Crystal Tice Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center

(Dearborn County, Ind.) – Two southeast Indiana residents are accused of dealing pills, often as soon as one of the suspects got his prescription filled.

Dearborn County Special Crimes Unit detectives began their investigation in March when a confidential informant told them of the activity, according to a court affidavit. Detectives set up four staged drug buys with one of the alleged dealers, Crystal Tice, in March, April and June. Each time she exchanged Oxycontin pills for cash.

Investigators learned that Tice was being supplied by Darrell Widener. Widener would get his prescription for 80 milligram and 30 milligram painkillers filled at local pharmacies, then distribute the pills for others – including Tice – to sell.

In August, detectives obtained a search warrant for Widener’s phone records. Text messages allegedly made it clear to the investigators that Widener was selling his prescription.

Widener, 57, of Lawrenceburg, faces three counts of Conspiracy to Committ Dealing in a Controlled Substance (Class B felony) and one count of Dealing in a Controlled Substance (Class B felony). Tice, 24, of Rising Sun, has been slapped with two counts of Dealing in a Controlled Substance within 1,000 Feet of a Family Housing Project (Class A felony), one count of Dealing in a Controlled Substance (Class B felony), and ttwo counts of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Controlled Substance (Class B felony).

Tice is held in the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center on a $250,000 surety and $2,500 cash bond. A warrant was issued for Widener’s arrest on December 12.