ABINGDON — Ten local residents were indicted by a federal grand jury in Abingdon earlier this month for their alleged role in a drug distribution ring that operated in both Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
Among those indicted was a former Army National Guard member who was arrested in uniform while allegedly trying to sell prescription drugs at the National Guard Armory in Gate City.
The indictments resulted from an ongoing conspiracy investigation being carried out by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Tabatha A. Drake, 21, Kingsport; Josh Holmes, 20, Kingsport; Jacob Elijah Spivey, 22, Gate City, Mickey Guy Fields, 26, Nickelsville, Don Lee Whitefeather, 57, Kingsport; Jessica Light, Gate City; Willie Clyde Puckett Jr., 21, Kingsport; Connie Marie Puckett, 51, Kingsport; Thomas Jay “T.J.” Laney, 25, Kingsport; and Lovella Sweeney, Kingsport, were all indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute Schedule II controlled substances, a Schedule III controlled substance, and Schedule IV controlled substances.
The indictment alleges the group sold over 500 grams of cocaine, oxycodone, Roxicodone, hydrocodone, Xanax and Klonopin.
Authorities said they began investigating the drug activity over a year ago and expect more indictments and arrests to occur in the coming months.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Spivey was indicted on two counts of distributing Schedule III drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.
According to authorities, Spivey’s charges stem from an undercover buy-bust operation local authorities carried out in April 2011 at the Virginia National Guard Armory, 264 Harry Fry Drive, Gate City, which is located adjacent to the Gate City Middle School campus.
Spivey was reportedly wearing his Army National Guard fatigues when he was taken into custody by narcotics investigators.
Light also received an additional indictment on a single count of distribution of Schedule IV drugs, while Drake was charged with three counts of distribution of a Schedule II drug.
Fields and Whitefeather were also indicted on two counts each of distribution of a Schedule II drug.