Kentucky State Police Warn of Online Scams

Kentucky State Police wish to remind citizens of various online scams which could be a financial danger to anyone responding. Over the past several weeks, KSP has received reports of various scams coming mostly in the form of email messages randomly sent to unsuspecting individuals. These scams are commonly referred to as phishing scams. These scams often look official, but have common details which are easy to spot. Phishing scams are defined as a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Most scams are relatively easy to spot. These messages usually include poor grammar and often ask for correspondence to be sent to a foreign country. The best rule of thumb is to immediately delete any messages which appear suspicious. Never respond to a suspected scam. For more information regarding scams, you can visit the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General website at www.ag.ky.gov.

Meth Investigation and Arrest in Whitley County Arrested at Scene Patrick S. Stamps, Vic A. Tackett, and Cecil B. Hamblin

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 8:42 PM, KSP Post 11, London responded to a residence on Deep Branch Road in Eastern Whitley County to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.

KSP Trooper's Tony Dingess, Les Moses and Edward Jones went to the residence, and upon arrival, detected a strong chemical odor. Further investigation into the incident led the troopers locating two active one step Meth Labs.

Arrested at the scene were:

    Cecil B. Hamblin, age 52 of Williamsburg was on the outstanding warrant. Hamblin was also lodged in the Laurel County Detention by ATF Agent Todd Tremaine, which placed a federal detainer on Hamblin for federal Meth charges.

    Vic A. Tackett, age 41 of Rockhold was charged with Manufacturing Meth 1st deg 1st offense; Possession of a controlled substance 1st deg 1st offense Meth: Possession of a controlled substance 2nd deg 1st offense. Tackett was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

    Patrick S. Stamps, age 40 of Auburn KY was charged with tampering with physical evidence, and resisting arrest. Stamps was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Troopers had previously arrested Hamblin and charged him with Manufacturing Meth on October 6, 2011 in Whitley County. ATF agent Tremaine was in the process of seeking a federal indictment for Hamblin reference the October 6th incident.

Trooper Tony Dingess is continuing the investigation. Dingess was assisted at the scene by Trooper Les Moses, Trooper Edward Jones, and ATF agent Todd Tremaine.

Laurel county sheriff's deputies found operating meth labs inside the home located just feet away from a church and a school.

Neighbors reported a strange smell coming from a home in East Bernstadt. Laurel county sheriff's deputies found operating meth labs inside the home located just feet away from a church and a school.

"When they knocked on the door, the guy came to the door wearing a surgical mask. He slammed the door, locked it and wouldn't let the deputies in," says deputy Gilbert Acciardo.

At the same time, a female inside of this home on School Street tried to make a run for it out the back door,"She was captured. We made entry into the residence and found the other subject in a back room," adds Acciardo.

Sheriff's deputies arrested 54-year-old, William Robinson and 54-year-old, Debbie Jones after discovering what was inside, "We found products that are used to make methamphetamine."

With a church next door and a church across the street, Robinson and Jones now face charges for trafficking a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of school.

"Within 800 feet. You could throw a softball and hit the elementary school, it's that close," Acciardo says.

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Kentucky attorney general warns about new computer scam

Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General Conway Warns Consumers about Tech Support Telemarketing Scam
Press Release Date:      Friday, January 06, 2012  
Contact Information:      Shelley Catharine Johnson
Deputy Communications Director
502-696-5659 (office)  


Attorney General Jack Conway is alerting consumers about a new telemarketing scam that is making its way across Kentucky. General Conway's Office of Consumer Protection has received more than two dozen complaints since mid-November about a "Tech Support" telemarketing scam. Consumers report that the scammers impersonate tech support specialists who claim to have detected a virus on the victims' computer.

"This is just another attempt by scammers to gain access to personal financial information and for the purpose of identity theft," General Conway said. "Never share personal information over the telephone with a stranger."

The "Tech Support" scam generally starts with the caller posing as a technical support engineer certified by a well-known company like Microsoft, Cisco, or Windows. Typically the caller claims that the phone call is in response to reports sent out automatically by the user's computer. The rogue tech support specialists offer to install what they claim are antivirus programs.

