Forty-two arrests in meth-making conspiracy in Anderson, Campbell

Forty-two people have been arrested in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine using pseudoephedrine in Anderson and Campbell counties, and another 17 have been indicted, authorities said.

The arrests and indictments of the 59 people on July 16 followed an investigation by more than a dozen agencies. The investigation found that those involved were buying pseudoephedrine at local pharmacies and using it to manufacture methamphetamine at various places in the two counties, U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said in a Thursday press release.

Those indicted include:

• Randy N. Smith, 48, Caryville;
• Jeffrey S. Meadows, 34, LaFollette;
• Rebecca J. Burress, 31, Lake City;
• Robert W. Brumitt, 40, LaFollette;
• Carla D. Boshears, 21, LaFollette;
• Jason R. McKamey, 31, Lake City;
• Jill L. Higdon, 34, Lake City;
• Michael D. Leach, 44, Jacksboro;
• Sherri A. Elliot, 52, Caryville;
• Danny R. Phillips, 57, Caryville;
• Roger L. Moser, 34, Lake City;
• Joseph D. Harmon, 30, LaFollette;
• James Tyler Tomblin, 20, LaFollette;
• Michael J. Gill, 39, Lake City;
• Tiffany D. Bean, 24, Clinton;
• Samuel D. Miracle, 31, Briceville;
• Dustin A. Martin, 32, Clinton;
• Jonita L. Moore, 30, Briceville;
• Joseph L. O’Dell, 35, Jacksboro;
• David W. O’Dell, 36, Caryville;
• Kristen N. Vanover, 26, Briceville;
• James R. Golden Jr., 37, Briceville;
• Starla Vella-Rae Boshears, 42, LaFollette;
• Amber B. Boshears, 24, LaFollette;
• Gina A. Austin, 36, Clinton;
• Danny R. Elliot, 30, Lake City;
• Dennis W. Leinart, 40, Briceville;
• Robert N. Hicks, 44, Oak Ridge;
• Amy M. Lowe, 35, LaFollette;
• Angela N. Bond, 22, Clinton;
• Virgie D. Hall, 30, Caryville;
• Katherine G. Wright, 39, Jackboro;
• Kassondra D. Lumley, 42, Jacksboro;
• Scott K. Duncan, 45, Clinton;
• Mary M. Coker, 46, Oak Ridge;
• Marsha L. Hill, 40, Jacksboro;
• Sheila D. Rice, 41, Jackboro;
• Wanda A. Hurst, 41, LaFollette;
• Rhonda D. Bailey, 28, Andersonville;
• Stewart H. Ridenour, 34, Andersonville;
• Brittany D. Sharp, 24, Briceville; and,
• Penny L. Lane, 44, LaFollette.

In addition, Smith, Meadows, Burress, Brumitt, Carla Boshears, McKamey, Higdon, Leach, Sherri Elliot, Phillips, Moser, Joseph Harmon, Bean, Joseph O’Dell, David O’Dell, Golden Jr., Starla Boshears, Danny Elliot, Leinart, Lowe, and Bailey were indicted for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

All of these individuals appeared in court between July 21 and July 24 before U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment.

If convicted, all face a minimum and mandatory term of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life, a maximum fine of $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years. All also face mandatory court assessments.

This indictment is the result of a multi-agency investigation including Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, LaFollette Police Department, Lake City Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Seventh Judicial Drug Task Force, Eighth Judicial Drug Task Force, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General; Eighth Judicial District Attorney General, U.S. Marshals Service, Tennessee Methamphetamine and Pharmaceutical Task Force, Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn L. Hebets will represent the United States in the case, Killian said.

“Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Killian said.