19 indicted in connection with large-scale drug ring

Nineteen more people have been indicted for their alleged participation in a large-scale drug operation involving Elyria resident Wayne Norris.

Lorain County residents Dennis Covey Jr., 35, Gregory Smink, 29; Joshua Tru- man, 31, Travis Melton, 29; Lucas McMullen, 33, Larry Moore, 21; Joshua McDaniel, 30, Christopher Songer, 33; Mickey Matheney, 30, Christopher Alexander, 30; Cody Yourich, 23, Megan Foky, 19; Jeffrey Denger, 38, Jordan Burke, 23; Stacey Hollis, 25; and Albert Hollis, 49; and Garret Padgett, 33, were all indicted by a Lorain County grand jury Oct. 3.

Kennedy Schultz, 18, of Willard and Cheryna Samples, 20, of Sullivan, were indicted as well.

According to court records, each of the individuals was charged with two counts of conspiracy.

Elyria police arrested Wayne Norris, 27, who was later indicted Sept. 26 on charges of conspiracy, drug possession, drug trafficking, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, forfeiture, permitting drug abuse and possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and possession of criminal tools.

He was indicted alongside his alleged accomplices George Seymore, 38, of Lorain; Edward Young, 51, of Elyria; Wayne Norris, 27, of Elyria; Stacy Norris, 28, of Lorain; Pamela Pearson, 46, of Elyria; Amber Zajac, 24, of Lorain; and Tyshaun Washington, 29, of Elyria.

The indictment of the local drug ring suspects follows a yearlong investigation conducted by the Lorain County Drug Task Force, the Lorain and Elyria Narcotics Unit, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the West Shore Enforcement Bureau.