December 18, 2008                                     

 Five Individuals Arrested On Prescription Pill Charges

   The McCracken County Sheriff Department Drug Division has received complaints from area citizens in reference to alleged drug transactions occurring on the parking lot of the Strawberry Hill Car Wash, located at 4796 Village Square in Paducah, McCracken County.

On 12/18/08 detectives devised a surveillance plan to observe for any type of activity that was consistent with drug transactions occurring at the car wash. Just after 11:00 a.m. detectives observed a 2001 Buick meet up with a 2004 Dodge pickup on the back side of the parking lot. The passenger of the truck, William C. Martin of Benton, was observed exiting the truck and make a hand to hand transaction with the passenger of the Buick, Joshua Robinson of Paducah. After the deal was completed both vehicles exited the parking lot and traveled in separate directions. Both vehicles were then subsequently stopped simultaneously by detectives for further investigation at 11:24 a.m.

The 2001 Buick was stopped at the intersection of James Sanders Blvd. and US 60, while the Dodge truck was stopped in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, located at 5130 Hinkleville Road. Upon approaching the Buick detectives observed a large bulge in Robinson's front pants pocket that was consistent with a large pill bottle. Upon detectives questioning Robinson about the bottle he originally stated that the bottle contained his medication and subsequently produced an unlabeled pill bottle to detectives that contained approximately 100 Lortab pills ranging from 7 mg dosage units to 10 mg dosage units. Robinson was then confronted about what detectives had observed take place in the car wash parking lot. Robinson then confessed to purchasing the pills for a price of $685.00. The driver of the Buick, Matthew B. Bennett, admitted that he was aware of what had transpired adding he ingested two of the pills that had been provided to him by Robinson, as payment for driving him to buy the pills, after he observed law enforcement attempting to stop them. Both Robinson and Bennett were arrested and transported to the McCracken County Sheriff Department. Sheriff's detectives seized Bennett's 2001 Buick vehicle. Later detectives conducted a search of both individuals apartment which was located at 2991 Clay Street and recovered an additional quantity of Lortab pills. 

Upon approaching the Dodge truck detectives noted that both occupants were extremely nervous. A warrant check revealed an active probation violation warrant for the driver, William C. Martin. Martin was arrested and a search of his pockets reveled several hundred dollars in US Currency, which included the $685.00 from the pill transaction that had just occurred prior to the stop. A search of the vehicle revealed a large unlabeled pill bottle that contained approximately 100 Lortab pills ranging from 7 mg dosage units to 10 mg dosage units. The father and son were arrested and transported to the McCracken County Sheriff Department where interviews ensued. During the interviews detectives determined that the son had made the transaction and gave the currency to his father. During the interviews several people were text messaging Mr. Martin's cell phone and requesting to purchase Lortabs.

Detectives responded to one of the individuals that continued asking for Lortabs and agreed to meet him on the parking lot of the Five Star Food Mart located at 4709 Alben Barkley Drive. The caller was identified as being Daniel Carter of Kevil. At approximately 17:51 (5:51 p.m.) a sheriff's detective acting in an undercover capacity delivered the requested amount of Lortabs (21 Lortabs) to Carter for the agreed price of $147.00 ($7.00 per pill) and subsequently arrested him. Following Carter's arrested detectives determined based on numerous repeated text messaging that the pills were being picked up for another individual in whom resided in Ballard County. An ongoing investigation is ensuing and possible charges are pending on this individual. Detectives also recovered a loaded SKS type assault rifle out of Carter's vehicle at the time of his arrest.

" Prescription pill trafficking has become more prevalent over the past several months. Majority of the pills sold are some type of pain killers which are very addictive and target a wide age range of individuals." Det. Sgt. Matt Carter

ARRESTED: Robinson, Joshua L.           18 years of age
                Of Paducah

CHARGES: Trafficking In A Controlled Substance In The Second Degree (Lortab)
                Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia

ARRESTED: Bennett, Matthew B.           19 years of age
                Of Paducah

CHARGES:  Complicity To Trafficking In A Controlled Substance In The Second Degree (Lortab)
                Tampering With Physical Evidence

ARRESTED: Martin, William C.    45 years of age
                Of Benton, Ky

CHARGES: Trafficking In A Controlled Substance In The Second Degree (Lortab)
                Failure To Wear Seatbelt
                Bench Warrant For Probation Violation

ARRESTED: Martin, William C.    20 years of age
                Of Benton, Ky

CHARGES: Trafficking In A Controlled Substance In The Second Degree (Lortab)
                Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia
                Possession Of Marijuana Under 8 Ounces

ARRESTED: Carter, Daniel L.     20 years of age
                Of Kevil

CHARGES: Trafficking In A Controlled Substance In The Second Degree (Lortab)

Trafficking In A Controlled Substance In The Second Degree (Lortab) is a Class D Felony and punishable up to five (5) years in prison.

Attached is a photo of some of the evidence seized as a result of this investigation.

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End Of Release

Det. Sgt. Matt Carter
McCracken County Sheriff Department Drug Division