McCracken Co. Sheriff’s Office discusses recent drug arrests, seizures

PADUCAH, Ky. (KFVS) - The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office discussed recent drug arrests and seizures.

The meeting started at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 22 at the McCracken County Courthouse.

The sheriff’s office an arrest and drug seizure on Thursday.

Chief Deputy Ryan Newman said busts like this are part of a larger effort to get illegal drugs off the streets.

“Just this effort is going to prevent someone from getting the fentanyl or meth today, or longer into the weekend,” he said. “It’s going to create a small little hole. And that’s our goal. To create these small holes and make them bigger and bigger.”

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the Paducah Police Department and the DEA assisted with the investigations.

According to deputies, 32-year-old Fabian Thomas and 21-year-old McKayla Emery, both of Mayfield, were arrested on the parking lot of a gas station on Benton Road after the couple allegedly delivered meth and suspected Fentanyl pills.

During the investigation, detectives seized approximately 155 grams of crystal meth, suspected Fentanyl pills, marijuana, synthetic marijuana and money believed to be the proceeds of illegal drug sales.

They say that investigation revealed the couple were staying in a hotel in Marshall County.

Detectives got a search warrant for the couple’s room where they say they found more than 2 pounds of crystal meth and additional drugs.

Both Thomas and Emery were taken to the McCracken County Regional Jail.

Thomas was charged with trafficking methamphetamine - second or greater offense, trafficking carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives - second or greater offense, trafficking in marijuana - second or greater offense, trafficking in synthetic drugs - first offense, operating on a suspended operator’s license and failure to notify D.O.T. of address change.

Emery was charged with complicity to trafficking methamphetamine - first offense, complicity to trafficking carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives - first offense, trafficking in marijuana - first offense and trafficking in synthetic drugs - first offense.

According to the sheriff’s office, Thomas has an extensive criminal history regarding illegal drugs with convictions for trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school and three counts of trafficking marijuana. They said he was on parole at the time of his arrest for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

Thomas was paroled from prison in late 2021.

The sheriff’s office said Emery is currently on probation out of Graves County Circuit Court for receiving stolen property (firearm).

In a separate investigation, detectives arrested a Paducah man for meth trafficking following the execution of a search warrant at a Paducah apartment.

Just after 9 p.m. on Thursday, detectives with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office learned that 35-year-old Ronald McClure was in possession of a large amount of crystal meth. They said McClure was also wanted on an outstanding parole violation warrant.

McClure was arrested while standing outside of a home in the 1200 block of South 9th Street.

Detectives got a search warrant for a rental car and an apartment. During the search of the car and the apartment, they said they found and seized approximately 1,190 grams, or 2.62 pounds, of crystal meth. They also seized money believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales.

McClure was taken to the McCracken County Regional Jail.

He was charged with trafficking methamphetamine - second or greater offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the sheriff’s office, McClure has an extensive criminal history involving drug trafficking. McClure has been convicted of trafficking in cocaine four times and is currently out on bond at this time for trafficking in meth from when he was arrested by deputies in December 2021.

In a video posted on their Facebook page, McCracken County Chief Deputy Ryan Norman showed suspected fentanyl pills that appear to be oxycodone, a legal medication by prescription only, and methamphetamine.

The sheriff’s office encouraged anyone struggling with drug addiction to reach out to the Badges of Hope program at 270-444-4719 or online to start the path to recovery.

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