Johnson man indicted on federal meth charges

Members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, working with Operation UNITE and the Drug Enforcement Administration office in London, arrested Sean Holys Tharp Friday in connection with a federal indictment on methamphetamine charges. Photo/Johnson County Sheriff’s Office

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

PAINTSVILLE — A Johnson County man was indicted last week on federal methamphetamine charges. Sean Holys Tharp, 35, of Hager Hill, was charged in a five-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and distributing a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of the drug. Tharp conspired with others to “knowingly and intentionally” distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in April, according to the indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury last Wednesday and unsealed Friday. Tharp also distributed the drug on July 16, July 23, Aug. 4 and Aug. 13, the indictment says. Federal authorities seized $19,220 in cash from Tharp on Sept. 10, which “constitutes proceeds obtained directly and indirectly as a result of the commission” of the crime, according to a forfeiture allegation in the indictment. Members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, working with Operation UNITE and the Drug Enforcement Administration office in London, arrested Tharp Friday on a federal arrest warrant. He was lodged in the Pike County Detention Center on a federal detainer. The indictment was the result of a four-month investigation, the sheriff’s office said on its Facebook page.