Press Release
6 Charged with Running Middletown Narcotics Ring
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio
CINCINNATI – A grand jury has indicted six defendants in an alleged Middletown narcotics conspiracy.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Todd A. Wickerham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw, and officials with the Butler County Sheriff's Office, Warren County Drug Task Force, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI Safe Street Task Force announced the charges that were unsealed today.
According to the indictment, the six individuals are part of a group that calls itself “All State” and is responsible for distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 100 grams of heroin in Middletown.
Those charged include:
Name |
Also Known As |
Benwan A. Edwards |
|
Marqui D. L. Conley |
Key Man |
Joseph L. Singletary, Jr. |
Joker |
Will D. Owens V |
|
Hailey E. P. Meeks |
|
Tyrese A. Robinson |
Tye, Moneybags |
It is alleged that Edwards and Conley served in leadership roles in the criminal organization. The other defendants allegedly served as sub-distributors and couriers of the drugs, and at times, as the group’s “enforcers.”
The indictment details more than 40 alleged specific drug transactions between October 2018 and May 2019. Each of the transactions included $400 to $2,600 in narcotics sales.
“The indictment alleges not only a narcotics conspiracy, but a violent one,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “According to the indictment’s allegations, certain co-conspirators used and brandished firearms to facilitate their drug trafficking business, intimidate rivals, and punish anyone who stood in their way.”
In January 2019, Edwards, Conley and another person allegedly discussed a murder-for-hire during a drug transaction.
In the same month, Edwards allegedly stated, “I got to this level from staying low and getting n***** knocked the f*** off for stepping in my lane.
The 38-count indictment charges each of the defendants with participating in a narcotics conspiracy. Other charges include possessing and distributing narcotics, as well as using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
The narcotics conspiracy is punishable by 10 years up to life in prison.
The government seeks to forfeit 19 vehicles – including a Maserati, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and BMW – at least nine firearms and nearly $12,000 in cash in this case.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation of this case by the FBI, Middletown Police, Butler County Sheriff's Office, Warren County Drug Task Force, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI Safe Street Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Karl P. Kadon, who is prosecuting the case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Updated May 21, 2019
Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component