“I mean it. As long as I am in this job, we are going to hunt these people down. We are going to arrest them. And we are gonna lock them up,” said Lewis County, Ky. Sheriff Bill Lewis, as he pored over the list of arrestees from the latest roundup of suspects in the county’s war on drug trafficking.

A four-month covert criminal investigation culminated in 48 charges being filed against 32 individuals Saturday morning.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation, and Lewis said legal advice and direction came from Lewis County Attorney Clayton Lykins, Jr., Commonwealth Attorney Clifford Duvall and Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Thomas Bertram.

“Lewis County Circuit Judge Robert Conley, Family Court Judge Jeffrey Preston and District Judge Brian McCloud were available to review and sign legal processes based on probable cause at the request of my office,” Lewis said.

Lewis and deputy sheriffs Dwayne Stone, Gary Sparks and Jason Hill conducted the case investigation with assistance from Chief Deputy Johnny Bivens and Deputy Tom Polley.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work of my deputies. I cannot say enough about these guys,” Lewis said. “Most of the work was volunteer. These guys worked on their own time because they are as dedicated as I am to bringing these people in.”

Lewis said evidence of the investigation indicates many of those charged were obtaining strong pain killer prescriptions from Fort Lauderdale in Broward County, Florida.

“Many of these Lewis County drug traffickers travel to Florida, fronting money for drug users to obtain prescription painkillers, so as the drug traffickers can sell them when they return to Lewis County,” Lewis said.

He said he will continue aggressive enforcement action against illegal drug trafficking in Lewis County.

Lewis said anyone with information about illegal drug activity may call (606) 796-0123, and remain anonymous.

The following is a list of those people arrested in the investigation:

• Jeffrey Ginn

• Vickie Highfield

• Barbara Jordan

• Thomas Jordan

• William Jordan, Jr.

• Lori Polley

• Zachary Stevenson

• Lisa Wallace

• Steve W. Clark, Jr.

• Bobby Clark

• Sid Witten

• Ron Claxon

• Deborah Edington

• Michael “Floyd” Hobbs

• Randall Frazee

• David Boggs

• Brian “Red” Bonner

• Melissa Stone

• Michael Gibson

• Danny Patton

• Nakala Bloomfield

• Dennis Wade Thurman

• Eric Taylor

• Kennedale Hedge

• Randy Lykins

• Gary Taylor

• Timothy W. Evans

• Billy J. Fraley

Two others were charged.

Also arrested incidental to the investigation was Steven Clark, Sr. of Garrison. He was charged with terroristic threatening and resisting arrest.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.