexico. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A gang of drug dealers accused of selling meth, fentanyl, and cocaine has been busted by FBI and Louisville Metro Police investigators. Prospect, Crestwood, Jefferson County, New devices, new social media giants and new habits by digital-loving readers have forced us to change. It was Warren, however, who spearheaded the investigation. . "She had no drugs. Louisville, KY 40202, Louisville: (502) 582-5911 Sign up for notifications from Insider! This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justices violent crime reduction efforts. In a Facebook post, officials said on Friday evening deputies located a person in Prestonsburg with outstanding warrants. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A Change.org petition seeking justice for Taylor had amassed over 11,000 signatures as of Tuesday evening. These recent busts are just the beginning. If convicted, Mosley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison. Crump also represented the family of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood-watch volunteer, in Florida in 2012. They're a Louisville couple whose 27-year-old son, Adam, had wrestled with drug addiction for six years. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Ten Louisville residents have been charged as part of a bust targeting a Louisville drug trafficking organization, according to the Federal Bureau of. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Andy Beshear to intervene. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In early 2019, she and her editors, Kristina Goetz and Veda Morgan, returned to me with a name I had never heard before: "We think a Mexican cartel leader by the name of El Mencho is behind this.". All Rights Reserved. The Courier Journal identified the suspect as Jamarcus Glover. This time it's the case of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was killed by the police in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, during a narcotics bust in the early hours of March 13. Right in front of us, El Mencho was building an American drug empire. All rights reserved. The remaining seven are wanted for active indictment warrants. Its part of a story the WAVE Troubleshooters have been unraveling linked to the murders of 3-year-old Trinity Randolph and her father, Brandon Waddles. Copyright 2022 WAVE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Sometimes, those changes have been painful for our 151-year-old operation. Warren and Omar Ornelas, a photographer from The Desert Sun, our sister newspaper in Palm Springs, California, went to Mexico City and Guadalajara to learn and observemore about CJNG's presence there, how its operatives were evading U.S. drug-fighting authorities, and what was being done to find El Mencho. Email . Our fight for justice for Breonna Taylor starts today. Police say the. If these people are funding the violence on the street as well as committing it, when the funding for that violence drives up the incentive for others is diminished, MPD Major Aaron Crowell said. Louisville, Kentucky Multiple members and associates of an alleged local drug trafficking organization and street gang known as Everybody Shines Together, or, EST, were arrested over the past week in Louisville on federal criminal charges related to alleged drug trafficking and weapons offenses. She trackeddown local police chiefs, prosecutors, lawyers, DEA officials, even CJNG members in prison to understand U.S. cases that involved the Mexican cartel. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Louisville Metro Narcotics Agents made a major drug bust involving six suspects and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of narcotics. Listen to this in full on your streaming platform of choice and join us in the fight for justice. The arrests were part of the conclusion of the. Its publication comes at an important time for us. She spent months tugging at the threads of this story until El Mencho's secrets unraveled. CJNG's objective is clear: Quickly expand its operations and reach to meet the surging demands ofdrug users. "We found him the next morning, and everything changed for us.". If there is an enemy among us, in Kentucky and at least 34 other states, all signs are pointing to El Mencho. Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of these subjects may contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-CALL-FBI or 502-263-6000. This final sentencing brings to a close the successful prosecution of a dangerous network of drug dealers, stated U.S. Attorney Hale. At least 21 indictments and additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues. This time it's the case of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was killed by the police in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, during a narcotics bust in the early hours of March 13. This was the case in a recent Corbin Kentucky drug bust. FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - Floyd County Sheriff's Office K9 "Drago" led deputies to their largest heroin bust to date. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. . Because for The Courier Journal, it's a local story. One of Louisville's 'most violent' drug gangs has been taken down, feds say. The individuals present can be arrested and prosecuted, depending upon the evidence. But a defense attorney for Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said in a court filing that the police didn't announce themselves while entering, so Walker thought someone was breaking into the apartment. Rob Eggert, a defense attorney for Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said in a recent court filing that the police team two officers and one sergeant didn't knock or announce themselves when entering the apartment, the Louisville Courier Journal reported on Tuesday. