Unalaska, AK – A three-month long drug investigation ended in ten arrests in Unalaska on Sunday, two additional arrests on Monday, and over thirty drug-related charges from the past two weeks. An undercover officer, Patrick Bliss, bought drugs from a number of people around the community, some times when wearing a microphone to record the conversations. During the investigation the Department of Public Safety seized about $13,000 in cash, 5 ounces of cocaine worth about $28,000, 10 ounces of methamphetamine worth $28,000, three quarters of a pound of marijuana worth $9,600, and about 80 pills of Oxycontin worth $16,000.

Director of Public Safety Jamie Sunderland said during a press conference that the undercover officer was able to infiltrate the drug circles in the community. "And he hung out with all of the folks in and around the local bars. Primarily a lot of bar activity and got introduced into the drug culture of this community and was able to make a number of observations, and buy a lot of different kinds of drugs."

Sunderland said it's unclear exactly how many drugs have moved through the community recently, but given the amounts of money involved, the quantity seems significant. Of special concern is the number of Oxycotin pills, which sell for $200 a piece, and are mostly dealt by younger individuals.

Joanne Lee, age 59, of Diamond Taxi was charged with seven felony counts and two misdemeanors for selling cocaine and marijuana to the undercover agent from her taxi. Additionally, when her home was searched officers found large quantities of methamphetamines, cocaine, and cash. Her significant other, Muio Nguyen, 47, lives with her and was also charged with two felonies.

Cameron Hutchins, 37, was charged with eight felony counts. He sold Bliss cocaine on three different occasions and snorted cocaine with another man in the agent's hotel room on two dates. Multiple of the deals happened in Cape Cheerful and at Harbor View Bar while Hutchins' girlfriend, Brenda Wallace, was present. When police searched the house the couple shared, they found 4.5 ounces of marijuana and smoking pipes filled with pot. They also discovered that people frequent the house to buy and use marijuana while playing video games. Wallace, 49, was charged with three felony counts on Monday.

Twenty-one-year-old Cory Merrifield was arrested for two felony charges and a misdemeanor. He sold the agent pot when at the Harbor View Bar and on two other occasions sold him Oxycontin at the same location. On one evening, he arranged to meet Bliss after he left his Drug and Alcohol class. In a related arrest, twenty-one year old Alysha Callaham was charge with one felony for assisting Merrifield to sell the oxy that night after his class. She drove the car and was present during the deals. Merrifield also offered to sell the agent Ecstasy, but the plane that was bringing the pills to town was weathered out, and he could not complete the sale.

Sunderland said that multiple of the drug deals happened somewhat openly in the local bars. "I think that people give each other a certain amount of space, but I don't think a lot of this is super private and hopefully we'll address that in the future."

More arrests also stemmed from last week's investigation and arrest of John "J.J." Bruce Jr. Twenty-three-year-old John F. Nichols and 19-year-old Kiefer Fredricks were both charged with Class B' conspiracy felonies for laundering money for J.J. Bruce, who was charged with selling Oxycontin. Nichols turned $4,000 into money orders and sent another $2,000 to California for Bruce. Fredricks turned $16,000 into money orders for him.

Twenty-six year old Michael Swinney arrived at Bruce's house during the search last week with $200 of cash on him. He was not arrested at the time, but he later told the undercover agent that he had gone to the house to buy oxy for another person and received money for doing so. He was arrested for an attempted felony. He was tracked down by police when he was at Rebecca Flannagan's house. She was then arrested for violating release conditions because they found marijuana at her house. She was arrested earlier this month for selling cocaine.

The agent also witnessed and reported a domestic violence assault by Johnny Donaldson. "And he witnessed this and he was able to, I believe, text us at the time and get us over there to help," Sunderland said. "The other people who were standing around chose to do nothing."

So far 17 arrests have stemmed from the drug investigations. The investigation of J.J. Bruce was conducted primarily by Officer Steve Kelly. Officer Bliss assisted the department with much of the other investigations.

Sunderland said more arrests and charges will stem from this.