DRUG TASK FORCE FACING INVESTIGATION

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The FBI is investigating expenditures from a
methamphetamine grant given to the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, said an
attorney representing the western Kentucky law enforcement group.

The director of the task force based in Hopkinsville was also named in a
lawsuit alleging sexual harassment.

The FBI in Louisville served a subpoena to Cheyenne Albro, task force
director, on May 12 for records pertaining to the grant, said Christian
County Attorney Mike Foster, who represents the task force.

Since then, the FBI has not asked for additional information or requested
officials to appear for federal grand jury questioning, Foster said.

"The task force really doesn't know what they (FBI) want or what they're
doing with this information," Foster said.

Albro is out on medical leave recovering from a heart attack and was not
available Thursday to answer questions, according to a woman who answered
the phone at his office.

David Beyer, FBI spokesman in Louisville, declined to comment on the case.

It is unclear which methamphetamine grant the FBI is investigating, the
newspaper reported.

In 2000 and 2001, the task force was awarded a pair of $1 million federal
grants to help pay for the cost of cleaning up methamphetamine labs in
Kentucky's 1st Congressional District and provide training to law
enforcement agencies.

The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force was formed in November 1987 by 28 units
of local government to address the problem of illegal drug activity in
western Kentucky.

Teresa D. Cannon, who was employed by the task force to help train law
enforcement about the meth cooking culture, filed a lawsuit in Christian
Circuit Court in July that names the task force and Albro as defendants.

It alleges Albro "engaged in numerous and repeated acts of sexual
harassment" directed at Cannon during her employment with the organization.

The sexual harassment continued until Jan. 27 of this year, when Albro
fired Cannon from work, the suit claims. Cannon served more than five
months in jail on meth-related charges in 2000.

Cravens Priest, the Bowling Green attorney representing Albro, said
Thursday that "Mr. Albro denies all the allegations contained in the
complaint. We're confident he'll be exonerated."

Cannon named the agency as a defendant in the litigation because it "knew
or should have known" of Albro's alleged conduct. Cannon is seeking
compensation for punitive and actual damages, including humiliation and
embarrassment.

Albro remains employed as task force director pending the outcome of the
civil case, said Muhlenberg County Judge-Executive Rodney Kirtley, who
oversees task force operations.

"Until we're told he's guilty and the case is resolved, he's in charge of
the task force," Kirtley said.

Foster said there is no connection between the FBI investigation and the
sexual harassment claims.