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Counsel believes that police hit the door with a battering ram. The McCarthy organization, including its out-of-state pipeline of devastating drugs into Kentucky, has been completely dismantled, said Robert Corso, DEA Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Division, which covers the state of Kentucky. . In addition to the arrests, several search warrants were executed in connection with the investigation, resulting in the seizure of what is believed to be approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine as well as methamphetamine, multiple firearms, a stolen vehicle, and over $160,000 in United States currency. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. She had to go to work," Palmer said The 19th. HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Wednesday morning, troopers with Kentucky State Police Post Hazard and deputies with the Leslie County Sheriffs Office arrested 14 people in a drug bust, with seven more wanted. At other times, the detectives and prosecutors may wait to see what else they can find out about the people allegedly distributing the drugs. Louisville, KY (40203) Today. As the story took shape, senior editors and reporters talked often aboutfairly portrayingMexican Americans and the broader Latino community here in Kentucky and around the country. Copyright 2022 WAVE. If there is an enemy among us, in Kentucky and at least 34 other states, all signs are pointing to El Mencho. Johnson was being held on a $100,000 bond until a judge reduced it. In fact, they said it was one of the Drug Enforcement Administration's largest drug ring busts the agency is aware of in recent history. Warren walked them through our team's findings and introduced the couple to El Mencho's evils. Investigators said seven search warrants were obtained, resulting in the 20 arrests. Building the Louisville drug pipeline The Prietos established the Louisville pipeline in 2016 after another one of Jose Prieto's sons befriended Wiley Greenhill while both were inmates at the. He said the arrests of the Everybody Shines Together gang took months of work, but he acknowledged its only one step in the ongoing battle against violent crime. Why would a Kentucky newsroom 2,000 miles from the headquarters of a ruthless Mexican drug lord named "El Mencho" spendnine months; commit 21 staffers; travel to Mexico, 15 American cities and five states; and produce nine stories,10 videos and one long-form documentaryto tell the story of his fast-growing and violent cartel? Three people are still on the run, but the other seven are either in jail or out on bond. 17, 2022 at 1:14 PM PDT A Kentucky drug bust doesn't just happen. The United States presented evidence obtained through wire tapped phone recordings, controlled calls, jail calls, defendant witnesses in the Bureau of Prisons, defendant witnesses in Marshal custody, numerous law enforcement witnesses from different agencies, and experts from the Metro Louisville Police Fingerprint Lab, the DEA and an expert from the T-Mobile law enforcement compliance division to discuss the geo location information gathered from defendant phones in real time. It means you can be sure that if youre involved in illegal activity, theres a strong possibility that the police may be aware. "It just proves," Brenda told me as she left the newsroom, "how ruthless these (cartel members)are.". LOUISVILLE, Ky. One suspect remains at large following a federal drug bust linked to alleged gang activity in Louisville, and which led to several arrests. Warren's reporting showed that El Mencho and CJNG were operating in farm towns tucked in the Midwest, in beach communities in Mississippi and South Carolina, in a 6,500-person community deep in Virginia and scores of other places. All 26 defendants either pleaded guilty to charges or were found guilty at trial. To those gang members who continue to operate with a blatant disregard for your fellow citizens, know that we are working tirelessly to identify, investigate, and apprehend you and your associates.. It wastargeting unsuspecting communities coast to coast, places off the beaten path from the major drug hubs and border cities that most of us know about. Sheriff Hunt and deputies seized more than 100 grams of heroin, 300 grams of crystal meth, digital scales, a loaded handgun and other drug paraphernalia. U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Kentucky, Federal Grand Jury Indicts Members and Associates of Alleged Louisville Drug Trafficking Organization, Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 29 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution, Drug Conspiracy and Firearms Offenses, and for Assaulting Federal Officer, Kentucky Man Charged with Running Cocaine Distribution Operation, 12 Defendants from 4 States Charged in Federal Methamphetamine Conspiracy. Who is to blame? ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. I didn't know, so I started asking about the suppliers who are selling to local dealers. I came to Louisville 18 months agoconvinced we should be one of the best media sites of our size in the country. Have a question about Government Services? Dickerson was the last of 26 defendants, to be sentenced in one of the largest drug trafficking organizations ever to be dismantled in Jefferson . The conspiracy began in August 2007 and ran through May 10, 2010. Assistant U.S. While the investigation does remain ongoing, this serves as a reminder that the diligent work of officers saves lives every day, the police department wrote on its social media page. The United States also presented documents relating to phone records, hotel records and airline records. Palmer drove from the apartment to the hospital and back to the apartment in search of information about her child only to realize that Taylor had died. They explained how the fast-growing cartel had disrupted lives south of the border, often through violence, as it propelled its drug operations into America. Drug kingpin in the fight for justice offers and accept our Media,. At 1-800-CALL-FBI or 502-263-6000 26 defendants either pleaded guilty to charges or were found guilty trial... Glass eye ; milford oh accident today Advertisement court documents the conspiracy began August! A judge reduced it my record, and everything changed for us. `` they a! 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