Tazewell County drug roundup nets 18

By JIM TALBERT\Staff
TAZEWELL – A 75-year-old with prior drug offenses is among 18 individuals netted in a drug roundup in Tazewell County.
Marvin Lloyd Crouse, of Bandy is charged with distribution of oxycodone, distribution of hydrocodone, second offense distribution of marijuana, distribution of alprazolam and distribution of buprenorphine. The press release listed three different birth years for Crouse, who was born on Dec. 10 in either1931, 1932 or 1934.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Dennis Lee said Crouse is an example of the changing face of drug dealers. “We are seeing more and more, older people, who sell their prescription medicine for profit or who make a career of spreading this poison in our communities,’ he said.
Lee said the latest roundup included a number of people who are charged with distribution of methadone. Seven of the 18 people indicted face charges of distributing methadone.
Lee said the local treatment centers have been contacted and asked to monitor their patients for smuggling and to be cautious about letting patients take methadone home. The drug task force also took the opportunity to announce the arrest of a man wanted since 2005. Lee said sheriff’s deputies and members of the Bluefield Police Department arrested Rafeal Jovon Cuthbertson of Morganton, NC, at a residence in Bluefield. Cuthbertson is charged four counts of distributing cocaine and four counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The officers also confiscated a large quantity of cocaine and $12,000 in cash.
Lee said the indictments handed down by the grand jury Jan. 5 were the result of 12 months of work by the Tazewell County Narcotics Task Force. The task force is comprised of representatives of the sheriff’s office, Richlands, Tazewell and Bluefield police departments, state police and the ATF.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with this operation.