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FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

A man whom the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force believes was a part of criminal activity that has dumped thousands of oxycodone pills on the streets and roads of Scioto County has been arrested.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini says the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force — which consists of narcotics detectives from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, the Portsmouth Police Department and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — arrested 32-year old Johnathan B. McJunkin, of 3113 Grassy Fork Road, Peebles. He was arrested with a warrant on indictment pertaining to several criminal offenses, such as engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree; attempted trafficking in drugs within the vicinity of a juvenile, also a felony of the first degree, and trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree.

The indictment warrant stemmed from a case presented to a Scioto County grand jury by Scioto County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit detectives and the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office involving McJunkin and several other individuals, which were believed by task force detectives to have engaged in organized criminal activity and dumped thousands of oxycodone pills onto the streets of Scioto and Pike Counties.

At the time of McJunkin’s arrest, at around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, he was found at his residence and in possession of 30 suspected oxycodone 30 mg pills and 25 suspected Xanax pills in un-labeled pill bottles. The Pike County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene at the request of task force detectives and obtained consent from McJunkin to search his residence. Upon a search of the residence, a Pike County Sheriff’s Office deputy and task force detectives found suspected marijuana, several firearms, digital scales, and cash.

McJunkin was placed in the Scioto County Jail and is being held without bond until he is arraigned in Scioto County Common Pleas Court. He may also face additional criminal charges in Pike County.

According to Donini, McJunkin — as well as nine other individuals — have been arrested for their participation in the criminal organization. Narcotics detectives issued a search warrant March 30 at the residence of William R. Stuckey, age 59, and Rebecca Fargo, age 31, at 59 Tripp St., South Webster. Stuckey had been under investigation since 2011 for suspected narcotics trafficking, Donini said.

At that time detectives said they seized more than 3,000 oxycodone pills, with a street value of more than $100,000, numerous firearms, cash and property suspected of being derived from the proceeds of drug trafficking.

A grand jury voted to indict Stuckey; Fargo; Lydia Blanche Yeagle, age 27, of 166 Hungry Hollow Rd., Lucasville; Rebecca J. Howard, age 39, of 1519 15th St., West Portsmouth; Angel A. Sadler, age 29, of 1519 15th St., West Portsmouth; Brian D. Carter, age 30, of 1668 Dixon Run Rd., Jackson; Shannon E. Deems, age 25, of 232 Craycraft Ln., Greenup, Ky.; Heather J. Smith (Andronis), age 34, of Lucasville; Christopher W. Mason, age 29, of 638 Unger Hill Rd., Lucasville; and several other individuals on felony criminal offenses such as engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated trafficking in oxycodone with-in the vicinity of a juvenile, aggravated possession of oxycodone, attempted trafficking in oxycodone within the vicinity of a juvenile, conspiracy to engage in drug trafficking, and counts of trafficking in oxycodone.

Arrest warrants were issued June 5. Stuckey was indicted on more than 40 counts of felony criminal offenses, while Fargo was indicted on more than 30 counts of felony criminal offenses. Stuckey and the others have been apprehended and were placed in the Scioto County Jail.

Donini said the investigation is ongoing and that others he says are involved in the criminal organization will be apprehended in the future.

Donini thanked the public for there assistance in the case and said anyone wishing to leave drug information for the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force, should contact the Sheriff’s Office drug line at 740-351-1094, the Portsmouth Police Department drug line at 740-354-DRUG (3784), or e-mail drugs@sciotocountysheriff.com. He said all information will be kept confidential and anonymous.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com