LEBANON, OHIO — The clean-cut 17-year-old who loved skateboarding and played roller hockey much of his life didn’t look the part.
But Warren County law enforcement officials say the Mason High School student headed up a $3 million drug ring and was suspected of selling about $20,000 in marijuana per month. “He looks like somebody who would be in your church youth group,” said David Fornshell, Warren County Prosecutor.
The former honor roll student allegedly had six current and former Mason High School students working under him to be a significant source of marijuana for students in Mason and Kings school districts, authorities said. But he was smart enough not to deal on school grounds. And he apparently was savvy enough to keep his business dealings from his mother, even though police said they found a wad of cash – $6,000 – in the teen’s bedroom on Friday.
Mom’s story, according to police: She didn’t know. “She’s a single mom. If we can prove mom was involved in this, we would have charged her. Obviously, we can’t or we would have,” said Warren County Drug Task Force Commander John Burke. “We never bought marijuana with her present. We never had any conversation with her to indicate that she knew.”
Seven adults were indicted in the case on Friday. Burke said they are still considering charges against the six underlings who allegedly were dealing drugs for the boy to local high school students.
Drug agents say they found more than $6,000 in cash in the teen’s bedroom on Friday, following the indictments of seven adults who were involved in the drug gang.
