17 people charged in Lewis County drug ring

WESTON, W.Va. — Seventeen individuals of Lewis, Upshur and Marion counties are facing drug-related charges following several months of investigations in Lewis County.

“Many of the individuals sought in today’s operation have perturbed many good citizens for a very long time,” Lewis County Sheriff Adam Gissy said in a press release issued Wednesday. “Tips provided by community members have proven essential in guiding investigators through many of these drug investigations.

“I welcome any information that citizens can provide in aiding law enforcement, and am thankful for the position they have taken to make our county a safer place,” Gissy said.

Four of the 17 individuals are still at-large. Those facing charges include:

— Colton Lester, 29, of Buckhannon
— Cody Richards, 23, of Weston
— Joshua Ryan McGuire, 31, of Weston
— David “Pack Rat” Pickens, 62, of Ireland
— Joseph Adam Osborne, 37, of Camden
— Josh Osborne, 29, of Fairmont
— James Lorentz, 33, of Weston
— Tia Neal, 34, of Weston
— Steven Lockhart, 26, of Jane Lew
— Brian Ketron, 36, of Weston
— Chasity Knapp, 40, of Jane Lew
— David Hicks, 55, of Weston
— Dana Anderson, 26, of Fairmont
— Hubert Westbrook, 40, of Weston
— Camron Barnett, 29, of Roanoke
— Markus Wilt, 26, of Weston
— Julie Hudson, 40, of Weston

Members from the Weston Police Department, Buckhannon Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police assisted with the operation.





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