A total of 15 defendants involved in an Owensboro-based drug trafficking organization have been charged by a federal Grand Jury for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, among other charges. Ten of the 15 defendants are from Owensboro.
The announcement came Monday afternoon from the office of Michael A. Bennett, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The indictment follows criminal complaints filed against five members of the organization in January 2021 and the seizure of approximately 151 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of suspected fentanyl disguised as pharmaceutical pills, multiple firearms, and more than $350,000. (Officials called that the most significant drug bust in Owensboro history.)
According to the federal indictment regarding Monday’s announcement, members of the drug trafficking operation — as early as 2016 and continuing through Jan. 13, 2021 — conspired with each other and others to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. The indictment also alleges the possession of firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking.
The organization was operating out of Owensboro in connection with Louisville; Orange County, California; Phoenix, Arizona; and ultimately Mexico, according to Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Gannon
The members of the organization were charged as follows:
Willie Watkins, 30, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison.
Richard Cason, 29, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Additionally, Cason is charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking for events occurring on or about Jan. 13, 2021.
Keith Watkins, 28, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Watkins has also been charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl for events occurring between on or about Jan. 12 and 13, 2021.
Samuel White, 27, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. White has also been charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine for events occurring on or about Oct. 1, 2019.
Christopher McNary, 31, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. McNary has also been charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine for events occurring on or about Nov. 6, 2020.
Ryan Thruston, 33, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Thruston has also been charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, and Receipt or Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
James Antonio Smith, 37, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison.
Jeremy Poiles, 39, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. If convicted, the charge carries no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Poiles has also been charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine for events occurring on or about December 11, 2020. Poiles has not yet been apprehended at this time and is a wanted fugitive.
Devon Harris, 22, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison.
Joan E. Johnson, of Owensboro, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison.
Derrick Lamont Bullitt, 37, of Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison.
Karlchaze D. Thruston, 32, of Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Thruston has not yet been apprehended at this time and is a wanted fugitive.
Nache Moore, 31, of Louisville, Kentucky, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charges carry no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison.
Darrion Lamont Moody, 35, of Evansville, Indiana has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charge carries no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Moody has also been charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl for events between on or about Jan. 2 and 6, 2021.
William Harvey Duhart, 37, of Phoenix, Arizona, has been charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. If convicted, the charge carries no less than a mandatory 10 years in federal prison.
More about the indictments
“The allegations involve large quantities of illegal drugs bound for the Western District of Kentucky,” Bennett said. “I commend the DEA for spearheading the criminal investigation into this activity as well as our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners — both here in the Commonwealth and from across the U.S. — who assisted in the effort.”
“Operation Reapin Benefits in support of DEA’s Operation Crystal Shield, was a perfect example of how local, federal and state law enforcement partners collaborated at the highest possible levels and crushed a violent drug trafficking organization,” Gannon said.
According to the release, multiple agencies worked together to conduct 10 “judicially authorized federal write taps on members of this Owensboro-based drug trafficking organization which to date has resulted in the seizure of 238 pounds of methamphetamine, 81 pounds of marijuana, 4.5 pounds of fentanyl pills, 20 ounces of cocaine, 23 firearms including assault rifles with high capacity magazines, $350,000, six vehicles, and the arrest of 28 individuals on federal/state drug charges.”
Owensboro Police Chief Art Ealum said, “The men and women of the Owensboro Police Department remain committed to working with our many partners to effectively reduce violent crime in our city. Violent crime is a well-known byproduct of the illicit drug trade. We are grateful to the many agencies that worked cohesively with our Street Crimes Unit to investigate this Drug Trafficking Organization and successfully secure indictments for those involved.”
Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain said, “These indictments are the result of an ongoing investigation that initially identified five co-conspirators in a major narcotics criminal enterprise operating in the Owensboro-Daviess County area. This collaborative effort by the Owensboro Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, DEA, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky continues, with the possibility of additional persons involved being charged.”
The investigation is being led by the DEA (Evansville Indiana Resident Office, Albuquerque District Office, Phoenix Field Division, Orange County District County Office, Oklahoma City, Flagstaff Resident Office, Paducah POD, Springfield, Missouri, and SOD); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Bowling Green, Kentucky; HSI Oklahoma City; Owensboro Kentucky Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff’s Office; Criminal Interdiction Team of Central Oklahoma; Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office; Oklahoma City Police Department; Arizona Highway Patrol; and the Daviess County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
