COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five men are facing federal charges, accused of dealing large amounts of cocaine out of Canal Winchester and using the proceeds to buy homes in Columbus and jewelry.
Federal prosecutors say the men were indicted Thursday on conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other charges following a multi-agency investigation that uncovered the drug ring’s home base on Evendale Court in Canal Winchester.
William Totten, 51, of Canal Winchester and Andre Broom, 47, of Columbus were indicted in December but the new 12-count indictment adds Christafer Jackson, 31, of Pickerington; Donald Jordan, 51, of Columbus and Lawrence Beavers, 46, of Springfield.
The three are each charged with conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, a crime punishable by at least ten years and up to life in prison, according to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Carter Stewart.
Totten is also charged with additional drug trafficking charges and three counts of money laundering, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, Stewart’s office announced.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of three houses in Columbus Stewart says were bought with proceeds of illegal activities and forfeiture of cash and jewelry seized at Totten’s Canal Winchester home in December and described by Stewart’s office as “proceeds of the crime.”
More than 20 kilograms of cocaine were seized during the execution of the search warrant at Totten’s home on Dec. 6, according to court documents.
Jackson and Jordan were each arrested in January and ordered held without bond. Beavers was released on bond. Judge Michael Watson will set a trial date for the defendants.
Stewart says the arrested resulted from an investigation involving the IRS, FBI, Columbus Police, the Franklin County Sheriff with cooperation from the DEA.