‘Operation Iceberg’: 25 arrested, pounds of meth seized in large-scale Indiana drug bust

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ind. — A months-long, large-scale narcotics investigation in Jefferson County – dubbed “Operation Iceberg” – resulted in 25 arrests and pounds of meth being taken off the streets this week.

Prosecutor David Sutter announced Thursday that the investigation, which began in February, required hundreds of man-hours and multiple police agencies. In total, police netted 25 arrests and said they recovered pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine.

The investigation reportedly began when police learned that Christopher Dorten was a major supplier of meth in the county. Authorities then learned that Dorten had made at least 65 trips to Louisville where he obtained meth and cocaine from Darren Richardson, AKA Anthony.

Dorten was arrested on Aug. 15 and charged with five counts of dealing meth, one count of conspiracy to deal meth and one count of conspiracy to deal cocaine. He is now being held at the Jefferson County Jail on a $500,000 full cash bond, police said.

Richardson was then arrested the next day in Louisville on a Jefferson County warrant charging him with felony conspiracy to deal meth and cocaine. He is currently being held at Louisville Metro Corrections on Kentucky charges and is awaiting extradition to Indiana.

During the investigation, police reportedly learned Michelle Childress was letting Dorten use her home to further his drug operation. She was then arrested on nine felony charges including conspiracy to deal meth and cocaine, narcotics possession and maintaining a common nuisance.

Authorities learned that Dorton was supplying many other Jefferson County dealers with illegal drugs, identifying at least 22 suspects. “Operation Iceberg” concluded on Wednesday, Sept. 11 when agencies conducted a series of arrests on the following people:

• Jonathan David Clark, 50, Hanover
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 2 felony; Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony; Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony
• Sabrina Clark, 35, Hanover
  • Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony; Neglect of a Dependent, Level 6 felony; Possession of Marijuana, Class B misdemeanor
• Sean Eugene Cooksey, 56, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (three counts), Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Matthew R. Cyrus, 40, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 4 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Marijuana, Level 6 felony
• Ralph Wayne Davis II, 52, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (eight counts), Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony; Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony
• Mandy Demaree, 51, Vevay
  • Conspiracy to Deal Controlled Substances, Level 6 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Gregory Todd Griffin, 58, Versailles
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 2 felony
• Jonathon Grunden-Durham, 31, Madison
  • Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 felony
• Jennifer Elizabeth Hendrix, 41, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Dealing in Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Larry W. Howard III, 52, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (two counts), Level 4 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 4 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jeanie Carol Lansberg, 55, Commiskey
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
• Christian Lauderbaugh, 29, Hanover
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 2 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Mark Ellis Lewis, 58, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 2 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (three counts), Level 4 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (three counts), Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Richard Kyle Lock, 44, Dupont
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (four counts), Level 2 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Kelsey Luellen, 29, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony
• Cheyenne Elaine Mason, 27, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 4 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (four counts), Level 5 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (two counts), Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jennifer Phillips, 52, Madison
  • Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 felony
• Jason Allen Posey, 47, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jordan Travis Stewart, 33, Lexington
  • Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 5 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Chad Uebel, 48, Deputy
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 4 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (three counts), Level 2 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (two counts), Level 2 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine, Level 4 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• Jeremy Webster, 40, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine (nine counts), Level 2 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 5 felony; Conspiracy to Deal Cocaine (five counts), Level 4 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony
• R. Paul Yount II, 40, Madison
  • Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 felony; Dealing in Cocaine, Level 3 felony; Corrupt Business Influence, Level 5 felony

A slideshow of the suspects’ mugshots can be seen below.

“This investigation was a major success resulting from hundreds of hours of work by officers from multiple law enforcement agencies,” Sutter said. “It demonstrates the positive outcomes that occur when law enforcement agencies collaborate.”

Operation Iceberg reportedly involved the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office, City of Madison Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police and U.S. Marshal’s Office. Indiana State Police Detective Mark Jenkins and Sergeant Adam Bullock were also involved in the leadership of the case.

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