Organized crime tops list of Lawrence County indictments
By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor
LOUISA — The Lawrence County Grand Jury returned 13 indictments, including true bills against seven people charged with organized crime.
Shelly Triplett, 52, Gary W. Byers, 52, Victoria L. Wiley, 33, Joseph McCoy, 25, Jason A. Maynard, 30, all of Louisa, Lindsay F. Byer, 24, of Huntington, W.Va., and Franki Workman, 24, of Fort Gay, W.Va., are charged with engaging in organized crime.
The indictments say that the seven individuals allegedly conspired or attempted to commit or act as an accomplice in the commission of the offense of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance on a continuing basis with each other on Oct. 13, 2022.
Others named in true bills were:
• Saul E. Carcamo, 46, of Louisa, charged with distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 18 for allegedly possessing with the intent to distribute a matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor between June 9, 2022, and Nov. 21, 2022.
• Robert Chafin, 45, of Louisa, charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing 5.81 grams of methamphetamine, .14 grams of Fentany and digital scales with the intent to traffic in those substances and also possessed altered pipes, straws, rolling papers and metal scoops on Aug. 30, 2022.
• Kenneth Rose, 31, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession/drug paraphernalia and disregarding a stop sign for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and a syringe, and failed to regard a stop sign on Dec. 5, 2022.
• Tobie Thompson, 50, of Lowmansville, charged with second-degree assault for allegedly intentionally causing physical injury to his juvenile son by means of a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon on Jan. 14.
• Tabitha F. Young, 37, of Louisa, charged with theft by unlawful taking over $1,000 for allegedly taking approximately $1,500 worth of cases of cigarettes and numerous other items from Speedway of Louisa while employed there Oct. 10, 2022.
• Phillip Hart, 25, of Louisa, charged with first-degree strangulation, first-degree assault and fourth-degree assault for allegedly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another by applying pressure to the throat or neck of another by blocking the nose or mouth of another person; and intentionally causing serious physical injury to a second person by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument and physically assaulting the person on Dec. 5, 2022.
(Editor’s note: An indictment is not an indication of guilt but a determination by a grand jury that criminal charges warrant further judicial review.)