Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 17, 1990 TAG: 9003172241
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Southwest bureau
DATELINE: SALTVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The arrests occurred late Thursday with arraignments and bonds set Friday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.
Charged with distribution of cocaine were Wesley Mitchell, Ellen Mitchell, Jerry Mitchell and Robert Helton, all of Saltville. Charged with distribution of methamphetamines were James Olinger, Debbie Olinger and Rodney Allison, all of Saltville, and Jim Robbins of Chilhowie.
The most unusual charges were filed against Joel Mitchell of Saltville and Dewey Johnson of Abingdon, who were arrested on conspiracy to attempt to possess cocaine and marijuana with an attempt to distribute.
The charges grew out of a "reverse sting" in which undercover agents posing as drug suppliers arranged a deal in which the suspects were prepared to offer $80,000 for a large amount of cocaine, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennie Montgomery.
Three of the suspects were arrested minutes after the deal was struck off Virginia 611 in Washington County.
One man - who had not yet officially been charged - suffered a broken leg when he was hit by a truck as a suspect apparently tried to escape, Montgomery said.
More than $80,000 in cash was seized during the arrests, along with three vehicles, various weapons, more than five pounds of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
The firearms included pistols, shotguns, rifles and one Uzi automatic weapon. The seized vehicles were a 1979 Corvette, a 1986 Ford Bronco and a 1986 Chevrolet pickup truck.
Searches were made at four locations in Smyth and Washington counties. The town of Saltville lies in both counties.
Wythe County Sheriff Wayne Pike said the elimination of this "family drug business" would have the biggest effect on the distribution of drugs in Southwest Virginia since the breakup of the Wallace Thrasher drug-smuggling operation about five years ago.
by CNB