To add credibility to their story, the phony tech specialists ask the consumer to follow very specific steps to rid the system of the virus and fix the computer. By following the steps, the consumer gives the caller access to all of the data stored on their computer.

If you receive this type of call, General Conway asks consumers to keep the following in mind:

    Computer and software companies do not make unsolicited calls offering tech support.
    If you need tech support, contact the computer or software company at a number you know to be valid.
    Never provide personal information or follow a caller's instructions when you don't know who is contacting you.

"Always be leery of unsolicited calls," General Conway said. "If a caller claims to be from your bank, your credit card company, Microsoft, or even your utility company, always have them provide a number and call them back. Only use a telephone number that you have looked up yourself. Do not call a number from an unsolicited email."

Consumers who have fallen victim to this scam, or a similar one, should follow these steps:

    Contact your bank or credit card company and dispute the charge for any money you paid.
    Immediately run anti-virus and anti-spyware software on your computer.
    Monitor your credit report and place a security freeze on your credit.

For additional consumer protection tips or to file a consumer protection complaint online, visit http://ag.ky.gov/consumers or call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-432-9257.

Jimmy Gilbert Jr., 38, and Heather Miller, 37, both of Corbin, Ky., were arrested Friday on several drug charges at their home on 6th Street in Corbin.

Two people are in jail after police found four fully functional meth labs inside their home that is within 1,000 feet of a school.

Jimmy Gilbert Jr., 38, and Heather Miller, 37, both of Corbin, Ky., were arrested Friday on several drug charges at their home on 6th Street in Corbin.

According to the Corbin Police Department, officers were able to arrest the suspects after being able to purchase methamphetamine and Hydrocodone from the residence with the help of a confidential informant.

Officers conducted a search warrant and found the four functional meth labs that were not currently in production.

The investigation is ongoing.

Kentucky State Police say troopers arrested 15 people in a Bell County drug roundup Thursday.

Police say the arrests stem from a year-long investigation of illegal narcotics sales in the county.

According to police, the following people were arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance.

1. Jennifer Partin, 30, from Middlesboro,
2. Arthur Freeman, 55, from Hulen
3. Marcella Southerland, 51, from Hulen
4. Roy James Johnson Jr., 20, from Tremont
5. Bill Patterson, 26, from Pineville
6. Jennie Johnson, 34, from Hulen
7. Harold Dye, 51, from Hulen
8. George Johnson, 31, from Pineville
9. Bobby G. Johnson, 64, from Hulen
10. Bobbie Partin, 30, from Middlesboro
11. Terry Henry Jr. , 36, from Hulen
12. Roy James Johnson, 48, from Hulen
13. Freddie Westfelt, 36, from Coldiron
14. Brent Henry, 34, from Hulen
15. Bobby Griffin, 33, from Hulen

Police say the investigation continues and other arrests are pending.

Laurel County sheriff has accused Joshua N. Westerfield, 23, and Natalee K. Wood, 29, both of London, of burglarizing a local grocery store

Two people were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a two-week crime spree in Laurel County.

The Laurel County sheriff has accused Joshua N. Westerfield, 23, and Natalee K. Wood, 29, both of London, of burglarizing a local grocery store, and Westerfield is accused of robbing the same grocery store and burglarizing two homes.

The case began to unfold Monday afternoon, when relatives and a neighbor of a woman who lives off Ky. 80 5 miles west of London noticed a strange car in her driveway and went to the house to investigate, according to a news release.

As they approached, a man and a woman ran out of the house and drove away in a blue Toyota Camry.
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Joshua Cameron and Gary Rigby have been arrested and charged with the murder of 34-year-old Jackie Bullock

Sunday, The police arrested two more men and charged them with the murder of Jackie Bullock, a Rockcastle County man.

Last Thursday Jackie Bullock's car stopped after rolling down a hill nearly 300 yards and going through a fence. Investigators said he did not die from the accident but rather from a gunshot to the head while sitting in the driver's seat.

Police arrested Bobby Peters Thursday after finding him at Bullock's Father's house in a meth lab.
Sunday, working leads, the police were lead to Joshua Cameron and Gary Rigby, The two were arrested and charged with murder.

Deputy Matt Bryant with the Rockcastle County Sheriff's Department said "It appears at this point in time in the investigation that the motive was robbery for Mr. Bullock's prescription medication,"

All three men face murder charges.

