Narcotics agents with the Columbus-Lowndes Metro Narcotics Unit busted two prescription drug rings Thursday, concluding months of undercover investigation and culminating in arrests and/or charges against 21 people.
The investigation, codenamed “Operation: Purple Haze,” focused on two unrelated underground organizations operating in Lowndes and Clay County.
The largest group came under the agency’s focus in March when agents with the Metro Narcotics Unit, in conjunction with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, began investigating individuals believed to have illegally obtained more than 250 bottles of prescription cough syrup containing promethazine and codeine, often mixed with soda to create a drug known as “Purple,” “Purple Drink” or “Lean” and sold on the streets for as much as $150 to $200 per 12-ounce bottle.
The group is also accused of illegally obtaining hydrocodone/acetaminophen, commonly known as Lortab, and alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax.
Approximately $45,000 worth of drugs (street value) were confiscated.
Debra Leech Webb, 33, of 912 Ninth Ave. S., a medical assistant for eight years, was arrested and indicted on five counts of prescription fraud for her role in writing and calling in 250 illegal prescriptions for promethazine with codeine cough syrup to Columbus and West Point pharmacies between January and March.
Also implicated is Quinton Dewayne Baity, 25, of 300 Holly Hills Road, for his alleged role in recruiting people to share personal information so illegal prescriptions could be written in their names.
Other individuals charged with various counts of prescription fraud related to promethazine with codeine cough syrup — and in some cases Lortab and Xanax — include Tracy Price, 33, of 92 Providence Place; Lucinda Cunningham, 35, of 408 Crowell St. in West Point; Adrian Rias, 33, of 415 Concourse Road; and George Leech, 41, of 912 Ninth Ave. S.
They face charges in both Lowndes County and Clay County.
Warrants have been issued for the following individuals, who also face prescription drug charges: Ayandria Harris, 21, of 1314 Seventh Ave. N.; Dantonio Price, 31, of 92 Providence Place; Alexander Crowell, 23, of 47 Belle Circle; Johnny Leech, 24, of 912 Ninth Ave.; and Janice Sanders, 21, of 912 Ninth Ave. S.
The second investigation focused on a paramedic and a pharmacy technician at OCH Regional Medical Center, along with two other people. They are accused of illegally obtaining 1,440 units of roxicodone, a prescription drug from the oxycontin family known on the streets as “Roxys” and sold for as much as $40 to $50 per pill.
Approximately $65,000 worth of drugs (street value) were confiscated.
Tommy Van Yates, 33, of 105 Pinewood Park, was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime, which is a felony.
Ryan Bartlett, 29, of Hamilton, has previously been arrested and pled guilty to his charges in Lowndes County Circuit Court.
Warrants have been issued for Dustin Mitchell Snider, 27, of 509 Main St.; and Stacy Kyle Baird, 31, of 1815 E. Minnie Vaughn Road.
Snider faces three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, and Baird faces three counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, which is a felony.
In separate cases but part of the overall sting operation, Shanna Loper, 33, of 489 Cobb Road in Caledonia, was charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine; and Tangelia Finch Sansing, 43, of 237 Sansing Drive in Millport, Ala., faces charges on five counts of prescription fraud.
Metro Narcotics Unit Commander Joey Brackin said he’s noticed a steady increase in prescription drug fraud in the area over the past year — part of a nationwide trend. The investigations can often be time-consuming due to the number of people who must be interviewed and the extensive paper trail, and the people involved can range from school-aged children to the elderly.
Getting these two drug rings, and others like them, off the streets, will help the community by keeping drugs out of young people’s hands and circumventing addictions before they have time to take root, he said, adding that while Lowndes County’s drug problem may not compare to that of larger cities, any drug abuse in a community is problematic, because it leads to other crimes.
“In my opinion, the violent culture we see nowadays can be attributed a lot to drug use,” Brackin said. “There are a lot of drugs out there, both prescription and illegal, that add to a person’s aggressive nature. The addiction can become so strong it becomes the number one thing in their life and they lose touch with reality … not valuing things they would normally value.”
He said family members and friends should always be aware of abrupt changes in behavior by their loved ones and friends, particularly self-isolation, withdrawal or hanging out with a different crowd of friends.
“Keep an eye on your friends and your family,” Brackin said. “Be aware of their situations and look for any changes. People who get help in the early stages are more likely to get off drugs.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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