County lines gang jailed for exploiting children to sell drugs

Pictured: James O'Keefe and Kerry Russell

Three people who exploited children to sell drugs as part of a county lines network have been sentenced today (Thursday 10 October).

James O’Keefe, 23, of no fixed address, Kerry Russell, 39, of Titherington Way, Liverpool and Ruby O’Keefe, 19, of Colby Close, Liverpool were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today (Thursday 10 October).

James O’Keefe was jailed for 10 and a half years for four counts of Modern Day Slavery, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin), being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and possession of an item without authority in prison.

Kerry Russell was jailed for four years and four months and Ruby O’Keefe was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, for four counts of Modern Day Slavery, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and Proceeds of Crime offences.

Officers from Merseyside’s Project Medusa, the initiative to tackle county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation across the country, began an investigation into James O’Keefe in November 2023.

Despite being in prison for previous offences, detectives established that James O’Keefe was controlling multiple drug lines operating in Cheshire, West Mercia and Scotland, from his prison cell.

The investigation found that all three individuals had been using vulnerable teenagers to do the risky and often dangerous work of running drugs to customers. Ruby O’Keefe and Russell were assisting James O’Keefe by travelling around the country to facilitate drug supply and exploiting children to sell Class A drugs on their behalf.

As a result of this investigation, officers uncovered four incidents of vulnerable children who had been subject to exploitation by James O’Keefe, Ruby O’Keefe and Russell for the purpose of Class A drug supply.

Working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), on 2 May 2024, officers executed warrants at the home addresses of Ruby O’Keefe and Russell. At the same time, officers produced James O’Keefe from HMP Risley.

Safeguarding measures were put in place for the young people involved and through partnership working, they continue to receive bespoke support.

Detective Sergeant Shaun McNee said: “Callous criminals will often trap young and vulnerable people with threats of violence and debt-bondage, forcing them to transport their drugs to other parts of the country.

“Through our investigation, we were able to prove that these three individuals were involved in the supply of Class A drugs and using vulnerable children, as young as 16, to run these drugs for them across the country.

“Drug dealers often turn to those they can easily exploit to sell drugs on their behalf – with those most vulnerable taking all the risk. We are working hard to ensure that victims of county lines exploitation are protected from dangerous drug dealers like James O’Keefe, Ruby O’Keefe and Kerry Russell.

“I hope their significant sentences acts as a warning to those who exploit children to deal drugs in Merseyside and further afield that they will not go unpunished.

“I would also like to thank the CPS, OIC Phil Thomason and all the officers involved for conducting a thorough investigation and bringing those responsible to justice.”

District Crown Prosecutor Hannah Scott, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said “The Crown Prosecution Service’s case here was that these defendants conspired together to supply Class A drugs across the country and used children to do their dirty work for them.

“The children, aged around 16 at the time, were beaten up and threatened if they tried to get away from their abusers and the defendants threatened to smash up the homes of their relatives too.

“The children had nowhere to turn but the careful investigative work of Merseyside Police, working alongside the CPS, has got to the bottom of the vicious exploitation being carried out by these ruthless drug dealers.

“These dealers drag vulnerable children into their web of crime but the children are victims rather than perpetrators and this case has brought those truly responsible to justice.”

Merseyside Police’s ‘Silence is Not an Option’ campaign focuses on changing attitudes towards reporting gang-related activity and increasing intelligence reports to Crimestoppers anonymously to report serious and organised crime in Merseyside.

For more information, please visit: Give information 100% anonymously about organised crime in Merseyside | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)

Anyone who has any information about County Lines drug dealing in their area or anyone who is concerned about someone who may be being exploited by these gangs, can contact @CrimestoppersUK completely anonymously on 0800 555 111 or contact 101. In an emergency always contact 999. 

Worried about someone?

There are several signs to look out for that may indicate someone is involved in county lines:

• repeatedly going missing from school or home and being found in other areas
• having money, new clothes or electronic devices and they can't explain how they paid for them
• getting high numbers of texts or phone calls, being secretive about who they're speaking to
• decline in school or work performance
• significant changes in emotional or physical well-being

For more information about county lines, visit our County Lines webpage.