CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A federal grand jury has indicted a 35-year-old Ashville, man on charges of trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Samuel A. Griffith faces six counts in the indictment returned this week in U.S. District Court in Columbus.
Court documents allege that in October 2025, Griffith sold narcotics from a room at the Red Roof Inn on Renner Road in Columbus. When federal agents and local law enforcement executed a search warrant at the motel room, they recovered 18 firearms and kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, according to the indictment.
Because Griffith has at least three prior felony convictions in Franklin and Pickaway counties — including robbery, aggravated possession of drugs and weapons-related offenses — he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
The drug trafficking and possession with intent to distribute charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years and possible terms up to life in prison, as well as alternative counts carrying five to 40 years. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Griffith remained in custody Wednesday pending further court proceedings.