January 18, 2018

BACKPAGE: FB site used for selling sex and drugs

The Kenova Police Department has just concluded a three-month investigation. KPD Investigators state they have been monitoring criminal activity in the area via an online social media website known as Backpage. Some people are using the website to solicit sexual encounters and also to deal narcotics.

Kenova Police have now made several arrests of those using the website and arranging encounters in Kenova.

On January 11, 2018, undercover officers made contact with Rachel Leport of Huntington. Leport then met undercover officers at a local hotel. Inside the room, Leport sold undercover officers a quantity of crack cocaine.

Leport was arrested along with Hope Coffee. Coffee was a passenger in the vehicle Leport used to drive to the hotel. Officers later conducted a search of that vehicle and recovered more illegal narcotics.

On January 18, 2018, Hope pled guilty to possession of a controlled substance in Wayne County Magistrate Court. Leport pled guilty to the delivery of a controlled substance. This investigation is continuing and more arrests are pending.

Chief Bob Sullivan states, “Our drug officers are using different but proven methods to combat the drug problem and the related street crime in our community. This activity is not uncommon and the police efforts will continue.”

Bob Sullivan
Chief of Police