Kellogg men arrested following two seperate drug raids
The firearms, drugs, and paraphernalia that were seized from a residence in Kellogg following a warrant that was served on Joshua Hopper.
Courtesy of the SCSO
Deputies with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) recently executed two search warrants in Kellogg, resulting in the arrests of two individuals identified as known drug dealers.
Last week, 50-year-old Joshua Hopper was arrested at a residence on Mission Avenue. Deputies discovered thousands of dollars’ worth of methamphetamine—both in bulk and individual quantities—as well as multiple firearms. Hopper, who previously pleaded guilty to felony drug charges, now faces seven felony counts: four for unlawful possession of a firearm, two for possession of a controlled substance, and one for trafficking methamphetamine.
Each firearm charge carries a potential five-year sentence, while the controlled substance charges could result in up to seven years each. The trafficking charge includes a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
On Wednesday, 54-year-old Gary Lunsford was arrested at an apartment on East Portland Avenue. According to police, he was found with a large amount of methamphetamine—enough to warrant a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver, but not enough for trafficking. He also faces two misdemeanor charges: frequenting a place where drugs are used or distributed, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Captain Seth Green of the SCSO, who works with the Silver Valley Drug Task Force, said the department has made progress in reducing drug activity, though challenges remain.
“We've seen a decline in fentanyl cases since we took a proactive approach,” Green said. “But now we're seeing a slight increase in methamphetamine in the valley.”
Both warrants were the result of extensive investigations—several months in Hopper’s case and several weeks in Lunsford’s—coordinated between local law enforcement and the Shoshone County Prosecutor’s Office.
“It’s very frustrating to see and hear the same names in our line of work,” Green said. “But we have a good relationship with the prosecutor, and the results have improved tremendously. This is one of the most effective systems I’ve seen between local law enforcement and a prosecutor’s office.”