Week-Long METRICH Drug Sweep Leads to 24 Indictments, 60 Felony Charges in Richland County
RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — A week-long drug enforcement operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies resulted in 24 people being indicted on a combined 60 felony charges, according to the METRICH Enforcement Unit.
The initiative began July 5 and was conducted by METRICH in partnership with the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and local law enforcement agencies throughout Richland County.
Authorities said the operation focused on locating and apprehending people allegedly involved in distributing illegal narcotics. The indictments followed numerous investigations conducted during the past year.
In addition to serving indictments, investigators executed searches at four locations in Richland County. Those searches resulted in additional felony charges and the seizure of firearms and evidence allegedly connected to drug trafficking.
Search Warrants and Charges
At 244 E. Arch Street, investigators reported charges involving:
Having weapons while under disability
Possessing criminal tools
Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance
Illegal manufacture of drugs
Authorities said a Glock 10mm handgun was recovered.
A consent search was conducted at 262 Elmwood Drive, where investigators reported charges of having weapons while under disability and receiving stolen property. A stolen Hi-Point firearm was allegedly recovered.
At 560 Daisy Street, authorities reported charges of tampering with evidence and illegal conveyance of drugs into a detention facility.
A search at 439 Burns Street resulted in reported charges of possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance and illegal manufacture of drugs.
Individuals Indicted
The 24 people identified by METRICH and their reported charges include:
Mollie Adkins
Trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Arrion Anderson
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Eric Askew
Trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Victor Askew
Trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Crystal Casperson
Possession of cocaine
Mitchell Cole
Possession of cocaine
Jermaine Conway
Two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs
Aggravated possession of drugs
Rena Daniels
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
James Darby
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Two counts of possession of cocaine
Tyrell Edmiston
Trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Willie Grier
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Xvaion Jones
Trafficking in cocaine
Trafficking in fentanyl
Possession of fentanyl
Dalen King
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Damien Lake
Trafficking in cocaine
Trafficking in fentanyl
Possession of fentanyl
Tremayne Lane
Trafficking in heroin
Trafficking in fentanyl
Possession of fentanyl
Roberto Lee
Two counts of aggravated possession of drugs
Brock Love
Possession of cocaine
Reginald Moffatt
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Joaquin Petty
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Dajour Robinson
Three counts of trafficking in cocaine
Eric Salyers
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Stasha Simmons
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
Carl Wallace
Possession of cocaine
Christopher Wright
Two counts of trafficking in cocaine
Possession of cocaine
METRICH officials said the initiative reflects the continued effort by local, state and federal law enforcement partners to disrupt drug-trafficking organizations, remove illegally possessed firearms and improve public safety throughout Richland County.
The investigations remain ongoing, and authorities said additional charges could be filed.
Anyone with information about suspected drug activity may contact the METRICH Crime Tip Hotline at 419-522-7463, the task force line at 419-755-9728, or submit information through the METRICH app.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
