PIKEVILLE – A Michigan man was federally indicted last week in a drug case stemming from a Magoffin County arrest.
On Thursday, February 27, Cortez T. Harris, 38, of Detroit, Michigan, was federally indicted with knowingly and intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The charge carries a penalty of not less than 10 years nor more than life imprisonment, not more than $10 million fine, and at least 5 years supervised release.
Harris was arrested in Salyersville on January 17, 2025 after a traffic stop lead police to find two pounds of suspected methamphetamine.
According to the arrest citation, Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputy W. Lafferty and Salyersville Police Department Officer Mike Nickels were patrolling on January 16, when a vehicle passed them on the Mountain Parkway, with the driver reportedly not wearing a seat belt.
Officer Nickels paced behind the vehicle and observed it weaving back and forth across the road lines, with Nickels initiating a traffic stop at the caution lights at the intersection of KY 114 and US 460.
According to police reports, the officers noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
Police asked the driver, identified as Cortez Harris, 38, of Detroit, Michigan, if he had any marijuana on him, and he replied he had a small roach on the center console. Police asked him to exit his vehicle while they conduct a search of the car, during which they find a light green bag under the front passenger seat. Inside the bag police find two large clear vacuum-sealed bags containing a clear crystal-like substance.
Harris was taken into custody and transported to the sheriff’s office for booking. The crystal-like substance is believed to be methamphetamine and each bag weighed approximately one pound. In addition to the two pounds of suspected methamphetamine, police also found $620 in Harris’ jean pockets.
Harris is currently being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, though orders have been filed to have him moved to Pikeville for federal court proceedings.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
