COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) arrested two Columbus residents after a drug trafficking investigation involving counterfeit pills on Monday. Dawnya Ward, 51, and Larry Ward Jr., 56, were taken into custody on various drug charges. Both were identified as possible retail distributors of different illegal drugs. A search warrant was obtained for their home in the 1500 block of Union Street, per Lt. Matt Harris of the Columbus Police Department (CPD).
They were arrested after law enforcement allegedly found suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, K2/spice, drug paraphernalia, and digital scales. JNET also supposedly found 188 suspected counterfeit Oxycodone 30 mg pills which later tested presumptively positive for fentanyl.
The total street value for the counterfeit pills was approximately $3700, according to JNET. DEA lab testing shows that six out of 10 fentanyl-laced face prescription pills contain a potentially fatal dose of fentanyl.
During a post-Miranda interview, Dawnya Ward reportedly admitted selling hundreds of counterfeit pills. Dawnya and Larry Ward were preliminarily charged with dealing in meth and dealing in a narcotic drug, both level 2 felonies.
Dawnya Ward. Courtesy – JNET.
Larry Ward. Courtesy – JNET.
