7 Indicted Following Large Drug Bust

The Muskingum County/Zanesville City Joint Drug Task Force, Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office continues to make progress in the fight against drugs this summer.

The Sheriff’s Office stated arrests stem from the culmination of a several months long investigation into individuals involved with drugs in the city and county. The two homes were located at 939 Pine Street and at 513 Baker Street. Seven individuals were indicted following the drug busts. On Monday afternoon, members of the Muskingum County/Zanesville City Joint Drug Task Force and the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested Leroy Junior Nelson. Nelson (age 37) was indicted with one count on Possession Drugs (cocaine) a felony of the first degree. This charge carries a major drug offender specification (MDO) which alleges that Nelson is a major drug offender. Nelson was also indicted with one count of possession of drugs (heroin) a felony of the third degree.

The county Sheriff’s Office stated after Nelson was arrested, members of the Zanesville Police Department Special Response Team, Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team and Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants at residences on Pine and Baker Streets in Zanesville. During the execution of these search warrants, seven individuals were detained and six were released. Darren McGaven Reese, nicknamed “Fuzz” (age 36) was indicted with three counts of trafficking in drugs which are felonies of the first degree, one count of trafficking in drugs, a first-degree felony with a MDO specification, one count of illegal manufacturing of drugs, which is a second-degree felony with a MDO specification, and one count of possession of drugs, a first-degree felony.

Tuesday, June 2nd, the Muskingum County/Zanesville City Joint Drug Task Force and the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force served four more arrest warrants. Robert Dwayne Horton Jr. (age 22) was indicted with two counts of trafficking in drugs, both felonies of the first degree. Robert Dwayne Horton Sr. (age 45) was indicted with two counts of trafficking in drugs, felonies of the first degree. Sia Terrell Franklin (age 21) has been indicted with one count of permitting drug abuse, a felony of the fifth degree, and David Wesley McLaurin (age 53) was indicted with one count of trafficking in drugs, a felony of the third degree.

Wesley Ryan Newman (age 34) is wanted in connection with the drug busts and remains at large. He is considered the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department’s Most Wanted. Newman has an outstanding indictment and is wanted for two counts of trafficking in drugs (cocaine) felonies of the first degree and one count of trafficking in drugs (cocaine) a felony of the third degree. There is an additional charge of trafficking drugs (cocaine) which carries a MDO specification and is a first-degree felony. Newman is six feet tall, weighs 250 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Authorities stated that he has a history of violent tendencies and should not be approached.

If you have information regarding Newman and his whereabouts, you are encouraged to contact the Muskingum County Sheriffs Office at: (740) 452-3637
You can also call the Zanesville Police Department with tips at: (740) 455-0700

We spoke to Chief Kenneth Miller and Sheriff Matt Lutz. Lutz explained all the time and hard work that went into the case has now paid off once again.

“To put these kinds of cases together that have major drug offenders, specifications with them–this is very serious jail time and these are the cases that you spend a lot of resources and time on but, these are the sources.” Said Lutz, “These people are major sources to supply line in our county and in our city and you know we are not going to put up with it.”

In total, six hundred grams of cocaine, seven grams of heroin, five vehicles, and $12,000 in U.S currency were seized. The approximate street value of the narcotics combined is $120,000. Lutz would like to thank the community who continues to feed their drug unit information and remind the public that they continue to work hard to make the community a better place for you to live.

“We have some very great people working for us on the drug unit that are relentless and if I was to make a bet I would say its not a safe bet to be dealing drugs in Muskingum County in the summer. You just never know when it’s going to be your turn to get hooked up.”

Both Lutz and Miller said this case is an example that they will go to extreme lengths to get drugs off the street and lock criminals up. Both the Sheriff’s Office and the Zanesville Police Department encourages you to share your tips with them regarding drug activity.