LAWRENCE COUNTY, KENTUCKY WOMAN ARRESTED ON MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES

LAWRENCE COUNTY, KENTUCKY WOMAN ARRESTED ON MAJOR DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES AFTER EARLY MORNING LPD RAID OF HER HOME

DECEMBER 16, 2025 – written by WADE QUEEN

A Lawrence County, KY. woman was arrested after a search of her home by police resulted in the discovery of a large amount of heroin and fentanyl.Rita Faye Napier, 66, of Louisa, KY., was taken into custody by Louisa Police Department officer Chase Kirk, whereupon she is facing charges of:

*AGGRAVATING TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (≥ 100 GRAMS HEROIN),

*AGGRAVATING TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE  ≥ 10 GRAMS CARFENTANIL/FENTANYL DERIVATIVES,

*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS. 

During a raid of Rita Napier’s home early Friday morning, December 12, by the Louisa Police Department, officers seized more than 100 grams of heroin and 22 grams of fentanyl, along with several sets of digital scales and multiple plastic bags.

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Because of the amount of drugs involved in the bust, each of the trafficking charges Rita Napier faces carries a potential sentence of ten (10) to twenty (20) years in state prison. Rita Napier would also be required to serve at least half of her sentence for heroin and 85 percent of her sentence for fentanyl before becoming eligible for parole, if she is convicted if her case goes to a criminal trial.

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Rita Faye Napier was transported to and lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville in Johnson County; where she has since, after her arrest, posted bail and has been released from the BSRDC jail.

Official police report…

Louisa Police Department Executes Search Warrant, Makes Drug Arrests

On December 12, 2025, officers with the Louisa Police Department executed a state search warrant at a residence within the city limits of Louisa as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.

During the execution of the search warrant, officers located over 100 grams of suspected heroin and approximately 22 grams of suspected fentanyl, along with multiple digital scales and numerous small-dose baggies, consistent with the trafficking of controlled substances.

As a result of the investigation, Rita Napier was placed under arrest and transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center without further incident. Napier has been charged with the following offenses:

• Aggravated Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (≥ 100 grams – Heroin)
• Aggravated Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (≥ 10 grams – Carfentanil/Fentanyl Derivatives)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

During the same operation, Justin Ramsey was also taken into custody on an unrelated Boyd County bench warrant.

All items seized during the execution of the search warrant have been properly logged into evidence and will be submitted to the Kentucky State Police Crime Laboratory for further analysis.

This investigation remains ongoing, and additional suspects are expected to face charges as the case continues.

The Louisa Police Department was assisted in this operation by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. Both agencies remain committed to working collaboratively to combat illegal drug activity and to protect the safety, health, and well-being of the community.

Legal Disclaimer:
All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The charges listed are allegations and are subject to review by the Commonwealth’s Attorney and the judicial process.