Staff Report

Brandi Sue Wright

WARSAW — Several affidavits have been filed detailing recent arrests made by the Kosciusko County NET 43 Drug Task Force during an Oct. 30 warrant blitz.

Brandi Sue Wright, 41, 5910 S. Woodland Lane, Warsaw, is charged with possession of a narcotic drug and unlawful carrying of a handgun with a prior felony conviction, both level 5 felonies; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

On Jan. 25, a Warsaw Police officer noticed a vehicle with an expired and false registration plate. The officer pulled the vehicle over and identified Wright as its driver.

The officer verified the registration plate belonged to a different type of vehicle than what Wright was driving. According to court documents, upon searching the vehicle, the officer found drug paraphernalia, burnt fentanyl residue, a handgun, and ammunition.

Wright has two prior theft convictions.

Wright has already been arrested and released on bond. She has an initial hearing on Dec. 5.

Michael David Mench

Michael David Mench, 42, 309 W. Pickwick Drive, Syracuse, is charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor; and violation of driving conditions, a class C misdemeanor.

On Sept. 16, an Indiana State Police trooper noticed a vehicle traveling on US 30 with an expired registration plate. The trooper pulled the vehicle over and identified its driver as Mench.

According to court documents, Mench had a conditional driver’s license but could not provide proof of insurance, as required with the conditional license. Officers with the NET 43 Drug Task Force were then called to the scene after the trooper noticed Mench was speaking and moving quickly.

Mench admitted there was meth and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers found 26.3 grams of meth and drug paraphernalia.

Mench was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 30.

Anthony Keith Vanover

Anthony Keith Vanover, 42, 7420 N. Blacks Court East, North Webster, is charged with dealing cocaine or a narcotic drug, a level 3 felony; possession of a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony; dealing in a narcotic drug, a level 4 felony; and possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony.

In September and October, the Indiana State Police made controlled purchases of acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride from Vanover.

According to court documents, a total of 6.7 grams was purchased.

Law enforcement checked Vanover’s prescription information and determined he did not have a valid prescription for either of the drugs.

Vanover was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 30.

James Michael Myers

James Michael Myers, 20, 5623 E. 350S, Pierceton, is charged with conspiracy to commit dealing in a narcotic drug, a level 5 felony; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

Sometime in January, the NET 43 Drug Task Force provided funds for a controlled purchase of a narcotic drug from Myers.

According to court documents, Myers made an agreement to provide two fentanyl pills in exchange for money. Myers was provided with funds, but refused to provide the fentanyl pills.

Myers was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 30.

Maureen Allyn Frye

Maureen Allyn Frye, 23, 5219 E. 500N, Leesburg, is charged with dealing methamphetamine, a level 4 felony; and possession of methamphetamine, a level 6 felony.

Sometime in November 2023, the NET 43 Drug Task Force purchased four grams of methamphetamine from Frye.

The controlled purchase was captured on digital surveillance.

Frye has already been arrested and released on bond. She has an initial hearing at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Jodie Michelle Lantz

Jodie Michelle Lantz, 53, 600 N. Lake St. Apartment C., Warsaw, is charged with dealing in a schedule IV controlled substance, a level 5 felony.

On July 11, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a report of drug activity at Fellowship Missions. Employees said they discovered Lantz was using prescription medication, identified as a schedule IV controlled substance, and distributing it to residents.

According to court documents, staff discovered Lantz filled her prescription for the substance and secretly kept the medication with her. Based upon the prescription, they discovered 20 pills were missing from the bottle.

Lantz told officers she gave an individual 20 pills on July 8 at a local business. She claimed she did not receive money for the pills and that she provided pills to the person on two other occasions. Lantz also admitted to occasionally overusing the medication for herself.

Lantz was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Oct. 31.