Ohio police allege teen was drug kingpin
(CBS/AP) LEBANON, Ohio - The drug kingpin had six lieutenants, selling as much as $20,000 of high-grade homegrown marijuana every month to high school students, careful not to do business on school grounds where they knew it was riskier, investigators said. And all this before he graduated.
A 17-year-old high school student was the center of a high-grade marijuana distribution ring that operated in two Cincinnati-area schools, the Warren County Drug Task Force said Monday. A yearlong investigation culminated in the arrest of the teen and seven adults, as well as the seizure of more than 600 hydroponically grown marijuana plants with a street value of around $3 million, the agency said.
The student, who was not named by the sheriff's office, will face charges in juvenile court. He had $6,000 in cash in his bedroom closet when officers arrived with a search warrant, sheriff's officials said.
"He was selling to six other people who were kind of like his lieutenants," Drug Task Force Commander John Burke said. "Then they were distributing the drugs to other high school students."
The juvenile told authorities he was not selling marijuana or conducting his business on the grounds of the high school, according to Hamilton County Prosecutor David Fornshell.
"There were strict orders not to sell at (the school) because you would get caught and the punishment would be severe," Fornshell said at a news conference.
He said the 17-year-old had been dealing drugs since he was at least 15. Through him, undercover investigators were able to trace the supply of drugs to three different individuals.
Fornshell, according to CBS affiliate WKRC in Cincinatti, described the teen as seeming "like someone who'd be in a church youth group or honor program. He looks like someone who'd be on student council or be a good friend to one of your young people. And, I think this in and of itself is somewhat scary. (The suspect) wasn't a problem in school, wasn't a star athlete, but wasn't somebody you'd look at as a troublemaker other than the fact he was trafficking a fair amount of marijuana."
He and the students who worked for him supplied Mason and nearby King high schools, Burke said. Other students who allegedly worked under the teen may eventually be charged also.
The investigation netted suspects who allegedly were growing high-grade hydroponic marijuana out of houses in Norwood and Hamilton and a furniture warehouse in Blue Ash, all in the Cincinnati area. The pot sold for $5,000 a pound, Burke said.
The adults indicted range in age from 20 to 58. All face multiple charges including possessing, cultivating and trafficking in marijuana. They were indicted Friday and were still being rounded up Monday, Burke said.
"This is a unique situation where we've been able to start at one level and move up the ladder to the source," Burke said. "The case is made even more egregious because it involved juveniles."
Mason City School Superintendent Gail Kist-Kline said school officials combat drug activity by routinely conducting surprise sweeps, providing programs on drug use and abuse for students and employing a school resource officer.
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And, why is he not in jail?
Read more: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/region_north_cincinnati/lebanon/police-bust-3m-drug-ring-led-by-17-year-old-mason-high-school-student#ixzz20zKGL4ad
Hydroponically? Ingenious. Atta boy!
They start them young in Hamilton County Ohio. Why the hell not? Look at who's running for president. The only measure of success that matters in America that is being taught to our children is acquiring as much money and expensive trappings of greed as you can while stepping over and on the rest of us "peons."
Yes, the Republicans have forced "class warfare" on us by choosing a candidate who exemplifies the worst of their "fat-cat" culture. John McCain was a most worthy candidate for President--a military hero and an experienced politician who possesses a deserved reputation as a principled, wise and fair senator. Their choice this time around for a candidate is a man who is most certainly NOT like John McCain!
How can a 17 year old with 7 employees $3 million drug operation of illegal drugs over two or three counties be dealt with in Juvie? I guess the fogheads are getting to the legal system.
For my book, saying "its just weed" is just like when I hear "it's just beer." It is addiction no matter how you look at it. I recently read that even NORML is against minors using weed. If the stuff is so harmless, why is it that they-NORML is against minors using it-the stuff is harmless, right?
Sounds like a candidate for "Future Business Leaders of America" to me.