Jason Fox The "Bad Hair Bandit" Has Been Arrested and has confessed to all seven of the robberies

He was wanted for months, in two states, for robbing seven banks. But Friday, authorities confirm the "Bad Hair Bandit" is behind bars. Officers say good police work and a little bit of luck led to Jason Fox's arrest.

He didn't want to show his face and he didn't have much to say to the media, instead Fox spilled it all to police.

"He has confessed to all seven of the robberies," said Barbourville Police Detective Steve Owens.

The crimes date back to June. Each time he hit a bank, used a weapon and wore a woman's wig.

"It was nothing more than an easy, quick disguise," said Det. Owens.

The "Bad Hair Bandit's" last job was Thursday night at the L and N Credit Union inside the Williamsburg Wal-Mart. In surveillance video, you can see he scared the pregnant clerk into giving him cash and took off in a black car that didn't have a headlight or a gas cap - distinct features that would lead to Fox's demise Friday. Continue Reading>>>

Ott’s General Store In Swiss Colony Was Robbed At Gunpoint, London, Laurel County, Kentucky Police Need Your Help

Ott’s General Store was robbed on Wednesday night, and police are searching for the robber.

The crook ran away on foot and has not been located.

Sgt. Tommy Johnson, Laurel Sheriff’s Detective, is in charge of investigating the armed robbery that took place in Swiss Colony,  5 miles west of London, Kentucky.

Thankfully no one was hurt.  However,  reports say the crook took off with an undisclosed amount of money after pointing a handgun at the two female workers.

The crook is descried as a Caucasian man, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt standing around 5' 8" to  6' 0" tall, his age is not known.

If you have ANY information you may call the sheriff’s office at 864-6600, anonymously if needed.

Country singer Mindy McCready, who had been reported missing, spoke with Florida authorities Wednesday

Country singer Mindy McCready, who had been reported missing, spoke with Florida authorities Wednesday and is aware of a court order to return her 5-year-old son by Thursday afternoon, police said.

Cape Coral Police Lt. Tony Sizemore said McCready and her son are not in the Lee County, Fla., area, and that she is "currently outside of the terms of her family court stipulation." She knows that she is supposed to bring her son back to Lee County by 5 p.m. Thursday, he said.

"The million dollar question is whether she will comply," said Sizemore.

The state Department of Children and Families said a missing person report was filed with Cape Coral police Tuesday night after McCready took her son Zander from her father's home.

McCready doesn't have custody of her son -- her mother does -- and the singer was allowed to visit the boy at her father's home, according to a department spokesman. On Tuesday, DCF discovered that McCready and the boy were not at her father's home. Full Article>>>

Country Music Tickets

Mindy McCready - All I Want Is Everything

Tammy Bray London, Kentucky faces many charges she used her 10-year-old child in a shoplifting operation on Black Friday.

A Laurel County woman faces many charges after Richmond Police say she used her 10-year-old child in a shoplifting operation on Black Friday.

Police arrested 35-year-old Tammy Bray, of London, after employees at Belk in Richmond detained her around 4:30 Friday morning.

Police say Bray stole more than $1,300 worth of merchandise from the store. Police also say Bray involved her 10-year-old daughter in the shoplifting operation.

"She would have her daughter bring her items to the fitting room where she would take them out of the box and put them in her purse or a bag she had with her," said Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.

Then Chief Brock says she had her daughter take the empty boxes and return them to the store shelves.

While searching Bray's car, Richmond Police say they found nearly $1,900 worth of merchandise that had been stolen from the Berea Walmart. They also say they found half of a Xanax pill in her purse.

Police charged Bray with theft by unlawful taking over $500, receiving stolen property over $500, unlawful transaction with a minor, and possession of a controlled substance. She's being held on a $5,000 bond in the Madison County Detention Center.

Police say they also arrested a woman they call an associate of Bray's, 37-year-old Ginger Shell. Shell was charged with public intoxication. She bonded out of jail over the weekend.

Two children were with Bray at the time of the arrest. Police say those children were released to a responsible adult, as determined by social services.

Source: Police: Woman used her 10-year-old child in shoplifting operation