-from mexicoledger.com-

CENTRALIA - A joint investigation by the East Central Drug Task Force and Centralia Police Department resulted in the largest undercover drug investigation in the history of Centralia. The two-year undercover investigation resulted in warrants being issued for 38 different defendants. All the warrants were issued for the distribution/delivery of a controlled substance.

Sam Hartsell, chief of police, stated the investigation was a joint effort, led by undercover officers of the East Central Drug Task Force. During the two-year period, officers spent countless hours infiltrating known and suspected drug dealers. Hartsell said officers purchased marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, psilocyn mushrooms and numerous controlled, prescribed narcotics, including hydrocodone (Vicodin), alprazolam (Xanex) and oxycontin. Hartsell said the force spent approximately $5,000 purchasing the aforementioned narcotics.

The defendants were arrested during an early morning raid Tuesday. Agencies assisting the task force and police department were the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Mexico Public Safety, Audrain County Sheriff’s Department and Mustang Drug Task Force.

Hartsell said the majority of the investigation was conducted in Centralia, but suspects led officers to Mexico, Columbia, Paris and Hallsville.

Those in custody and their bonds include:

William S. Cooper, 24, Centralia, $60,000;

Kevin D. Dickey, 37, Centralia, $10,000;

Shelly L. Fritch, 20, Centralia, $30,000;

Steven H. Fritch Jr., 21, Centralia, $30,000;

Kyla M. Furey, 21, Mexico, $15,000;

Jessica M. Gerken, 25, Centralia, $50,000;

Chad A. Hester, 33, Columbia, $125,000;

Crystal L. Hunt, 20, Centralia, $30,000;

Jonathan J. Hunt, 23, Centralia, $25,000;

Niki L. Maddox, 22, Mexico, $20,000;

David D. Moore, 30, Centralia, $20,000;

James Nelson Jr., 37, Mexico, $100,000;

Dustin D. Nichols, 20, Centralia, $55,000;

Hayley S. Pierce, 18, Centralia, $55,000;

Travis D. Roberts, 30, Columbia, $15,000;

Scott L. Turner, 28, Centralia, $80,000; Danielle D. Walter, 21, Centralia, $15,000;

Simon E. Whisler, 21, Centralia, $30,000.

Officers are seeking an additional 20 defendants.