Lee Roy Ellison and James Edward Treadway the two were connected to an illegal prescription drug-dealing ring that operated out of R&L Motors on U.S.

Lee Roy Ellison and James Edward Treadway, both of West Jefferson.
Ellison is charged with trafficking in heroin/opium and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and delivering a schedule IV controlled substance. He also faces a charge of conspiring to trafficking and a misdemeanor charge of simple possession of a schedule IV controlled substance.Treadway is charged with conspiring to traffic in opium/heroin and conspiracy to sell and deliver a schedule IV controlled substanceSheriff James Williams said he believes the two were connected to an illegal prescription drug-dealing ring that operated out of R&L Motors on U.S. 221 Business. “There was a lot of activity in and out of there, but they never seemed to sell a car,” the sheriff said. “We had lots and lots of complaints about possible drug activity there.”The department leaders, Williams, and West Jefferson Police Chief Brian Grogan planned an investigation. “We sat down together and planned a way to put a halt to it,” Williams said.“It’s been on-going for three months,” Grogan said. Williams said that misuse of prescription medications is a growing problem in Ashe and other counties.Grogan said the two law officers learned in a recent seminar that Methadone, Oxycontin and Hydrocodone are substances commonly linked to the illegal prescription drug trafficking.“It is getting to be a terrible problem in the county,” Williams said. “Some say it is getting worse than methamphetamine. Many times in these cases, they buy from prescription drug shoppers and resell them.”He described people who go from doctor to doctor collecting prescription for a variety of ailments and, getting the prescription filled and then selling the drugs to traffickers.Ellison was arrested following a traffic stop. He was in jail under a half million bond. Treadway was picked up at his home and was being held under a quarter million bond.The sheriff and Grogan said that the investigation into prescription drug trafficking continues and other arrests are expected.