NEWS

Ashraf pleads guilty to 26 felonies

Patrick O'Neill
poneill@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

ZANESVILLE – A 35-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to 26 felonies committed roughly two years ago, including trafficking in drugs and illegal use of food stamps.

Waqar Ashraf, who identified himself in court as a citizen of Pakistan, admitted to trafficking methamphetamine, prescription pills, and cocaine in a school zone.

He also pleaded guilty to 20 counts of illegal use of food stamp benefits at a Pine Street convenience store where he worked. The state said Ashraf repeatedly "took food stamps for non-food products."

He could face more than 20 years in prison when he is sentenced.

Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill reminded Ashraf that a guilty plea could lead to the termination of his green card and possible deportation. Ashraf seemed eager to move ahead with the proceedings until Cottrill ordered him to surrender his passport.

"It's in my kid's house in Roseville," Ashraf said. "No one told me about the passport."

Ashraf's attorney told Cottrill that an acquaintance would retrieve the passport. Cottrill ordered Ashraf to be held in the county jail until the passport arrived, at which point he could be released on bond.