A large-scale drug trafficking investigation that began more than three years ago has resulted in a decades-long sentence for the man thought to be at the heart of the operation.
According to the Marion County prosecutor, in 2022, agents from the MARMET Drug Task Force and the Delaware County Drug Task Force discovered a drug trafficking operation. The investigation covered several states and Ohio counties, involving a network of low-level traffickers that distributed large amounts of opioids.
Investigators discovered that huge quantities of narcotics were delivered to Marion from Los Angeles via UPS. These parcels were then reportedly delivered to an apartment on New Park Drive in Marion, where they were remanufactured, wrapped, and made ready for distribution throughout central Ohio.
Tommy Owens, who resided with Manuel Allen on New Park Drive, was thought to have played a significant role in coordinating this operation.
On November 2, 2022, a search warrant was served at the home of an Owens colleague in Delaware County.
That search resulted in the recovery of approximately eight pounds of marijuana, $14,000 in cash, and more than $97,000 in high-end items thought to be related to narcotics proceeds. In addition, GPS tracking of a Hyundai Elantra connected the Delaware County home to Owens’ Marion home.
Six months later, in May 2023, another search warrant was performed at the New Park Drive home, resulting in the seizure of the following:
- 447.3 grams of methamphetamine
- 203.4 grams of cocaine
- 107.04 grams of fentanyl
- $10,000 in cash
Vacuum-sealed packing materials consistent with kilogram-level distribution, digital scales, individually packaged narcotics, vast quantities of plastic bags, and a ledger from a co-defendant’s phone with information for multiple smaller-level dealers were also seized.
That same day, officials intercepted a box mailed from California to an Owens associate in Richland County. It held around 13 pounds of methamphetamine in vacuum-sealed packaging.
Owens was believed to be a key figure in the operation. In January, he was found guilty of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, possessing cocaine, and aggravated trafficking.
Owens, who had already served five years in jail for cocaine possession and trafficking following his arrest in 2016, was sentenced to 27-32.5 years.
Owens’ roommate, Allen, had previously pled guilty to a pattern of unethical activities and aggravated cocaine trafficking. He received consecutive sentences ranging from 19 to 24.5 years in prison.
Leave a Reply