Ohio Man Sentenced To More Than 14 Years In Federal Prison For Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

Owen’s brother previously sentenced in Oct. to almost 11 years in prison for his part in crack distribution scheme

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An Ohio man was sentenced today to 14 years and seven months in federal prison for his role in a crack cocaine distribution conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced.  Retsyn Deshawn Owens, 43, of Akron, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and heroin.  Owens participated in a crack distribution scheme that included his brother and co-defendant, Renardo Darnell Owens, in February this year.

Renardo Darnell Owens, 38, also of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced in October to ten years and ten months in prison after previously pleading guilty to a crack cocaine distribution conspiracy charge. 

On February 11, 2013, Renardo Owens sold crack cocaine to a police informant working in cooperation with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) in exchange for $140.  The next day, Renardo Owens sold $300 worth of crack cocaine to an informant.  He also gave the informant $500 worth of crack cocaine and expected to be paid after the drugs were sold. 

On February 13, 2013, Owens’ brother, Retsyn, arranged to meet the police informant at a predetermined location in Charleston.  After arriving at the predetermined location, Retsyn Owens accepted $500 from the informant. The money that Retsyn Owens received from the informant on February 13, 2013 was payment for a crack cocaine transaction his brother had performed two days prior. 

Retsyn Owens also provided the informant $500 worth of crack cocaine on February 13, 2013 and expected payment after the drugs were sold.  On February 14, 2013, Renardo Owens accepted $500 from a police informant as payment for crack cocaine.  Also, on February 14, 2013, Renardo Owens handed the informant $1,000 worth of crack cocaine and expected payment after the drugs were sold.  On February 15, 2013, MDENT agents executed a search warrant at a Charleston residence and seized drug paraphernalia, cash, and three bags containing crack cocaine. During the execution of the search warrant, police also arrested Renardo Owens, who was inside of the residence at the time. 

Renardo Owens was previously convicted in October 1999 of cocaine possession and trafficking in the Court of Common Pleas in Summit County, Ohio.

Retsyn Owens was on federal supervised release out of New York at the time he committed the federal drug felony in West Virginia. 

In today’s hearing, United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston sentenced Retsyn Owens to a total of 175 months in prison: 24 months for the revocation of supervised release and 151 months for the drug offense.  Judge Johnston ordered the prison sentences to be served consecutively. 

The Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team and the Charleston Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks handled both prosecutions.