A Paintsville man has been indicted by a federal grand jury

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

A Paintsville man, arrested on June 18, on methamphetamine trafficking charges, was indicted on July 27, by a federal grand jury.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Edward C. Ramey of Paintsville on June 28. Ramey is being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

The indictment charged Edward C. Ramey, 45, Paintsville, with one count of distribution of a methamphetamine mixture, one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On the first charge, Ramey will receive a possible maximum sentence of 20 years, no more than a $1 million fine and at least three years supervised release, with count two carrying a minimum 10 years imprisonment, no more than a $10 million fine and at least five years supervised release and the third count carrying a penalty of no more than 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Ramey must also forfeit approximately $2,059 in cash and a Heritage MFG. Rough Rider .22 caliber revolver as part of the penalties, according to the federal indictment.

An affidavit signed by a KSP detective and FBI Task Force Officer stated Ramey’s original arrest stems from a tip that led to a controlled buy of approximately 1.25 grams of methamphetamine with $500 in marked bills.

Ramey was originally arrested on June 18 when a search warrant obtained by the KSP Drug Enforcement Special Investigations (DESI) unit as a result of an investigation by Detective Dustin Thompson was executed June 18 at Ramey’s residence by members of DESI, the KSP K9 unit and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

“While at the residence contact was made with the above individual who was informed of the ongoing investigation that I had been conducting,” DESI East Det. Dustin Thompson wrote in the arrest report. “A search of the residence revealed a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine weighing approximately 1-2 pounds and a few thousand dollars as well as numerous other items related to drug trafficking.”