COLUMBUS, Ohio – The United States Justice Department indicted 12 new defendants today in federal court as part of the D.O.J’s work to dismantle a large-scale drug trafficking operation.
The announcement came earlier today. Federal officials released a statement saying, “A multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July after a federal grand jury indicted 11 defendants for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in central Ohio within 1,000 feet of a Columbus elementary school. A superseding indictment unsealed Friday now charges additional co-conspirators with distributing those same drugs in addition to methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax, and Oxycodone.”
Court records show that from January 2008 until 2022, the organization sold drugs on the West side of Columbus to customers and distributed larger amounts to regional traffickers who then trafficked those narcotics to places such as West Virginia and northern Ohio.
The indictment also alleges that two defendants sold fentanyl and crack cocaine that resulted in an overdose death.
Federal agents say that 20 search warrants were executed throughout Central Ohio. Over $1.7 million in alleged drug money was also seized. One such seizure, authorities say, included $1.2 million taken from a Car-Go storage unit. 47 firearms, diamonds, Rolex watches, and additional cash were also located.
Those originally charged include:
| Name | Age | City of Residence |
| Cordell A. Washington, aka Corey, Dub, Bro | 35 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Patrick M. Saultz, aka White Boy Pat | 44 | Columbus, Ohio |
| David E. Price, aka DP | 53 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Allison E. Smith, aka Alli | 27 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Tavaryyuan Johnson, aka Gucci | 22 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Tyler N. Bourdo | 28 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Alexis C. Lewis | 30 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Michael Fowler | 45 | Canton, Ohio |
| Carmela Brooks | 48 | Canton, Ohio |
| Dustin A. Speakman, aka Dawg | 32 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Danny G. Mullins | 53 | Columbus, Ohio |
Defendants added in the superseding indictment unsealed today include:
| Name | Age | City of Residence |
| Robert E. Tinsley, III, aka Cam | 22 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Priscilla L. Washington | 58 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Lauren E. Brezney | 29 | Shallotte, N.C./Columbus, Ohio |
| Brittany A. Williams | 36 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Gabriel R. Smith, aka Gabe | 34 | Canal Winchester, Ohio |
| Robert L. Pyles, aka Pork | 45 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Mitchell A. Powers | 33 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Vincent T. Griffin | 50 | Reynoldsburg, Ohio |
| Caitlin R. Duff | 27 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Michael D. Burton | 39 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Brian K. Long, II | 32 | Columbus, Ohio |
| Anthony B. Frierson, aka Royal | 31 | Columbus, Ohio |
Twenty-two defendants now face conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax, and Oxycodone. The defendants face up to life in federal prison.