DAYTON- Mark P. Donelson, age 53, of Trotwood, Ohio, and Azmi Hakim, age 42, of Huber Heights, Ohio were sentenced here today in United States District Court for their roles in crimes relating to a drug conspiracy indictment returned against them in October 2000. Donelson and Hakim both pled guilty in January 2003 to the charges.

United States Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart announced the sentences today along with the Internal Revenue Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Donelson was sentenced to 36 months for violating the federal money laundering statute.

Hakim was sentenced to 37 months for violating the federal money laundering statute and for failing to report to the IRS a cash transaction over $10,000.

Donelson and Hakim were part of multi-defendant indictment that was the result of a mulit-faceted Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, the Dayton Police Department, the Trotwood Police Department, and the Greene County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The indictment alleged that cocaine and heroine obtained in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles as well as other cities, was being distributed by the organization in Dayton, Middletown, and elsewhere in Southern Ohio.

Donelson and Hakim are two of eighteen defendants involved in this case. Fourteen other defendants so far have been sentenced for their involvement. Marcus Norvell received 135 months imprisonment. Leonard Redd received 262 months, Andre Phillips received 212 months, Darryl Brooks received 192 months, Carl Johnson received 72 months, Chris Walker received 151 months, Felipe DeLemos received 89 months, David Allen received 108 months, Carnell Simms received 135 months, Wayne Hodge received 135 months, Kevin Jackson received 140 months, Dwayne Taylor received 120 months, and Craig Seege received 57 months.

From March, 1998, through November, 2000, Hakim was a part owner of car sales business. Hakim's business partner purchased a car using cash in the name of co-defendant Andre Phillips. Although they paid $17,025 cash for the car, Hakim failed to report the transaction to the IRS by not filing a form 8300, Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 received in trade or Business with the IRS. Hakim also received $50,000 in cash that were the result of Andre Phillips' drug trafficking. Hakim invested the money into his car sales business in an effort to hide the drug trafficking money.

Mark Donelson and co-defendant Leonard Redd purchased a car using money that redd obtained from the sale of cocaine in Dayton, Ohio and elsewhere. Donelson then used a series of transactions at various Dayton financial institutions to deposit the drug proceeds received from Redd. By doing so, Donelson was able to convert the cash proceeds from Redd into what appeared to be legitimate cashier's checks and bank checks issued or drawn off these financial institutions.

U.S. Attorney Gregory Lockhart noted that the sentences in this case have provided a serious blow to the drug trade in the Southern District of Ohio. "This case is prime example of how drugs are imported from other areas of the country to here in our district. The task force in this case has made a significant impact to the drug trade here in Ohio" Lockhart said.