Judge sentences couple 'pumping a lot' of marijuana into area

Antioch College's free tuition offer attracts 2,500
2/12/12
Tea Party’s impact may be strongest for general election
2/12/12
Bellbrook High threat prompts police to increase security
2/12/12
'Powerball' numbers from $325M jackpot
2/12/12
Education strong determinant with work success
2/12/12
> More headlines

By Nancy Bowman, Staff Writer 8:36 AM Tuesday, June 9, 2009

TROY — A Bradford couple, who a Miami County judge said were “pumping a lot” of marijuana into the community, were sentenced to identical one-year prison terms Monday, June 8.

Lori Swob, 45, and William Swob, 54, were charged in December with felony trafficking in drugs. Officials also want to take their house on East Elm Street in Bradford, and $5,614 investigators said they found inside along with two pounds of marijuana.

As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, the Swobs pleaded no contest to felony trafficking in drugs and agreed to forfeit the money. They were found guilty in April. Prosecutors dropped the bid to forfeit their house.

In separate sentencing hearings Monday, Lori Swob told Judge Robert Lindeman, “I apologize for being in here.”

Her lawyer, Joe Fulker, said she didn’t smoke or sell marijuana and didn’t feel she could tell her husband to stop his activity. Fulker asked the judge to follow the recommended sentence of community control.

William Swob made no comment. His lawyer, Jack Hemm, asked for a minimum sentence if community control was not granted.

Lindeman rejected community control for both, making similar comments at each sentencing.

He said investigators saw known drug users coming and going from the Swobs’ house, and said the amount of marijuana seized was more than usual in a local drug investigation.

“You were pumping a lot of that stuff out into the community,” Lindeman said. “These weren’t casual sales like we usually see.”

The Swobs could have received up to five years in prison each.

They also were sentenced to six-month license suspensions and fines of $62 each to cover drug-testing costs.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article