Drug bust results in 20 arrests

VIGO COUNTY, IN. (WTHI) - After a six month investigation, U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement arrested 20 individuals on methamphetamine charges.

The United States Attorney announced 20 indictments. One-hundred police officers joined alongside Wabash Valley deputies and U.S. Marshals, starting their raid early Thursday morning. Within three hours they'd caught all but one fugitive.  The final suspect was arrested early Friday morning.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Blackington said that two women, Vicki Shaw and Robbin Welker, were the main distributors of the meth, getting it from sources in Indianapolis, Arizona and other parts of the Southwest. Then the other suspects would sell the meth locally.

Officials said Welker and Shaw were operating and distributing three to five pounds of meth a week. They're both facing conspiracy charges.

Officials said this federal raid is different from ones in the past because the purity of the meth is 40 to 80 percent, compared to only 25 percent. This means that this particular batch is much more potent and dangerous, making this raid a big success for local law enforcement.

"We're going to take a hard stance on drug dealers and users in this county," Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said.

"We're serious about drugs and we're not going to allow it in our community, and even though we made a big hit today we're not done," Chief John Plasse of the Terre Haute Police said.

During the raid officials seized 20 firearms, 28,000 dollars in cash, along with meth and marijuana. The suspects appeared in court Friday morning.

Jason Bays

Robbin Welker, 43, of Terre Haute
Shonna R. Frye, 38, of Terre Haute
Chad Decker, 34, of Terre Haute
Donald A. Myers, 41, of Terre Haute
Jason Bays, 34, of Terre Haute
Rick Dowden, 44, of Terre Haute
Brandon Nemeth, 34, of Terre Haute
Melissa Hutchens, 40, of Terre Haute
Vicki Shaw, 41, of Terre Haute
Frederick L. Douglas, 43, of Terre Haute
Jason Shaw, 35, of Terre Haute
David Lindsay, 41, of West Terre Haute
George Hall, 49, of Terre Haute
Dewayne Phelps, 26, of Terre Haute
Todd Hathaway, 41, of Terre Haute
Jeremiah Corbin, 29, of Terre Haute
James Chambers, 40, of Terre Haute
Hugh Dean, 29, of Hymera
Steve Swayze, 56, of Terre Haute
Jason Bays, 34, of Terre Haute