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Beginning in April 2025, investigators from the Kokomo Police Special Investigations Unit/Drug Task Force initiated “Operation Butterball.” During the course of the operation, Investigators were able to complete approximately 55 undercover controlled drug buys, resulting in approximately 25 search warrants executed and 40 arrests made.

In the course of the investigation, officers confiscated approximately 4½ pounds of methamphetamine, 1.2 pounds of cocaine, 0.75 pounds of heroin, and three ounces of fentanyl.

The Kokomo Police Department Special Investigations Unit/Drug Task Force was assisted during “Operation Butterball” by the K9 unit, patrol division, criminal investigations section of the department, along with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force, K9 unit, and patrol division, Howard County Adult Probation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The following individuals were arrested and charged with:

• Justin Camp: Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony and Level 4 Felony
• Kimber Irwin: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony, Level 3 Felony, and Level 4 Felony
• Melissa Bray (Mendenhall): Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony, Level 4 Felony, and Level 5 Felony
• Kristin Summitt: Dealing in Cocaine – Level 3 Felony
• Paula Mashburn: Dealing in Cocaine – Level 3 Felony
• Zyonna Wilson: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 4 Felony; Possession of Legend Drug or Precursor – Level 6 Felony; and Possession of Schedule II,III,IV Drug – Class A Misdemeanor
• Dion Jones: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony and Dealing in Cocaine – Level 3 Felony and Level 4 Felony
• Angela Woodard: Dealing in Cocaine – Level 4 Felony
• Dariel Jones: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony (5 counts); Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony; and Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon – Level 4 Felony
• Jennifer Lewis: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony; Dealing Cocaine – Level 2 Felony; Possession of Cocaine – Level 3 Felony; and Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 4 Felony
• Jennifer Smith: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony, Level 3 Felony (2 counts), and Level 4 Felony; Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Level 5 Felony; and Dealing in a Schedule IV Controlled Substance – Class A Misdemeanor
• Joseph Tarlton: Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony
• Justin Mundy: Non-Compliance with Community Corrections; Trafficking with an Inmate – Level 5 Felony; and Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
• Jennifer Kemp: Neglect of a Dependent – Level 6 Felony (2 counts), and Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
• Melissa Croddy: Possession of a Narcotic Drug – Level 6 Felony
• Kyleann Warner: Dealing in a Narcotic Drug – Level 5 Felony; Neglect of a Dependent – Level 5 Felony (2 counts); Possession of a Narcotic Drug – Level 6 Felony; and Unlawful Possession of a Syringe – Level 6 Felony
• Trisha Shepard: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony
• Demon Varnado: Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony
• Elijah Allison: Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony; Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony
• Maggie Gaylor: Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
• Rory Lindsay: Possession of Narcotic Drug – Level 6 Felony
• Shannon Morgan: Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony and Possession of a Syringe – Level 6 Felony
• Telisha Steffe: Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor and Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
• Trenton Breedlove: Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
• Bryan Hill: Dealing in Cocaine – Level 2 Felony and Level 3 Felony; Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance – Level 3 Felony; Neglect of a Dependent – Level 5 Felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony; and Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
• Samantha Hill: Dealing in Cocaine – Level 2 Felony; Possession of Cocaine – Level 3 Felony; Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance – Level 3 Felony; Neglect of a Dependent – Level 5 Felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony; and Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
• Courey Jennette-Beets: Petition to Revoke Suspended Sentence and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Dangerous Person – Level 5 Felony
• Eric Lavengood: Violation of Probation; Dealing in a Narcotic Drug – Level 5 Felony; and Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
• Carlos Rivera Cruz: Failure to Appear and Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
• Martin Cox: Unlawful Possession of a Syringe – Level 6 Felony
• Michelle Minor: Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Level 6 Felony; Resisting Law Enforcement – Class A Misdemeanor; and Disorderly Conduct – Class B Misdemeanor
• Dion Smith Jr.: Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony and Class C Misdemeanor and Reckless Driving – Class C Misdemeanor
• Leroy Sherman: Non-Compliance; Dealing in a Narcotic Drug – Level 3 Felony and Level 4 Felony; and Escape – Level 6 Felony
• Ronnie Bertrand: Petition to Revoke; Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony; Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor; Failure to Appear; and Criminal Mischief – Class B Misdemeanor
• Jeremy McKinney: Failure to Appear; Residential Entry – Level 6 Felony; Criminal Mischief – Class A Misdemeanor and Class B Misdemeanor; Criminal Trespass – Class A Misdemeanor (2 counts); and Unauthorized Entry of a Motor Vehicle – Class B Misdemeanor.

Additional arrests are expected to be made in reference to “Operation Butterball” as multiple individuals remain at large.

Anyone with information regarding this operation is asked to contact Detective Grahm Dennis #413 or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline (765-456-7017). You may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-262-TIPS with your anonymous tip. This case remains active for investigation. Remember all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.