United States Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart
Southern District of Ohio
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, August 14, 2008 |
CONTACT: Fred Alverson 614-469-5715 |
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THIRTEEN INDICTED IN NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING RING |
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DAYTON, Ohio – Thirteen individuals were charged in a 49-count indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury in Dayton, following an investigation conducted by the Dayton Safe Streets Task Force and other agencies. All of those indicted were arrested last week pursuant to a complaint filed in the United States District Court in Dayton for narcotics and firearms charges.
Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Richard Biehl, Chief of Police, Dayton Police Department; Phil Plummer, Sheriff, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office; Acting Chief of Police Quincy Pope, Trotwood Police Department; James M. Wahlrab, U.S. Marshal, Southern District Of Ohio announced yesterday’s indictment.
Those charged in the indictment are:
* Benjamin Vaughn a/k/a Ben a/k/a Man, age 21, of Clayton, named in ten counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, gun crimes and drug trafficking crimes;
* Jerome Hill a/k/a Pooh, age 23, of Huber Heights, named in nine counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, gun crimes and drug trafficking crimes;
* Kenneth Vaughn a/k/a K-Money, age 23, of Atlanta, Georgia, named in eight counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, and gun crimes;
* Joseph F. Smith a/k/a Fred, age 18, of Dayton, named in nine counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, drug possession and gun crimes;
* Mark Adams a/k/a Mark Jason, age 22, of Clayton and Harrison Township, named in six counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, gun crimes and drug trafficking crimes;
* Reginald Pugh a/k/a Reggie, age 20, of Dayton, is named in nine counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, gun crimes and drug trafficking crimes;
* Gregory Siler a/k/a Marco, age 22, of Dayton, named in ten counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, gun crimes and drug trafficking;
* Bryan Johnson a/k/a Stinker, age 21, of Clayton, named in eleven counts and charged with conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, threatening a federal officer, gun crimes and drug trafficking;
* Craig Sumerlin, age 21, of Kettering, named in eight counts including use of minors in drug operations, gun crimes and drug trafficking;
* Chris Hill, age 31, of Dayton, named in six counts including use of minors in drug operations, gun crimes and drug trafficking;
* Jayson Jones, age 22, of Harrison Township, named in four counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, and gun crimes;
* Talbert Grooms, age 24, of Trotwood, named in five counts including conspiracy, use of minors in drug operations, and gun crimes;
* Ronald Werts, age 51, of Miamisburg, named in four counts including conspiracy and drug trafficking crimes.
Federal search and arrest warrants were executed on August 5, resulting in the arrests of eight of these defendants. One had already been in custody on other charges and four were arrested later. Hill and Jones have been released on bond, and all others have remained in custody since their arrests.
The Task Force round up last week included the execution of search warrants at ten homes in Dayton, Trotwood, Clayton, Harrison Township and Kettering and the seizure of ten vehicles. Officers from the Kettering and Clayton Police Departments also assisted in the operation.
“Illegal drug trafficking and gun crimes are ruinous to our communities,” Lockhart said. “This operation is a joint effort among multiple law enforcement agencies to make our streets safer.”
All defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, which carries a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment. The gun charges carry a punishment of at least five years imprisonment consecutive to any other time served. The charges for use of minors in drug operations carry a punishment of at least one year and up to 80 years imprisonment. Retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat has a maximum term of up to 10 years imprisonment.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants should be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.