3 linked to surge of heroin overdoses in Nicholasville

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Three men have been indicted following a surge of heroin overdoses that occurred in the Nicholasville area last month.

The Lexington Herald-Leader (https://bit.ly/2kawdb2 ) reports that a federal grand jury in Lexington indicted 27-year-old Jeffrey Ruggiero, 34-year-old Jerrod Doolin and 24-year-old Lamar “Juice” Thornton on drug conspiracy charges Thursday.

The indictment says the three conspired to distribute a mixture containing detectable amounts of heroin and the elephant tranquilizer carfentanyl between July and January.

Emergency crews responded to nine overdoses in 24 hours in Jessamine County on Jan. 9 and 10. One death, suspected of being a drug overdose, happened shortly before that period.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, https://www.kentucky.com