PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer and Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman announced today that an investigation conducted by the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force has dismantled a drug trafficking organization operating within Scioto County. The task force, which is made up of narcotics detectives from the Portsmouth Police Department, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, and agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, presented findings of a drug trafficking investigation involving the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” to a special session of a Scioto County Grand Jury on December 31st, 2022.
The grand jury returned a 72-count indictment charging 18 individuals with various felony offenses including, but not limited to; Trafficking in Drugs, Possession of Drugs, Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, Conspiracy to Trafficking in Drugs, and Illegal Manufacture of Drugs. The Scioto County Common Pleas Court issued arrest warrants on the indictment for the 18 individuals who were charged with different offenses.
On January 10th, 2023, personnel with the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force, Portsmouth Police Department, Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI conducted operations in Scioto County and Dayton, Ohio, which resulted in the apprehension of a number of the indicted subjects for their alleged involvement in the drug trafficking organization. The investigation to date has yielded over 1,722 grams of suspected methamphetamine, approximately 151 grams of suspected fentanyl, and five firearms.
Chief Brewer and Sheriff Thoroughman thanked the Safe Streets and RANGE Task Force in Dayton, Ohio as well as the public for their assistance with the investigation. They also thanked the tactical medics with the Portsmouth Fire Department and the Southern Ohio Organized & Major Crimes Task Force for their assistance with the operation on January 10th.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jahquan Booker, Antone Jackson, Ronald Daniels, Papa Ndiaye, Kristina Creveling, Theresa Boyle, or Lawrence Hicks can contact the Portsmouth P.D. at (740) 353-4101, Scioto County Sheriff’s Office at (740) 354-7566, or the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force tip line at (740) 354-5656. Chief Brewer and Sheriff Thoroughman request that anyone wishing to leave information for the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force to call the tip line or email [email protected].
