Central and Southern Ohio Heroin Trafficking Network Dismantled

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The last of eight defendants guilty of distributing heroin, anabolic steroids and other drugs in central and southern Ohio has been sentenced in U.S. District Court, capping a two-year investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Field Division, agencies participating in the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force, and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the sentences today. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson presided over the case.

The eight defendants who pleaded guilty to conspiracy are:

Mark Eubanks, 34, Columbus. Sentenced to 150 months in prison.

Donald Smith, 52, Columbus. 72 months.

Johnathan Nunez, 27, Wheelersburg, 41 months.

Gregory Workman, 51, Springfield. 36 months.

Timothy Mutter, 59, Franklin Furnace. 36 months.

Richard Glenn, 36, Portsmouth. 36 months.

Kent Whiteside, 32, Columbus. 18 months.

Trent Banks, 47, South Bloomfield. 36 months’ probation.

All except Banks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin. Banks pleaded guilty to trafficking anabolic steroids.

According to court documents, the FBI began investigating a drug trafficking organization operating in central and southern Ohio in 2014. During the course of the investigation, agents identified Eubanks as a distributor of narcotics, including heroin, cocaine, MDMA and anabolic steroids. Eubanks used two residences and a storage unit in Columbus to conduct drug transactions and store narcotics, drug proceeds and firearms. As the investigation progressed, agents learned that Eubanks and his co-conspirators were distributing heroin and anabolic steroids in central and southern Ohio. Agents executed search warrants at various locations and seized quantities of heroin and MDMA, 200 vials of anabolic steroids, drug paraphernalia, ten firearms, ammunition, and more than $37,000 in cash.

A federal grand jury indicted the defendants in October, 2015.

Agencies in the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force include Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini, Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless and the police departments in Portsmouth, Jackson and Ironton.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the task force agencies, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Martinez and Deputy Criminal Chief Michael Hunter, who represented the United States in this case.