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Edwards, Owens and Meeks are in custody, but U.S. Marshals and local police continue to look for the other three suspects.
According to the federal indictment, a group identifying itself as “ALL STATE” was based in Middletown with a primary source of revenue from storage, production, distribution and transportation of a heroin/fentanyl mixture. From October 2018 to May 6, 2019, the group distributed 400 grams or more of the mixture.
“It was part of the conspiracy that the defendants and others used stash houses to store fentanyl mixtures, narcotics processing and package materials and monies obtained through illegal sale of controlled substances … in order to avoid detection,” according U.S. District Court documents.
“As part of the conspiracy (the defendants) used cellular telephones to facilitate their illegal drug business, that they spoke in code or veiled reference to narcotics business while using cellular telephones.”
In federal court documents filed May 2 for the arrest of Edwards and Conley, investigators outlined “hits” to which the duo was allegedly connected.
Conley and Edwards “provided money on different occasions over the last few years for ‘hits’ to be placed on (four men),” the court document states.
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On Jan. 8, Edwards and Conley met with another person, and during the meeting, Edwards said, “I got to this level from staying low and getting (expletive) knocked the (expletive) off for stepping in my lane,” according to the court documents.
Two of the people named were shot to death, one was arrested and is in jail and the other was shot but survived.
The attorneys representing Edwards said he “categorically denies” all charges alleged in the federal indictment. The allegations against Edwards, are “baseless and unsubstantiated,” and did not result in any criminal charges against Edwards, according to his attorneys.
“Mr. Edwards looks forward to his day in court,” the email from attorneys Richard L. Crosby III and Christopher R. McDowell said.
The suspects purchased, borrowed and rented cars in order to facilitate the illegal business and carried firearms to “intimidate rival drug dealers and to punish anyone who stood in the way of their conspiracy,” according to the indictment.
In the indictment, which is the result of a multi-agency, joint investigation, 44 alleged acts from Oct 14, 2018 to May 6, 2019 are outlined. Most allege drug dealing and collection of money owed to the operation. But on two occasions, Edwards and Conley talked about a murder for hire and getting people “knocked the (expletive) off for stepping in my lane,” according to the documents.
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In April, an unnamed person told investigators Edwards offered him $60,000 cash to “shoot up” a Middletown police officer’s police car as retribution for the officer being involved in numerous traffic stops of vehicles containing “ALL STATE” members, according to the court document.
The indictment also has a provision for forfeiture of property allegedly used in the criminal operation if they are found guilty that includes a 2011 BMW, 2016 Mercedes Benz, 2009 Jaguar and a 2014 Maserati, as well as guns, cash ammunition and cell phones.
There are no charges currently against any of the defendants for murder or any killings. Edwards, Owens and Meeks were all arraigned last week in U.S. District court in Cincinnati. They were ordered to remain incarcerated pending preliminary proceedings or trial.
Middletown Police Major Scott Reeve said detectives are still looking into information gathered in the federal investigation to see of more charges can be filed.
“We need to have first-hand information,” he said.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said he is happy to see the cooperation between the federal and local police investigators.
“It could lead to bring collateral charges here in the county,” said Gmoser, who added that gaining cooperation from witnesses and residents is often a problem in cases like these because they fear for their safety.
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By the numbers: Material seized in ‘drug ring’ investigation
19 vehicles
$11,915 in cash from four locations in Middletown and Miamisburg
15 guns
29 cell phones
SOURCE: United States District Court documents
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