LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. -- An undercover investigation over the course of two months led to felony charges against six people in connection with drug activity at a Lawrenceburg apartment complex.
According to court documents filed with the Dearborn County Circuit Court, all six lived at Tuscany Bay Apartments off U.S. Route 50.
After the apartment manager called police about possible drug activity, an undercover officer with Lawrenceburg Police Department's Special Crimes Unit moved into the complex, developed relationships with the suspects involved himself in drug deals, according to court documents.
"The idea was that if we went about it in this way, that it would at least deter that type of activity in these types of locations, because now they never know if the person they are dealing with is an undercover police officer," Dearborn County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard said.
According to an indictment filed Thursday, the six face these felony charges:
- Jade Bergem: one count of dealing in a narcotic drug, two counts of dealing in a schedule 3 controlled substance, two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug at least 5 grams but less than 10 grams in the physical presence of a child less than 18 years old, one count of dealing in a schedule 3 controlled substance in the physical presence of a child less than 18 years old and one count of neglect of a dependent
- Jasmine Bergem: one count of neglect of a dependent and one count of maintaining a common nuisance
- Ty Kuntz: two counts of dealing in a schedule 3 controlled substance, two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug at least 5 grams but less than 10 grams in the physical presence of a child less than 18 years old and one count of neglect of a dependent
- Lisa Butt: two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug at least 10 grams, one count of conspiracy to commit dealing in a narcotic drug at least 10 grams, one count of maintaining a common nuisance and one count of neglect of a dependent
- David Gregson: two counts dealing in a schedule 3 controlled substance, two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug at least 5 grams but less than 10 grams in the physical presence of a child less than 18 years old, one count of dealing in a narcotic drug at least 1 gram but less than 5 grams, one count of dealing in a narcotic drug at least 10 grams and one count of conspiracy to commit dealing in a narcotic drug at least 10 grams
- James Thompson: one count of unlawful sale of a legend drug
Gregson, according to court documents, told the undercover officer he could supply him with any drug he needed, according to court documents. Gregson said his daily routine consisted of waking up around noon, then walking throughout Tuscany Bay to line up drug deliveries and sales, the documents state.
Negangard said video recordings of the drug deals show a child was present during transactions. And the undercover officer stated the apartment smelled of burned marijuana.
"Any parent who is addicted to an opioid or is addicted to a narcotic is not, first and foremost, attending to the care of their child, because the first thing they answer to everyday is feeding that fix," Negangard said.
Some of the suspects could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted, Negangard said.
