This powerful front-page story in today's Indianapolis Star describes how methamphetamine is tearing apart families in rural southern Indiana counties.
In 1993, State Police uncovered three meth labs in Indiana. Last year, they found 1,260 labs -- more than a third of them in six southwestern counties, including Sullivan. That number is expected to rise again this year as the drug continues its march across the state. Last year, meth labs were found in all but 10 of the state's 92 counties.The story centers on Sullivan County:
[I]t's hurting Sullivan County's children at an alarming rate. Last year, this county in southwestern Indiana had a rate of child abuse and neglect cases nearly double that of the state average. For every 1,000 people, 22.4 cases were reported.Early this month the Star and a number of other papers, including the Louisville Courier-Journal ran an AP story about a Columbus, Indiana attorney charged with 28 felony counts of insurance fraud:The rate is one of the highest in the state. Child welfare officials blame methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that has been sweeping across Indiana for the past decade.
"The parents are choosing the drug over the child," said James Bedwell, director of the Sullivan County Office of Family and Children.
Karon Perkins, 44, fraudulently said she worked for a company she did business with so she could submit insurance claims to its health-insurance provider, court documents said. Columbus police have issued a warrant for her arrest.WTHR.com Indianapolis ran this story March 5th that begins:The charges, filed in a Bartholomew County court Tuesday, are Class D felonies, each punishable by six months to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Perkins, an attorney for 20 years, is a public defender in Indianapolis and a lawyer in private practice in Columbus.
March 5, 2004 - Columbus, IN - An Indianapolis public defender needs a lawyer herself after police in Columbus arrest Karon Perkins for insurance fraud and could possibly face other charges as well. Karon Perkins has seen plenty of mug shots in her 20-plus years as a Columbus attorney and now she has her own. Karon Perkins was charged this week with 28 felony counts of insurance fraud. Perkins also served as a Marion County public defender, but resigned this week after her arrest. According to court papers, Perkins allegedly forged documents to obtain health insurance coverage for her and her daughter. The documents also detail other possible crimes at Perkins' Columbus law office. Bartholomew County Prosecutor, Bill Nash said, "It is related to an investigation of possible record violations, involving using the proceeds of the manufacturing of methamphetamine to basically fund the operations of the law firm."Today the Munster NWI Times carried this AP story, headlined "Columbus attorney charged in alleged office meth operation." Some quotes:
COLUMBUS (AP) -- An attorney charged with insurance fraud faces new charges alleging she helped turn her law office into a front for a methamphetamine dealing operation.Posted by Marcia Oddi at March 21, 2004 05:50 PMKaron Perkins, 44, has been jailed since her March 2 arrest on 28 counts of insurance fraud. Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Perkins had been aware of meth activity among some of her staff and bought supplies to help them make the drug.
On Friday, Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash filed additional felony charges of aiding the dealing of methamphetamine and conspiracy.