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Attorney General Mike DeWine
Three Arrested
for Multi-County Drug Trafficking
(GALLIPOLIS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and members of the
Major Crimes Task Force of Meigs and Gallia County today announced that
three people have been arrested as part of an investigation into a
criminal enterprise accused of bringing cocaine and crack cocaine into
Gallia County, Meigs County, and parts of West Virginia.
The arrests followed search warrants that were issued at five Gallia
County locations this morning.
The investigation was conducted by the Major Crimes Task Force of Meigs
and Gallia Counties, which is part of the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio
Organized Crime Investigations Commission. The task force is made up of
authorities from the Meigs County Sheriff's Office, Gallia County
Sheriff's Office, Gallipolis Police Department, Middleport Police
Department, Gallia County Prosecutor’s Office, and Meigs County
Prosecutor’s Office. Also assisting in the investigation were the Ohio
Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio State Highway
Patrol, and Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The following individuals were arrested:
Antonio D. McIntosh, 36, of Gallipolis, was indicted on 13 counts,
including charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity,
possession of cocaine and crack cocaine, and trafficking in cocaine and
crack cocaine.
Stan D. Helms, 40, of Columbus, was indicted on 11 counts, including
charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, possession of
crack cocaine, and trafficking in crack cocaine.
Natasha L. Quesinberry, 23, of Washington Court House, was indicted on
one count of trafficking in cocaine and one count of possession of
cocaine.
Additional arrests are likely.
Investigators believe the enterprise brought cocaine and crack cocaine
from central Ohio and distributed it to residents of Gallia County,
Meigs County, and Mason, West Virginia.
“Drug abuse is a problem in every corner of the state,” Attorney
General DeWine said. “Dismantling drug trafficking operations is part
of the solution, and I commend the hard work of law enforcement in this
case.”
“The Meigs-Gallia Major Crimes Task force has worked extremely hard on
this long term case and I commend them for it. It is essential to Meigs
County’s safety and welfare to rid, not only Meigs County, but the
surrounding areas of drug dealers, as these same people pass these
horrible, life threatening drugs on to our county's residents. This is
the very reason that we have formed a partnership through the Task
Force,” said Meigs County Prosecutor Colleen Williams.
“The warrants that were served today were issued as the result of an
extensive investigation into a major criminal enterprise that has been
operating in our county since the fall of 2013. Our community has
experienced the effects of the drug trafficking occurring at the
locations we targeted today, including an increase in property crimes
and violent incidents in the area. Today our goal was to attack this
problem by targeting the drug dealers and disrupting the supply. Those
who seek to profit by peddling drugs in our community need to
understand that this investigation did not end today, but will continue
until the so-called 'pool hall' is out of business for good,” said
Gallia County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff
Adkins.
“The results of today’s search warrants and arrests are from a lengthy
investigation, hard work and cooperation of local enforcement officers
and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force,” said Gallipolis City
Chief of Police Jeff Boyer.
“These cases are the result of extensive, lengthy investigations
conducted by Task Force Agents and show the dedication needed to combat
the drug problem in our communities. The member agencies of the
Gallia/Meigs Major Crimes Task Force along with OOCIC and the Attorney
General's Office are committed to this continual battle in order to
make our communities safer,” said Middleport Chief of Police Bruce
Swift.
“Today’s arrest and search is going to make Gallia County a safer
place. Based on the investigation that was conducted, these locations
and suspects were involved in not only drug trafficking but also
offenses related to thefts and stolen property. I’m proud of the work
our team has done and thank the public for the input to help bring
these suspects to justice,” said Gallia County Sheriff Joe Browning.
“This was a long term investigation that took many man hours from the
OOCIC task force along with other local departments; these early
morning raids will definitely put a damper on drugs coming into SE Ohio
and Western West Virginia. It was a job well done by all law
enforcement officials,” said Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood.
Established in 1986, the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission
(OOCIC) assists local law enforcement agencies in combating organized
crime and corrupt activities. The Commission is composed of
members of the law enforcement community and is chaired by the Ohio
Attorney General.
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