BY JESSICA HATFIELD

Associate Editor

Several drug raid arrests were made in Wyoming County on Monday, April 20, due to the work of the Wyoming County Sheriffs Department and the Southern West Virginia Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

The drug arrests area from the areas of Long Branch, Itmann and Oceana, just to name a few.

Individuals and arrests include: Woodrow Chambers (a.k.a “Long Hair Bo” or “Coal Miner Bo”) of Oceana, delivery of a controlled substance, one count of oxycodone, one count of marijuana, and one count of hydrocodone; Travis Sprouse of Oceana, delivery of a controlled substance, distribution of counterfeit substances and obtaining money under false pretenses; Darrell Cook of Oceana, delivery of a controlled substance including four counts of oxycodone and one count of Alprazolam; Willie Smith of Oceana, delivery of a controlled substance with four counts of Oxycodone and conspiracy to commit felony; Angela Smith of Oceana, conspiracy to commit felony; Margaret Ann Vance, of Kopperston, delivery of a controlled substance with three counts of Oxycodone and one count of Hydrocodone; Cynthia Vance of Kopperston, but currently incarcerated at Southern Regional Jail on other charges, delivery of a controlled substance with two counts of Kopperston; Jimmy Dale Paugh, of Kopperston for delivery of a controlled substance including four counts of Hydrocodone; Danny Blankenship (a.k.a “Red”) of Kopperston, delivery of a controlled substance with one count of Oxycodone and two counts of Hydrocodone; Melinda Blankenship, of Kopperston for delivery of controlled substance for three counts of Marijuana and two counts of Hydrocodone; Denise Osborne (federal parolee) of Crouches Farm, delivery of a controlled substance for three counts of Cocaine; Tiffany Powers of Crouches Farm, delivery of a controlled substance for three counts of Oxycodone; Brandon Shane Cook of Cyclone for delivery of a controlled substance for two counts of Oxycodone; Robert “Lurch” Tilley of Cyclone for delivery of a controlled substance for one count of Oxycodone and three counts of Hydrocodone; Kathleen Tilley of Cyclone for delivery of a controlled substance for four counts of Oxycodone; Teresa Maynor (Smith) of Cyclone for delivery of a controlled substance with four counts of Oxycodone and two counts of Hydrocodone; Robert Jay Workman (a.k.a. “Hoggie) of Cyclone, for delivery of a controlled substance for two counts of Oxycodone and one count of Methamphetamine; Anderson Bishop of Long Branch for delivery of a controlled substance for one count of Marijuana; Billie R. “Berthal” Kennedy (a.k.a. B.J. Kennedy) for delivery of a controlled substance for two counts of Marijuana and conspiracy to commit felony; Kenneth K. Kenneda (a.k.a. “Kenny K”) of Long Branch for Conspiracy to commit felony; Elskar Hurley of Long Branch for delivery of a controlled substance for two counts of Oxycodone and one count of Marijuana; Della Lowery (Slade or Carter) of Bud for delivery of a controlled substance for three counts of Hydrocodone; Ola Bradley (a.k.a. Margie Bradley) of Itmann/Cabin Creek for delivery of a controlled substance for four counts of Oxycodone; and Beauford Shrewsbury (a.k.a. Buck Shrewsbury) of Bud for delivery of a controlled substance for four counts of Hydrocodone.

Wyoming County Prosecuting Attorney Rick Staton was very proud of the efforts put fourth by law enforcement and the amount of arrests they were able to make.

“I want to congratulate and acknowledge the excellent work of the Southern West Virginia Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Marshal Service for their safe and effective actions in the drug raid in Wyoming County on Monday,” said Staton. “Our magistrates were very helpful in processing over 28 arrests for approximately 90 charges.”

“My review of the warrants indicates that at least five persons may be eligible to have an existing bond revoked,” Staton stated. “We have filed those petitions today, and will file more if eligible cases are found.”

“Now that the arrests are made, my office will diligently and fairly pursue these cases,” he added. “Drug cases are a priority prosecution for my office. “

“The swift actions today helped reinforce the message that if drug dealers come into our neighborhoods to sell drugs, we will go into their neighborhoods to arrest and prosecute them.”