Four arrested on drug charges, two more sought

Special to The Tribune
Published: August 23, 2008

Four Barbour County residents were arrested Friday and charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Those arrested by county deputies, according to a department press release, include:

Joseph Jenkins, 21, of Eufaula. Jenkins was recently released from jail on bond after his arrest for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance in a previous undercover operation.

Jenkins is being held without bond on a new charge of selling drugs.

Jeffery McIntire, 36, of Eufaula. McIntire, who was currently out of jail on bond for two counts of drug sales, is also being held without bond in the Barbour County Jail and is expected to be charged with an additional charge of receiving stolen property.

According to the release, he was found with approximately 100 pounds of stolen coins when he was arrested after selling cocaine to an undercover deputy. The money was reportedly taken during the burglary of a Eufaula residence early Friday morning.

Julius Pugh, 34, of Eufaula. Pugh is being held in the Barbour County Jail without bond on one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Pugh will also be charged with receiving stolen property in the same case as McIntire. The stolen coins were reportedly found in Pugh’s vehicle by deputies after he and McIntire sold drugs to an undercover officer, according to the release.

Jessica Williams, 21, of Eufaula. Williams is charged with one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and is currently in the Barbour County Jail The four individuals are among those targeted who have a criminal history for drug violations and sales,
according to the release. Many of those recently arrested and currently wanted were out on bond awaiting trial on drug charges.

“We recently initiated an undercover operation specifically targeting continuous offenders here in Barbour County. In the last 24 hours deputies managed to buy drugs from six individuals, three who were recently released from jail on bond. The operation also helped Eufaula Police clear up a burglary,” said Sheriff Leroy Upshaw.

Some of the undercover drug buys took place in Clio and Louisville and more arrests are pending in those areas.

“They didn’t expect us to be out working in the rain and bad weather but we knew it would be a good time to hit them. We had to get these individuals off the street and back in jail. We’re very short on personnel at the sheriff’s department and depend a lot on Eufaula Police for back-up. We have a good working relationship with Eufaula and that makes a difference. We really appreciate their help,” said Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram. 

According to the release, the following two individuals sold drugs to undercover deputies and are currently be at large and wanted by authorities:

Kelvin Cornell Griffin, 28, of Louisville/Ozark is a black male, 6-2, 260 pounds and has some gold teeth. Griffin is currently out of jail on bond for trafficking in cocaine. He is currently wanted on one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance after selling nearly one ounce of cocaine to an undercover deputy.

“Griffin is possibly armed and is considered dangerous and an escape risk,” the release states.

Kendall Lenard Gilbert, 22, of Louisville, is a black male, 5-9, 150 pounds. Gilbert remains at large and is facing charges of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance"and giving a false name and information to police.

Anyone with information on Griffin or Gilbert is asked to contact the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department at 334-775-3434.