PIKEVILLE – The Pike County man arrested locally at the beginning of this week saw a federal complaint and warrant brought against him in connection with the case Thursday.

An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday through U.S. District Court in Pikeville against Darrel J. Swiney, 37, of Wolf Belcher Road at Shelby Gap, on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.

The complaint and arrest warrant came through federal channels following a sworn affidavit from Kentucky State Police Det. James R. Hunter, a member of KSP’s Drug Enforcement and Special Investigation Office.

Local law enforcement, including Det. Hunter, conducted a search of Swiney’s home this past week and recovered more than 750 oxycodone and Oxycontin tablets, a stolen dirt bike and more than $6,500 in cash. Also taken into evidence from a nearby residence and now linked to Swiney were three ATVs that police later discovered had been reported as stolen.

The investigation into Swiney was a four-month long process, according to state police.

Hunter said in his statement that Swiney had, according to received information, been transporting and directing others to take various quantities of pills from Michigan and Missouri to Pike County.

One unnamed source interviewed during that investigation said she had been buying pills from Swiney as far back as 2004 at various times and at various locations, including Swiney’s home and workplace. The same source also told investigators she had driven Swiney to St. Louis to buy upwards of 800 to 1,000 Oxycontin tablets, saying Swiney would carry a handgun with him on these trips.

This information was used to later set up a controlled buy, Hunter said. Undercover officers met with Swiney in the parking lot of the Eagle Masonry building in Pikeville and bought 27 Oxycontin tablets for $1,700.

Undercover agents conducted three more controlled buys in June and August before Swiney was arrested during a traffic stop along Caney Road in Pike County and charged with drunk and reckless driving. A passenger, Timothy D. Rich, was a passenger of Swiney’s at the time and investigators say he was under the influence of drugs and had in his possession Oxycontin tablets. A handgun was also found during the stop.

The search of Swiney’s residence and the recovery of the evidence currently being held on Swiney followed the traffic stop.

The complaint filed in federal court Thursday estimates Swiney allegedly imported more than 10,000 oxycodone tablets into Pike County in total, with primary areas of distribution being Pikeville, Shelby Gap, Rockhouse and Regina.