Staff report

Brandi Sue Wright

WARSAW — Several affidavits have been filed detailing recent arrests made by Kosciusko County’s NET 43 Drug Task Force during an Oct. 30 warrant raid.

Brandi Sue Wright, 41, 5910 S. Woodland Lane, Warsaw, is charged with possession of narcotic drugs and illegal carrying of a weapon with a prior felony conviction, both level 5 felonies; and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C felony.

On January 25, a police officer in Warsaw observed a vehicle with an expired and fake license plate. The officer stopped the vehicle and identified Wright as its driver.

The officer verified that the license plate belonged to a different type of vehicle than the one Wright was driving. According to court documents, upon searching the vehicle, the officer found drug paraphernalia, burnt fentanyl residue, a handgun and ammunition.

Wright has two previous convictions for theft.

Wright has already been arrested and released on bail. She has an initial hearing on Dec. 5.

Michael David Mench

Michael David Mench, 42, 309 W. Pickwick Drive, Syracuse, is charged with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony; possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor; and driving violation, a class C misdemeanor.

On September 16, an Indiana State Trooper observed a vehicle traveling on US 30 with an expired license plate. The officer pulled the vehicle over and identified its driver as Mench.

According to court documents, Mench had a suspended driver’s license but could not provide proof of insurance as required with a suspended license. Officers from the NET 43 drug task force were then called to the scene after the officer noticed Mench talking and moving quickly.

Mench admitted to methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

Upon searching the vehicle, police found 26.3 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Mench was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 30.

Anthony Keith Vanover

Anthony Keith Vanover, 42, 7420 N. Blacks Court East, North Webster, is charged with trafficking in cocaine or a narcotic drug, a Level 3 felony; possession of a narcotic, level 5 felony; trafficking in narcotic drugs, a level 4 felony; and possession of a narcotic, a level 6 felony.

In September and October, Indiana State Police made controlled purchases of acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride from Vanover.

According to court documents, a total of 6.7 grams were purchased.

Law enforcement officers checked Vanover’s prescription information and determined that he did not have a valid prescription for any of the drugs.

Vanover was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 30.

James Michael Myers

James Michael Myers, 20, 5623 E. 350S, Pierceton, is charged with conspiracy to commit narcotic drug trafficking, a Level 5 felony; and theft, a Class A felony.

At one point in January, the NET 43 Drug Task Force provided funds for the controlled purchase of a narcotic from Myers.

According to court documents, Myers entered into an agreement to provide two fentanyl pills in exchange for money. Myers received funds but refused to provide the fentanyl pills.

Myers was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 30.

Maureen Allyn Frye

Maureen Allyn Frye, 23, 5219 E. 500N, Leesburg, is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony; and possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony.

At some point in November 2023, the NET 43 Drug Task Force acquired four grams of methamphetamine from Frye.

The controlled purchase was captured by digital surveillance.

Frye has already been arrested and released on bond. She has an initial hearing at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Jodie Michelle Lantz

Jodie Michelle Lantz, 53, 600 N. Lake St. Apartment C., Warsaw, is charged with trafficking in a schedule IV controlled substance, a level 5 felony.

On July 11, a Warsaw police officer responded to a report of drug activity at Fellowship Missions. Employees said they discovered Lantz was using prescription drugs identified as a schedule IV controlled substance and distributing them to residents.

According to court documents, staff discovered Lantz had filled her prescription for the substance and secretly kept the medication with her. Based on the prescription, they discovered that 20 pills were missing from the bottle.

Lantz told officers he gave an individual 20 pills on July 8 at a local business. She claimed that she did not receive money for the pills and that she provided pills to the person on two other occasions. Lantz also admitted to occasionally using the drug on herself.

Lantz was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 31.