20 arrested in alleged Owensboro drug trafficking operation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Twenty people are now facing charges in an alleged methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, officials say.

According to the Owensboro Police Department, all 20 people were arrested this week.

According to an indictment, 68-year-old Michael Mayfield of Owensboro, 29-year-old Shawn Pendleton of Owensboro, 33-year-old Andrew Owen of Owensboro, 35-year-old James Jordan McCarthy of Owensboro, 43-year-old Brandon Horne of Owensboro, 43-year-old Rodney Murch of Owensboro, 67-year-old Timothy Barnes of Owensboro, 52-year-old Byron Todd Huff of Owensboro, 35-year-old Brooke Love-Moss of Owensboro, 65-year-old Gregory Belcher of Philpot, 41-year-old Jonathan Boone of Owensboro, 63-year-old Stephen Hill of Owensboro and 49-year-old Jeremy Royal of Owensboro were al charged with one count of conspiring together and with others to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky says the indictment states this occurred from November 2025 through July 14, 2026 in Daviess County and other locations.

In addition, Owensboro police say they arrested 58-year-old Samantha Johnson, 40-year-old Joshua Duggins, 49-year-old Chanda Houtchen, 42-year-old Ricky James, 28-year-old Eryn Coy, 34-year-old Brittney Stepp and 24-year-old Hailey McGehee.

Mayfield was also charged with two counts of distributing methamphetamine, Owen was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and Pendleton was charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine and two counts of distributing cocaine.

On July 22, officials say Mayfield, Pendleton, Owen, McCarthy, Horne, Belcher, Boone and Hill appeared in court.

Huff and Love-Moss are scheduled to appear on July 23.

Murch and Royal will make initial appearances at a future date, officials say. Detention hearings are scheduled to take place beginning July 27.

If convicted, each person faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to officials.

United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Unfortunately, dope dealers in Daviess County, Kentucky, have not taken heed of previous federal drug trafficking indictments that resulted in substantial sentences. As alleged in the indictment unsealed today, this drug trafficking organization operated for nearly nine months, distributing methamphetamine onto the streets of Owensboro, until they were taken down in a sweeping law enforcement operation conducted in the early morning hours of July 22. Now, because of tremendous work by the Owensboro Police Department, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, and the federal agents comprising Louisville’s Homeland Security Task Force, our Office is positioned to hold each of these defendants accountable for the methamphetamine they allegedly pushed into Daviess County. Neither this office nor or federal, state or local law enforcement partners will stop until drug traffickers learn that Daviess County is closed for business.”

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the DEA Evansville Resident Office, the FBI Owensboro Resident Office, the Owensboro Police Department and the Owensboro-Daviess County Drug Task Force with assistance from IRS-CI, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Bowling Green Office, Indiana State Police and the Kentucky State Police.