NEWS

AG: Drug ring run like pizza delivery business

Gazette staff

CIRCLEVILLE – Seventeen felony drug indictments involving an alleged Circleville-area drug trafficking ring that operated "like a pizza delivery business" were announced by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine on Wednesday afternoon.

DeWine joined several Pickaway County and Circleville officials Wednesday to announce the 17 indictments that follow an eight-month investigation conducted by the AG's Heroin Unit, Circleville Police and the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office into what was called a large-scale heroin and cocaine trafficking ring operating in and around Circleville. Fifty-four others were indicted on felony charges of possession of heroin and/or cocaine and one was charged with permitting drug abuse.

The indictments were handed down by a Pickaway County Grand Jury Friday and law enforcement was serving the warrants on the suspects Wednesday. Of the 17 facing trafficking charges, 11 – identified as the alleged managers of the trafficking organization – also will be charged with a felony count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

According to investigators, the leaders of the group operated the trafficking ring by transporting heroin and cocaine from Columbus and distributing the drugs in Circleville from August 2010 to December 2014. Investigators estimate that those supervising the group made approximately $40,000 per month in drug sales.

"Investigators found that this alleged drug trafficking operation functioned just like a pizza delivery business. Customers could place orders for heroin and cocaine, and members of the group allegedly delivered the drugs right to their customers' doorsteps," said DeWine. "With today's arrests, those deliveries are done. Through the collaborative efforts of the Attorney General's Office and local authorities, this alleged drug trafficking operation has been dismantled."

Of the 11 believed to be the managers of the ring, five were in custody as of Wednesday afternoon. They included Michael Binkley II, 33, of Circleville; Jessica Dodge, 34, of Circleville; Nicole Grambo, 35, of Circleville; Dejon Dunning, 27, of Lancaster; and David Caslin, 44, of Columbus.

Those indicted on trafficking and heroin and trafficking in cocaine charges and in custody as of early Wednesday afternoon were Circleville residents Rodney Evans, 46, Arnold Pennington Jr., 35, and Lindsey Pyle, 20.

Those charged with possession of heroin and/or possession of cocaine and in custody were:

From Circleville: Mary Barton, 22; Julia Boyer, 45; Terri Byrd, 24; Mallory Cordell, 20; Elyse Craig, 25; Joshua Cross, 33; Roger Derr, 40; Sherri Evans, 45; Dustin Fausnaugh, 25; Amy Frazier, 36; Kenneth Hardman, 40; Rhonda Hardman, 42; John F. Hill, 49; Thomas B. Hunt, 47; Christina Jenkins, 34; Jason Johnston, 36; Tyler Johnson, 23; Travis Kellough, 24; Jason Lambert, 41; Nicole Leasure, 39; Bobby Lowry, 39; Cody McKibben, 24; Rusti Neff, 28; Tim Neff Jr., 35; Brian Parmer, 34; Michell Parmer, 34; Jaime Pennington, 38; Jessica Quito, 31; Philip Reichelderfer, 32; Renee Ritenhouse, 32; Shannon Schwalbauch, 40; Laurie Smith, 38; Terra Smith, 38; Tamera Thornton, 55; Mary Walker, 50; and James Williams, 60.

From Orient: Donald Cassady, 44

From Stoutsville: Gwen Draise, 37

From Willamsport: Daniel Ferry, 54, and Cassandra Young, 34.

From Clarksburg: Harold David Hamilton, 60

From Laurelville: Carre Perkins, 49

"We are pleased with the arrests of those running the drug trafficking organization, thus addressing the supply side of the heroin and cocaine problem within our community," said Pickaway County Assistant Prosecutor Jayme Hartley Fountain. "Additionally, we are also hoping that the arrests and charges against the users will be a wake-up call that we will not tolerate the continued demand of heroin and cocaine. We want these people to address their addictions directly and use the resources available to get the help clearly needed by each person involved."