The Williamson Police Department arrested two men who appear to be part of a ‘pill pipeline’ that supplied prescription medication for sale in Pike and Mingo Counties.

Williamson Police Lt. C.D. Rockel said the two were arrested after they allegedly sold drugs to a confidential informant. They were Billy Ray Horn, 33, of Williamson, and Jonathan Damon Hatfield, 26, of Delbarton.

Rockel said authorities believe the men had been taking people to Florida, where they would obtain prescriptions for the drugs, and then bring the pills back to sell locally. The arrests were made after several “buys” were made as part of a investigation that lasted several months.

“Officers also think Horn’s activities could be indirectly tied to at least one death in Mingo County,” Rockel said.

Horn and Hatfield were both charged with delivery of a controlled substance (Oxycodone), conspiracy to deliver Oxycodone, possession with the intent to deliver Oxycodone, possession with the intent to deliver Alprazalam and two counts of trafficking into the state with the intent to deliver.

A large amount of pills were confiscated —100 OxyContin pills and 40 Xanex pills.

The pair was apparently making enough money to enable them to purchase another vehicle to use in their drug enterprise, Rockel said, when the car they were using became inoperable.

“It’s my understanding he had to buy the Lincoln to make it home from Florida,” Rockel said. “They are in a position to make financial transactions and to do whatever they need to do to continue trafficking.”

Also recovered during the bust was $1,000 in U.S. currency and a 1997 Lincoln Continental which Horn purchased while in Florida.

Horn and Hatfield were arraigned by Mingo County Chief Magistrate Eugene Crum who set their bond at $140,000 cash only.

They were remanded to the Southwestern Regional Jail at Holden, W.Va.

Rockel was assisted in the arrests by West Virginia State Police Trooper B.R. Moore and Sgt. J.C. Dotson.