2 defendants sentenced to prison for crimes connected to burying murder victims, narcotics trafficking

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two local men were sentenced in federal court for their roles in crimes related to the 2018 murders of three victims and a related narcotics ring.

In September 2021, a federal grand jury charged five Columbus men with crimes related to the three murders. An alleged narcotics conspiracy in 2018 to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence allegedly resulted in the shooting death of another resident within that house. To cover up for this murder, it is alleged one defendant murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder.

The indictment also charges defendants with crimes related to trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin.

In total, 13 individuals have been charged federally for their alleged involvement in either the murders, the cover-up of the murders, or the related narcotics conspiracy.

Lashawn Lee White, 47, was one of four defendants charged with crimes related to the alleged narcotics conspiracy. White possessed fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, Oxycodone, three pistols, one sawed-off shotgun and $20,000 in cash at his residence.

He was sentenced on April 19 to 12 years in prison.

Charles Koon, 52, was one of four other defendants charged in February 2021 for their alleged involvement with moving, dismembering, relocating and then burying the bodies of murder victims Henry Watson and Tera Pennington. He was sentenced 63 months in prison.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; James C. Harris III, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Prichard and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in the cases.

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