KNOX COUNTY, Ohio (Ken Hines) -- A dozen suspected members of a major drug ring collectively face hundreds of charges in connection with the alleged trafficking of millions-of-dollars worth of prescription pills.
The Knox County Grand Jury has indicted 12 people on more than 400 counts, including aggravated trafficking in drugs, amid an investigation into the sources of prescription drugs in the area.
Investigators believe the ring brought more than 100,000 pills, including Percocet and Methodone, to central Ohio from Florida. The trafficked pills had a street value of approximately $2 million.
Knox County deputies arrested 12 people on Tuesday in connection with the investigation, and have been in communication with additional suspects, according to authorities.
Those arrested on Tuesday include:
Terry N. Jacobs, 42, of Mount VernonHeather L. Jacobs, 36, of Mount VernonChristopher J. Matheson, 35, of Mount VernonTammy S. Ingles, 49, of Mount VernonJoey W. Howard, 47, of HowardTeresa A. Manuel, 40, of ColumbusDarrell D. Stumbo, Jr., 35, of ColumbusKatrina D. Climer, 33, of GambierDavid L. Yankovich, 44, of ColumbusBrent A. Turner, 54, of Mount VernonRachel R. Greer, 29, of ColumbusMarsha A. Smith, 48, of Columbus
"Shutting down this operation is a significant step toward combating Ohio's opioid addiction epidemic that is plaguing even smaller, rural areas like Knox County," Prosecutor John Thatcher said.
The Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation Organized Crime Unit assisted the Knox County Sheriff's Office with the operation.
