To: All News Agencies

From: Det. Sgt. Matt Carter

Date: Thursday April 26, 2007

Re: Several arrest as a result of various investigations

On Wednesday, April 25 2007 at approximately 18:57 (6:57 p.m.) the McCracken County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at 616 Charleston Avenue, located in Lone Oak near the Lone Oak ball fields. Upon entering the residence it was found to be occupied by Avery Booker. A search of the residence revealed a quantity of Marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia. Mr. Booker admitted to detectives that he smokes Marijuana adding that he was about to smoke the Marijuana that we recovered from his residence. Mr. Avery was arrested and transported to the McCracken County Regional Jail.

Arrested: Booker, Avery E. 22 years of age

Of Charleston Avenue

Charges: Possession Of Marijuana

Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia

Just prior to the execution of the search warrant Deputy Tom Crabtree stopped a vehicle in the same area at approximately 18:34 (6:34 p.m.) A search of the vehicle in which was occupied by juveniles revealed Marijuana and items of Drug Paraphernalia. The juveniles parents were called to the location of the traffic stop. The suspect was cited to court and released to there parent. Charges pending in this case is Possession Of Marijuana and Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia.

Later the same evening (Wednesday April 25 2007) McCracken County Sheriff's Department drug detectives with the assistance of the Paducah Police Department and the Kentucky State Police conducted under cover operations in various areas of the city. The operation was geared towards prostitution and street level drug sales. The operation began at approximately 21:00 (9:00 p.m) on Wednesday April 25 2007 and lasted until approximately 03:00 a.m. on Thursday April 26 2007.

During the operation under cover officers from the McCracken County Sheriff's Department engaged in a conversation with a female that was later identified as being Nicola Brown. The initial contact was made with Ms. Brown in the area of the Mini- Mo motel on South 6th Street in Paducah. During the course of the conversation Ms. Brown arranged a price in return for sexual acts with the undercover officers. The officers at this time gave verbal indication for the arrest teams to move in to make the arrest. After Ms. Brown was arrested and a search of her person revealed a Crack Cocaine residue smoking pipe, along with a push rod (used to clean the pipe out) and the money that had been provided to her by the officers in return for the sexual acts.

Arrested: Brown, Nicola 36 years of age

Of South 4th Street

Charges: Solicitation To Prostitution

Possession Of Controlled Substance 1st Degree (Cocaine)

Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia

In the early morning hours of April 26 2007 at approximately 01:39 a.m. under cover officers were approached by a black male in the area of North 12th Street and Martin Luther King Drive. The individual asked the officers what they were looking for. When the officers stated that they were looking for some drugs and or women the individual told them if they would give him a ride he would in return take them to a location where he could get them some Marijuana and informed them that he could introduce them with a female (prostitute). After a short drive across town the individual directed the officers to the SDA Apartments (Dudley Court Apartments) located at 801 McGuire. Upon there arrival at the apartments the individual informed the officers that they would need to give him the money so he could go into one of the apartments and get them the Marijuana. Prior to leaving to get the Marijuana the subject brought a female out to talk to the officers. The officers were familiar with the female that approached the vehicle due to an arrest that they participated in when she was charged and convicted of solicitation to prostitution on 5-28-2005. While the arrest teams were in the area observing all activity detectives observed the black male enter the front doorway of one of the apartment buildings and exit the back and run on foot in the opposite direction. Prior to the officers giving the individual any money for fear that he was going to try and rip them off they requested that he leave something in the truck with them until he returned. The individual agreed and left his shoes in the vehicle with the officers. The subject was watched for several minutes. After it became obvious that the individual wasn't going to return with any drugs and was only trying to steal the money he was approached and arrested. The subject denied knowing anything about what had happened despite the officers positively identifying him and the shoes that was left in the vehicle fit the subject feet. The money that had been provided to the individual to buy the drugs with was also located in his pocket. The money that was provided had been marked in a manner that it could be easily identified.

Arrested: Byas, James L 40 years of age

Of Paducah

Charges: Attempted Trafficking In Marijuana Under 8 Ounces

Parole Violation Warrant

Mr. Byas was on Felony probation for charges of Possession of Controlled Substance, Tampering With Physical Evidence, Persistent Felony Offender, and Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia.

"Contacts with three additional females were made by the undercover officers. During those conversations the females were interested in performing sexual acts on the officers, however they informed them that they currently had customers waiting and told them to come back. Despite efforts detectives were unable to locate the females but the investigation is on going. " Det. Sgt. Matt Carter

The prostitution problem in certain areas of Paducah is real and it does exist. It often times goes unnoticed because it is not a crime that is commonly reported. Additional investigations will be continuing in the near future in efforts to address this type of activity.

The Paducah Police Department and the Kentucky State Police assisted and were apart of these investigation.

End of Release

Det. Sgt. Matt Carter

McCracken County Sheriff's Department Drug Division