WILLIAMSON – The Mingo County Sheriff’s Department arrested seven persons Friday morning in what is being described as a doctor shopping operation that stretched from Florida to West Virginia.

Chief Field Deputy James Pack said those arrested obtained prescriptions in Florida in order to sell them in Mingo County.

“At least 90 percent of these people are traveling to Florida to see the doctor and bringing drugs in from there,” he said. “We are trying to stop people from bringing prescription drugs into Mingo County to sell.”

The bust resulted in the confiscation of $3,000 in cash and a quantity of Alprazalam, (Scheduled 4 drug); Oxycodone, (Scheduled 2 narcotic), and Hydrocodone, (Scheduled 3 drug), as well as stolen property.

Those arrested were:

• Sandra Prater, 61, of Ragland, charged with seven counts of delivery of a controlled substance. Her bond was set at $140,000. Smith said Prater was arrested in 2006 for the same charge. “We also recovered weapons at her residence which makes her a convicted felon in possession of firearms,” he said. “She will be charged with that count also.”

• Tony Mitchem, 30, of Varney, charged with 10 counts of child neglect and five counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. His bond was set at $150,000.

• Donique Mitchem, 24, of Varney, charged with five counts of delivery of Oxycodone; five counts of conspiracy to deliver and nine counts of child neglect. Her bond was set at $240,000. Smith said the child neglect charges were lodged because the husband and wife team were conducting drug sales while their children were present.

• Scottie Mitchem, 31,of Varney, charged with seven counts of delivery of a controlled substance and eight counts of conspiracy to deliver. His bond was set at $220,000.

• Waunita Prater, 35, of Varney, charged with five counts of delivery of a controlled substance and eight counts of conspiracy to deliver. Her bond was set at $180,00.

• Bridgette Wheeler Blankenship, 36, of Delbarton, charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and three counts of conspiracy to deliver. Her bond was set at $70,000.

• Earnest Wheeler, 29, of Delbarton, charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and three counts of conspiracy to deliver. His bond was set at $70,000

Mingo County Chief Magistrate Eugene Crum arraigned the seven and unable to make bail, all were remanded to the Southwestern Regional Jail.