Six charged in multi-agency effort

Six people were charged in a multi-jurisdictional investigation that culminated Tuesday, according to Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis, Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith, Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher, and Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Nester.

The four men gathered for a press conference at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office to report progress in a multi-jurisdictional, multiple-agency investigation.

Davis said the agencies “many months ago began an investigation into the suppliers of large quantities of narcotics into our region.” He added that drugs were being trafficked into both counties and the city of Martinsville.

Grand jurors in Henry County “indicted multiple people for racketeering conspiracy, commonly referred to as RICO,” Davis said and explained it is a “serious felony charge,” as well as numerous other charges.

Earlier Tuesday, authorities from the three agencies executed multiple search warrants, including two in the City of Martinsville and eight in Henry County by the time the press conference got underway.

Dais said an additional three warrants were being executed in the county during the press event.

So far, he said six people were arrested and charged with racketeering conspiracy.

“Many of them are related and they are a multi-generational drug dealing family,” Davis said. “These people that we have arrested today are responsible for the death and destruction of our community members. These ‘poison peddlers’ have sold drugs that have destroyed our family and friends and they’ve profited from those who suffer with addiction, and that stops today.”

Also, as a result of the search warrants, Davis said a large quantity of prescription pills, what is believed to be methamphetamine, fentanyl, and mushrooms, along with a “substantial amount of US currency” was seized, as were five “illegally possessed firearms, seven vehicles “used in the distribution of narcotics and there will be multiple real estate properties that will be seized,” he added.

“I must thank everyone on the investigative team who put in countless hours to ensure these drug dealers were indicted, and also every law enforcement officer who came to work this morning, who selflessly executed these high-risk search warrants to ensure these people were brought to justice and no longer poison our community,” Davis said.

“I assure you, this will slow the flow of narcotics into our communities,” he said.

Fincher said this has been a joint effort and he is appreciative of the other agencies involved.

“Each of us realizes that our citizens deserve better than to have these horrible drugs brought into our community. Our citizens demand that we take action. Well, this is your law enforcement taking action,” Fincher said.

“We have made a significant impact, but we are not done. We want to send a message to other drug dealers that are out there, we’re not stopping. This isn’t the end. This is the beginning,” Fincher said. “We’re going to continue going after these illegal drug dealers. We’re not going to rest until they stop.”

Noting the drug problem is regional, Smith said it “is residual. It affects everybody that touches us, and we’re certainly not immune in Patrick County.”

As a result of Tuesday’s efforts, Smith said “I am confident we’re going to stop a substantial flow of narcotics coming from eastward, coming into our county.”

He added that several people had been indicted in Patrick County “that are directly related to what you’re seeing today. … We have to cut the head off the snake, and I think what we’ve done today, you’re going to see a substantial change.”

Nester said his office also worked diligently to make sure the necessary paperwork was in place and thanked all of the agencies involved.

Now that the arrests have been made, Nester said the next step is a counsel hearing. Once attorneys have been retained or appointed, cases will be scheduled “appropriately. We will then exercise the discovery process to determine whether their cases will go to trial or” otherwise disposed of.