By Sarah Mansheim Greenbrier County Sheriff Jan Cahill says that a couple “big fish” in the heroin game have been arrested. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, police arrested James Michael Payne, 63, of Frankford, and Nicholas Novak, 32, of Brentwood, NY, on distribution charges. According to Cahill, police went to Payne’s residence on Marvin Bowes Road in order to serve an arrest warrant for distributing heroin - a charge stemming from August. A subsequent investigation at the residence revealed Payne and Novak were frequently distributing a sizable amount of heroin throughout the area for some time, Cahill said. Officers recovered $2,481 in cash in the residence along with 15 bundles (150 stamps) of heroin valued at approximately $7,000. Novak was arrested for delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (heroin) and transporting a controlled substance into the state. Payne was arrested on the warrant for distribution of a controlled substance. Both suspects were transported to Southern Regional Jail on $40,000 bond (Payne’s is cash only). Incidentally, Cahill said, Payne was already awaiting sentencing on an earlier drug distribution plea. “Unfortunately, heroin is the drug of choice that we’re seeing these days,” Cahill said. “It’s good to get a major source, a ‘big fish,’ off the streets.” The investigation and arrests were performed by the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which is comprised of members from the State Police and Greenbrier County Sheriff’s office.
