THIRTEEN CHARGED IN DAYTON NARCOTICS RING

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; and Gregory G. Lockhart, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Ohio, announce that on August 5, 2008 federal criminal complaints were filed against the following individuals who are alleged to have operated a narcotics trafficking ring in the Dayton area. The charges follow a joint investigation by the above agencies as part of the Dayton Safe Streets Task Force.

Those charged were:

Mark L. Adams, age 22, Clayton and Harrison Township.
Benjamin Vaughn, age 21, Clayton.
Bryan K. Johnson, age 21, Clayton.
Jayson J. Jones, age 22, Harrison Township.
Talbert Grooms, Jr., age 24, Trotwood and Springfield.
Joseph F. Smith, age 18, Dayton.
Kenneth Vaughn, age 23, Atlanta, Georgia.
Gregory Siler, age 22.
Ronald Werts, age 51, Miamisburg.
Craig L. Sumerlin, age 21, Kettering.
Jerome J. Hill, age 23.
Chris Hill, age 31, Dayton.
Reginald L. Pugh, Jr., age 20, Dayton.

Agents, deputies and officers of the listed agencies arrested eight of the above individuals during early morning operations on August 5. Siler was already in custody on other charges. Grooms, Smith, Sumerlin, and Chris Hill remain at large. Anyone with any information on their current location is asked to call the FBI, U.S. Marshals or their local law enforcement agency. In addition federal search warrants were executed at ten homes in Dayton, Trotwood, Clayton, Harrison Township and Kettering. Federal seizure warrants have been obtained for 10 vehicles. Officers from the Kettering and Clayton Police Departments assisted in today's operations.

All of those arrested have been charged with single violations of Title 21, U.S. Code Sections 841(a)(1); 841(b)(1)(A); and 846, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base in excess of 50 grams; and Title 21, U.S. Code Section 814(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), conspiracy to distribute heroin. Initial appearances will be held in U.S. Magistrate's Court, Dayton at which time the Magistrate will determine whether those arrested will be held pending further proceedings.

THE PUBLIC IS REMINDED THAT A COMPLAINT IS MERELY AN ALLEGATION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. ALL SUBJECTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL CONVICTED IN A COURT OF LAW.

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