Pittsboro, NC – A three-month drug investigation from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office resulted in eight arrests and 127 charges.
Authorities said that the investigation was focused on a “suspected local opioid prescription pill-sharing network.” Approximately 600 prescription pills were allegedly passing through that network each month.
“The opioid crisis is a national issue that is also impacting us here in Chatham County,” Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson said. “Your Sheriff’s Office is working tirelessly to combat this crisis through education, prevention, intervention, and treatment. It takes a community effort and plenty of teamwork to reach a successful resolution. My deputies are committed to putting a stop to opioid abuse and misuse in Chatham County.”
Deputies seized 887 prescription opiate pills, 224 Xanax pills, 8.5 grams of marijuana, two vehicles and $4,647 in cash. Authorities added that the suspects owe over $17,000 in drug taxes to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
Those arrested as part of the investigation are 36-year-old Alisha Denise Moore, 61-year-old Thomas Neil Moore, 66-year-old James Kilgore, 65-year-old Melinda Rose Kilgore, 43-year-old Rebecca Diane Kilgore, 51-year-old Donna Dowd Maness, 58-year-old Mary Ann Patterson and 71-year-old Willie Ricks.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged Alisha Denise Moore, 36, of 227 Moores Xing, Bear Creek, with two counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 28 grams by transportation, two counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 28 grams by possession, three counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to sell/deliver opiates, conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 4 grams by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 4 grams by transportation, trafficking opiates more than 28 grams by possession, possession with intent to sell/deliver opiates, felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, trafficking opiates more than 4 grams by sell, trafficking opiates more than 4 grams by possession, possession with intent to sell/deliver opiates, sell/deliver opiates, felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, and simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. She was assigned a $100,000.00 unsecured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on May 21.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged Thomas Neil Moore, 61, of 265 Moores Xing, Bear Creek, with simple possession of Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to sell/deliver opiates, felony maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, trafficking opiates more than 28 grams by possession, trafficking opiates more than 4 grams by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 4 grams by transportation, three counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to sell/deliver opiates, two counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 28 grams by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 4 grams by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 28 grams by transportation, and conspiracy to traffic opiates more than 28 grams by delivery. He was assigned a $100,000.00 unsecured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on May 21.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged James Kilgore, 66, of 141 Kilgore Hill Road, Siler City, with two counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates by possession, two counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates by transportation, conspiracy to traffic opiates by sell, two counts of conspiracy to maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance, conspiracy to possess with intent to sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of conspiracy to possess a Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of conspiracy to sell/deliver opiates, two counts of trafficking opiates by transportation, two counts of trafficking opiates by possession, trafficking opiates by sell, two counts of possession with intent to sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, two counts of maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance, simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was assigned a $250,000.00 secured bond and appeared in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on March 26.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged Melinda Rose Kilgore, 65, of 141 Kilgore Hill Road, Siler City, with conspiracy to traffic opiates by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates by transportation, conspiracy to traffic opiates by sell, conspiracy to possess with intent to sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance, trafficking opiates by possession, trafficking opiates by delivery, possession with intent to sell/deliver opiates, and felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. She was assigned a $250,000.00 secured bond and appeared in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on March 26.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged Rebecca Diane Kilgore, 43, of 141 Kilgore Hill Road, Siler City, with conspiracy to traffic opiates by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates by transportation, conspiracy to traffic opiates by sell, conspiracy to maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance, and conspiracy to possess with intent to sell/deliver a Schedule II controlled substance. She was assigned a $250,000.00 secured bond and appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on March 26.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged Donna Dowd Maness, 51, of 44 McLeods Way, Bear Creek, with trafficking opiates by sell, trafficking opiates by possession, possession with intent to sell/deliver opiates, sell/deliver opiates, and simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. She was assigned a $1,116,000.00 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court on April 23.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged Mary Ann Patterson, 58, of 509 South 3rd Street, Sanford, with four counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates by transportation, four counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates by sell/deliver, three counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to sell/deliver opiates, conspiracy to sell/deliver opiates, conspiracy to maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance, four counts of trafficking opiates by transportation, four counts of trafficking opiates by possession, trafficking opiates by sell, four counts of possession with intent to sell/deliver opiates, sell/deliver opiates, and three counts of simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. She was assigned a $500,000.00 secured bond and appeared in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on March 26.
The Sheriff’s Office has charged Willie Ricks, 71, of 509 South 3rd Street, Sanford, with four counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates by transportation, four counts of conspiracy to traffic opiates by possession, conspiracy to traffic opiates by sell, conspiracy to maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance, four counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to sell/deliver opiates, four counts of trafficking opiates by transportation, and maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance. He was assigned a $500,000.00 secured bond and appeared in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on March 26.
Authorities discovered that approximately 600 opioid prescription pills were passing among members of the network each month.
All suspects were being held under bonds ranging from $100,000 to more than $1 million.
Roberson, who is a member of the Opioid Task Force established by state Attorney General Josh Stein, said these arrests are part of a larger plan targeting the opioid crisis.
“It is important to identify and target the root of the issue. There is much more work ahead, but we aren’t backing down,” Roberson said. “Addiction is a community issue that requires a unified approach involving agencies and individuals. To be successful, it will take health organizations, schools, non-profits, emergency services, law enforcement, churches—ALL of us—working together with one vision in mind.”
Story updated on 4/5/18 17:56 EDT