Five Central Ohio Men Charged with Cocaine Trafficking
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 30, 2014 |
COLUMBUS—A cooperative investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, has led to the indictments of five people on federal drug trafficking charges.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS); Kevin Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott; and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the charges today following the arrest of the final defendant named in a superseding indictment returned January 16.
Named in the indictment are:
- William Totten, 51, Canal Winchester
- Andre Broom, 47, Columbus
- Christafer L. Jackson, 31, Pickerington
- Donald A. Jordan, 51, Columbus
- Lawrence G. Beavers, 46, Springfield
Totten and Broom were indicted in December. The 12-count superseding indictment adds the other three defendants and charges each of them with conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, a crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. 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.
The five will be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King today at 2 p.m.
The superseding indictment also seeks forfeiture of three houses allegedly purchased with proceeds of illegal activities and forfeiture of cash and jewelry representing the proceeds of the crime.
Officers arrested Jordan on January 29. Jackson was arrested on January 21, and all have been ordered held without bond. According to evidence presented at a detention hearing on December 10, more than 20 kilograms of cocaine were seized during execution of a search warrant at Totten’s house. Beavers was released on bond. Judge Michael Watson will set a trial date for the defendants.
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by the IRS, FBI, Columbus Police, and Franklin County Sheriff, as well as the cooperation of the DEA, which provided information vital to the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Kelley and David DeVillers, who are prosecuting the case.
Charges contained in an indictment are allegations. All defendants should be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.