DEA federal indictment served on a Pineville woman

From The Bell County Sheriff's Department -

Friday morning August 16, 2019, Bell County Sheriff's Deputies traveled to a residence on Lewis Lane in an attempt to locate/apprehend suspect, 61 year old Ester V. Hatfield of Pineville, Kentucky, due to her possessing outstanding federal indictment warrants for drug related activity from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The investigation was initiated by the Appalachia Narcotics Investigations Task Force.

Sheriff's Deputies were successful in locating Hatfield, placing her under arrest, and gained consent from the home owner to enter the residence and conduct a search. The search revealed approximately four ounces of a clear crystal substance believed to be Crystal Methamphetamine packaged for redistribution, numerous colored and differently sized plastic bags, glass pipes, additional types of drug paraphernalia, and additional substances believed to be controlled drugs.

Sheriff's Deputies notified the DEA and the investigation, along with the drugs and drug paraphernalia, was turned over to the DEA, to assist with further prosecution/sentencing on the DEA's pending drug related activity case on Hatfield.

Ester Hatfield was transferred out of Bell County and is being held in the Laurel County Correctional Center on federal charges.