MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio — Fourteen people face drug charges in Ohio and face charges for allegedly selling “faces.”

Ron Welch the Muskingum County Prosecutor announced that after years of investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the 14 defendants were served indictments in connection with a drug ring operated out of the Ohio prison system.

According to officials, the charges reflect a pattern of organized corrupt activity, in which prisoners from Muskingum County and elsewhere collaborated with their girlfriends and family members to smuggle drugs into Ohio prisons and launder the proceeds.

Officials say the defendants allegedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling what they call “faces,” small squares of paper soaked in methamphetamine or suboxone, a street drug of abuse marketed as a treatment for opioid addiction.

Charged in the prison round-up include:

• Justin A. Alexander, age 45, of Zanesville, currently serving a 25-year sentence

• Lisa A. Davis, age 49, of Zanesville, Alexander’s sister

• Tondalea R. Hale, age 54, of Zanesville, Alexander’s aunt

• Jessica A. Queen, age 46, of Belpre, Alexander’s girlfriend

• Kashawn “Duda” Cox, age 28, of Zanesville, currently serving a 7-year sentence

• Michelle J. Lang, age 27, of Columbus, Cox’s girlfriend

• Emily P. Goodrich, age 27, of Columbus, the mother of Cox’s child

• Ken D. Gatlin, II, age 28, of Zanesville, currently serving a 16-year sentence

• Vanita L. McCrae, age 42, of Zanesville, Gatlin’s sister

• Randall “Bub” Cremeans, age 39, of Zanesville, currently serving a 30-year sentence

• Kyle “White Boy” Ross, age 34, of Marion, recently released from prison on post-release control

• Jamaull D. Jones, Jr., age 27, of Cleveland, currently serving a 6-year sentence out of Cuyahoga County

• Heaven R. Gouldlock, age 26, of Cleveland, Jones’s girlfriend

• Sasha M. Hill, age 25, of Cleveland, Jones’s sister

According to officials, investigators caught the inmates and their family members by discovering drug shipments, phone smuggling, and an elaborate plot to publish and sell an actual novel-style book with its pages soaked with drugs.

Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor John Litle says the office is taking the lead on prosecuting the incident.

“Prison isn’t a money-making experience, and the only way to make money in prison is through corrupt activity,” Litle said. “We may not have a prison in Muskingum County, but the money was laundered here, and most of the folks involved came from here, so we will be taking on the prosecution of this situation.”

Litle says he has advice for individuals asked to participate in money-making schemes with a prison inmate.

“Just don’t do it,” Litle said. “Inmates have money on their books for legitimate prison expenditures. If they need help, its fine to put money on their books. It is obvious that paying money to a person outside the prison for the benefit of a prisoner is a transaction for drugs or contraband. Do not let someone who has damaged their own life with their own bad decisions rope more people into the system.”

(Video in the story shows the top stories for Wednesday, May 22, 2024)