Cincinnati Division
FBI - 500 Main Street, Suite 9000 - Cincinnati OH 45202 - www.fbi.gov
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Michael E. Brooks |
THREE ZANESVILLE AREA POLICE OFFICERS
ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES
J. Mark Batts, Acting Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Robert J. Stephenson, Sheriff, Muskingum County, Ohio; Eric Lambes, Chief of Police, Zanesville, Ohio Police Department; and Gregory G. Lockhart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced that Zanesville Police Officers Sean Beck, age 28, and Trevor Fusner, age 31, along with Genesis Health Care System Police Officer Chad Mills, age 29, were arrested by FBI agents and Muskingum County Sheriff's Deputies without incident yesterday. Beck and Fusner were arrested at the Zanesville Police Department. Mills was arrested at his residence.
Beck has been charged in a federal complaint with violations of Title 18, U.S. Code Section 1951, the Hobbs Act; and Title 21, U.S. Code Sections 841 and 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine. Fusner and Mills were charged in the same complaint with violations of Title 21, U.S. Code Sections 841 and 846. Violations of Title 18, U.S. Code Section 1951 is punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years. Violations of Title 21, U.S. Code Section 841 and 846 are punishable by imprisonment of 5 to 40 years. The complaint and affidavit in support of it are available at www.usdoj.gov/usao/ohs.
The federal complaint charges that Beck extorted monies from another person believing those monies to have been in payment to forego criminal investigation of that other person. The complaint further charges that Beck, Fusner and Mills conspired to steal one kilogram of cocaine from a Columbus narcotics dealer and distribute the cocaine using a third party, collecting the proceeds of the sale.
FBI agents and Muskingum County Sheriff's Deputies also executed federal search warrants at the residences and vehicles of the subjects yesterday.
The investigation leading to the complaint was conducted jointly by the FBI and the Muskingum County Sheriff's Office.
All three subjects were transported to Columbus. They received an Initial Appearance in federal court this morning. U.S. Magistrate Judge Terrance Kemp conducted the Initial Appearance. Judge Kemp ordered a detention hearing for Thursday at which time he will determine if the subjects will be released on bond. Until that time the subjects will be held at the Franklin County Jail.
The public is reminded that criminal complaints are mere allegations of criminal conduct and that subjects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Mr. Murphy stated, "These convictions demonstrate the resolve of the FBI, in cooperation with state, local and federal officials, to combat the scourge of criminal gang activity." He thanked the agencies involved for their support and significant contributions to the successes realized in this investigation. Mr Lockhart stated, "We are committed to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations in Southern Ohio. Such organizations use violence to threaten communities large and small." Both officials noted that this well coordinated investigative effort has seriously disrupted the Dodge City Crips gang which was trying to establish roots in smaller Ohio cities.
Pictures of 15 of the subjects in this matter are available from the FBI Cincinnati via email. Please contact Special Agent Michael Brooks at 513 562-5720 or at to request electronic versions of these pictures.
Various officials of the agencies involved in this investigation are available for interviews in Cincinnati, Middletown, Columbus and Zanesville. Please contact Special Agent Brooks if you would like to interview any of these officials.
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