Deputies Bust Drug Ring Run by Inmate: Sheriff

The Hunt County Sheriff's Department busted a drug ring Wednesday morning that was being run by an inmate in the county jail, officials said.

Sheriff Randy Meeks said the investigation into the drug ring began last spring after the arrival of inmate Bobby Evens.

Evens, who faced several charges including delivery of a controlled substance, parole violation and a child endangerment charge, was soon spotted spending a lot of time talking to a particular corrections employee. That employee happened to also be Evens' estranged wife.

Officers opened an investigation, began looking into Evens' mail and phone calls and obtained enough evidence that led them to believe he was running a narcotics trafficking operation while being held in the jail.

Meeks then brought in the Greenville Police Department and federal agents to conduct an investigation outside of the walls of the county jail.

On Wednesday morning, Meeks and his deputies assisted in serving multiple search and arrest warrants at nine different locations within Hunt County. In all, 20 people were taken into custody in the raid.

“Whether it is a known drug dealer or one of my own employees, I will never give up this ongoing battle to combat illegal drugs in Hunt County," Meeks said in a news release Wednesday.