Three out-of-town suspects have now been indicted by a Scioto County Grand Jury on drug trafficking and related charges, including two Dayton men SCDN told you about last week after major traffic-stop drug busts in Lucasville.
The indictments come as local law enforcement continues to warn that Scioto County is being targeted by drug dealers from outside the area.
Shannon Lamarr Smyth, 48, of Dayton, was indicted on multiple charges, including four counts of trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, four counts of possession of cocaine, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, and possessing criminal tools.
Dorian Lee Dorsey, 48, of Dayton, was indicted on charges including trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine, two counts of possessing criminal tools, and a marijuana consumption violation.
Tavon Juanay Felder, 27, of Huntington, West Virginia, was indicted on charges of tampering with evidence, aggravated trafficking in drugs, possession of marihuana, obstructing official business, assault, and possessing criminal tools.
SCDN told you last week that two Dayton men were arrested on major drug charges in Scioto County on the same day after separate traffic stops in Lucasville.
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman and Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer said those arrests came out of investigations by the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force in coordination with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The first stop happened around 1 p.m. on Aug. 24 near mile marker 12 on U.S. 23 in Lucasville.
Troopers stopped a vehicle for traffic violations and seized approximately 150 grams of suspected crack cocaine and 158 grams of suspected fentanyl.
The estimated street value of the suspected drugs was $36,960.
Dorsey was arrested in that case and originally charged with two counts of trafficking in drugs and two counts of possession of drugs, all first-degree felonies.
Later that same night, around 10:56 p.m., troopers stopped another vehicle on State Route 104 in Lucasville for traffic violations.
During that stop, law enforcement seized approximately 41 grams of suspected fentanyl and 33 grams of suspected crack cocaine.
The estimated street value of those suspected drugs was $9,013.
Smyth was arrested in that case and originally charged with two counts of trafficking in drugs and two counts of possession of drugs, also all first-degree felonies.
Together, the two stops netted nearly 200 grams of suspected fentanyl, more than 180 grams of suspected crack cocaine, and an estimated street value of $45,973.
Now, the cases have moved from arrest to indictment.
The new indictments also widen the out-of-town drug dealer picture, adding a Huntington man accused of aggravated trafficking in drugs, tampering with evidence, assault, obstruction, and possessing criminal tools.
For years, local law enforcement has warned that dealers from larger cities and neighboring states see Southern Ohio as a market.
Scioto County has repeatedly seen suspects from Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit, Huntington, and other places accused of bringing fentanyl, crack, heroin, meth, and other drugs into the area for sale.
For dealers, smaller Appalachian counties can look like easy money.
For local families, the result is addiction, overdoses, stolen property, child welfare cases, jail bookings, and funeral homes.
That is why task force cases often start with what sounds like a simple traffic stop.
A vehicle gets pulled over for a violation.
Then the investigation turns into a major drug seizure.
The charges are allegations. Smyth, Dorsey, and Felder are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
