Ten Individuals Charged Following Operation Blue Skies Fentanyl Probe

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Carter County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said 10 people were indicted on drug charges following an investigation targeting fentanyl trafficking. The operation was called “Operation Blue Skies.”

A release from the CCSO stated that the investigation began in March, with the grand jury issuing indictments on Monday against the following individuals:

• Noah William Cooper, 20, of Kingsport, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of a Controlled Substance
• Dylan Lee Messer, 27, of Johnson City, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Controlled Substance 15 grams or more; Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance; Possession of a Firearm During Commission of Dangerous Felony; Maintaing Dwelling Where Controlled Substances are Stored/Sold and Sale of Schedule II Controlled Substance

Cooper was determined to be the head of the operation, and he, along with Messer, is in federal custody, the release said.

The grand jury issued indictments for the following individuals allegedly involved in the distribution:

• Jesse Calvin Felts III, 22, of Elizabethton, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of Controlled Substance
• Matthew Hunter Hudson, 21, of Elizabethton, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of Controlled Substance; Sale of Schedule I Controlled Substance; and Sale of Schedule II Controlled Substance
• Alexys Keyanna Shipley, 26, of Lebanon, Va., was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Dangerous Felony; and Maintaining a Dwelling Where Controlled Substances are Stored/Sold
• Chase Jonathan Miller, 22, of Johnson City, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of Controlled Substance; Sale of Schedule I Controlled Substance; and Sale of Schedule II Controlled Substance
• Ethan Henry Harvey, 19, of Johnson City, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of Controlled Substance; and Sale of Schedule II Controlled Substance
• Brooklyn Sue Collins, 22, of Elizabethton, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Controlled Substance 15 grams or more; and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
• Ronald Paul Kelley Jr., 54, of Johnson City, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of Controlled Substance
• Zachary Allen Carr, 24, of Elizabethton, was charged with Conspiracy to Distribute 150 grams or More of Controlled Substance

Felts is being held in the Carter County Detention Center (CCDC) on an indictment as well as a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the overdose death of a juvenile and other charges, the release said. He is being held without bond, as per a court order.

Hudson and Shipley are being held at the CCDC on the indictment, as well as additional charges related to a separate incident, according to the release. Their bond was set at $125,000 each.

Carr, Miller and Harvey are being held at the CCDC. Their bond was set at $100,000 each.

Collins was booked into the CCDC on April 14 but was released after posting a $100,000 bond.

Kelley Jr. was booked into the CCDC on May 16 but was released after posting a $100,000 bond.