Southeast Major Crimes Task Force arrests five in Meigs County
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POMEROY, OHIO -- The Southeast Major Crimes Task Force ended a long-term investigation surrounding major drug suppliers from Columbus delivering illegal narcotics to Meigs and Athens counties with five arrests last week, the Meigs County Sheriff's Office announced.
In a press release issued Tuesday, officials said the investigation was initiated by Task Force detectives assigned in Meigs, Athens and Washington Counties and began by identifying two suspects who would regularly travel from Columbus to Athens and Meigs counties to deliver fentanyl and crack-cocaine for sale by local county residents.
A traffic stop was initiated by detectives in Athens County on Aug. 3 on a 2014 black Camaro, one of the vehicles used by two of the suspects to make local deliveries of illegal drugs, the release said.
Jeremiah Fuller of Columbus and Javahri Portis of Westerville, Ohio were found to be in possession of approximately 2 ounces of suspected fentanyl, packaged for delivery. They were taken into custody, the release said.
In a coordinated effort, during the time of the Athens County traffic stop, Meigs and Washington County detectives assigned to the Task Force served a search warrant at a home on Hampton Hollow Road in Meigs County that regularly received deliveries from the suspects, according to the press release.
As part of the investigation, detectives conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from the individuals at the residence. Agents have also conducted multiple surveillance operations there and observed large amounts of both vehicle and foot traffic. As a result of the surveillance operations, task force agents identified Fuller and Portis, the press release said.
Meigs County Detectives arrested three individuals on Hampton Hollow Road, two identified as Amber Bare and Kevin Jewell. Bare and Jewell were found to be in possession of fentanyl and a large amount of cash. Bare was arrested for an active indictment through Meigs County Commons Pleas Court for drug trafficking-related charges. Jewell was arrested on charges of possession of and trafficking in drugs.
Also arrested at the scene was Kyle Hopkins, who had an outstanding warrant through Meigs County Court and was found to be in possession of fentanyl.
Authorities also seized equipment such as scales and individual baggies commonly used to traffic illegal drugs.
The home of Jeremiah Fuller was searched by Columbus Police detectives and approximately 2.5 ounces of suspected fentanyl was located, along with cash, a pressing device used for compacting powder drugs into a solid form and other items associated with trafficking in illegal narcotics.
Also, simultaneously Delaware County Drug Task Force detectives searched the home of Javahri Portis and collected suspected fentanyl, drug paraphernalia items and a firearm.
Meigs County Sheriff D. Scott Fitch gave a special thank you to Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith, his staff, and the members of the Major Crimes Task Force for their hard work in this investigation, along with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Columbus Police Department and the Delaware County Drug Task Force.
"The individuals involved in this investigation have been supplying large amounts of drugs to Meigs County residents. Cutting off the supply of these drugs to our county will have a huge impact in slowing down the flow of drug trafficking into Meigs County," the sheriff's department said in its press release. "Cases like this greatly improve our mission to make Meigs County a safer place to live for all of our residents."
The Southeast Major Crimes Task Force is part of the Ohio Attorney General's Organized Crime Investigation Commission and is comprised of representatives of the Washington, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Meigs and Athens County Sheriff's Offices; the Marietta, Belpre, Glouster, Middleport, McConnelsville and Nelsonville Police Departments; the Washington, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Meigs and Athens County Prosecutor's Offices; and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.