10/01/2026
Appalachia Overwatch Traffic Stop Leads to Methamphetamine Seizure and Two Arrests
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO — October 1, 2026 — On Wednesday, September 30, agents assigned to the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force, along with officers from the Chillicothe Police Department and Ross County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a marked-lanes violation.
During the encounter, the driver consented to a search of the vehicle. During the search, investigators located a container equipped with a false bottom. Concealed inside the container was approximately eight ounces of suspected methamphetamine.
Both occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody and incarcerated at the Ross County Jail.
Linsey Kifer, 42, of Chillicothe, and Brittany Sounders, 40, of Chillicothe, were each charged with trafficking in drugs.
The enforcement action was conducted as part of Appalachia Overwatch, an intelligence-led enforcement initiative focused on disrupting drug trafficking and criminal activity impacting communities throughout the U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force region.
Appalachia Overwatch combines the resources, intelligence, and enforcement capabilities of participating agencies to identify and disrupt individuals and organizations involved in transporting and distributing illegal drugs throughout southern Ohio. The operation places an emphasis on proactive enforcement, drug interdiction, intelligence sharing, and follow-up investigations designed to identify sources of supply and trafficking networks.
The U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force appreciates the continued cooperation and commitment of its participating law enforcement agencies. These partnerships allow agencies to combine personnel, intelligence, equipment, and investigative resources to combat drug trafficking across jurisdictional boundaries.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
