Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force arrests four Kentucky residents on meth charges
By Chloe Morrisonof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: October 22. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: October 22. 2009 12:03AM
Four Kentucky residents were arrested in Alcoa Tuesday when they allegedly tried to buy ingredients in methamphetamine, Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong announced Wednesday.
Investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force were alerted that there were "suspicious persons" shopping for pseudoephedrine -- which is used to make meth -- at a pharmacy in a Blount County business, said Marion O'Briant, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.
Two of the individuals purchased pseudoephedrine at the pharmacy. Investigators followed them and, after a traffic violation, stopped the car on Alcoa Highway near the airport.
Deputies interviewed each individual and three of them admitted to purchasing pseudoephedrine for the purpose of making meth.
Scotty Mack Griffith, 40, Jellico, Ky., was charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance ---- methamphetamine. He was being held on $55,000 bond pending a court hearing.
Billy Lee Johns, 33, Williamsburg, Ky., was charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance -- methamphetamine. He was also charged with possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance -- marijuana -- and possession of drug paraphernalia. Johns as being held on $7,000 bond pending a court hearing.
Ashley Deane Johnson, 25, Williamsburg, Ky., was charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine. She was being held on $50,000 bond pending a court hearing.
Danny Ray Osborne, 37, Williamsburg, Ky., was charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance -- methamphetamine. Osborne was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal impersonation because he gave investigators a fake name during the traffic stop. He was being held on $57,000 bond pending a court hearing.
All those arrested were taken to the Blount County Detention Facility pending 9 a.m. Oct. 28 hearings in Blount County General Sessions Court.
A fifth individual in the vehicle was not charged, and was released a short time later.
If you want even more of the best news and information source in Blount County, every word of The Daily Times print edition is available online. Get fully searchable access online and a downloadable PDF copy of the newspaper every day with your subscription. Prefer hard copy? Subscribe today for home delivery service. The Daily Times, your hometown newspaper of record for 125 years and counting.