Ties to a Titus Road home, serving as both a drug lab and a chop shop, have lead to a series of indictments against four individuals.
The indictments stem from the Jan. 11 raid at 21378 Titus Road in Raymond.
Three people were originally arrested in the raid. The new indictments include charges against three additional individuals and bring more charges against one of the original men arrested.
“I think we can fairly accurately describe this as a major operation, both from the law enforcement side and from the amount of drugs being sold at that location,” Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said.
The Union County grand jury has indicted:
– Matthew David Wright, 27, of 21378 Titus Road, Raymond. Wright is charged with four counts of fraudulent actions concerning a vehicle identification number, three counts of receiving stolen property and one count each of possession of heroin, unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, permitting drug abuse and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
– Paul Jerod Lester, 42, of 21378 Titus Road, Raymond. Lester is charged with one count each of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine, aggravated trafficking in drugs, aggravated possession of drugs, illegal manufacture of drugs, having weapons under disability and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Lester was charged with trafficking and tampering with evidence charges at the time of the raid.
– Cheyenne Lou Reisinger, 21, of 101 Oak Hill Ave., Delaware. Reisinger is charged with one count of corrupting another with drugs.
– Robert Charles Lane, 29, of 214 N. Maple St., Marysville. Lane is charged with eight counts of corrupting another with drugs.
Also arrested at the time of the raid were Timothy Holton, 27, of Delaware, and Alyssa Carver, 25, of Raymond. Holton was arrested on a warrant out of Franklin County and Carver was arrested on warrants out of Union County.
Phillips explained that several months ago investigators were called to the Super 8 motel in Marysville. The investigators found methamphetamine and other things in the motel rooms.
“That investigation broadened out into other activities,” Phillips said. “There were some sources of information developed. There were some other individuals who were investigated and arrested and alleged to have purchased drugs from these individuals.”
Information pointed to the Titus Road home and residents. Phillips said the Union County Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement (MADE) Task Force investigated, watching individuals, the area and the home for months.
“The task force continued to develop information,” Phillips said. “It showed a lot of people coming and going at that Titus Road home, a lot of short stops.”
At 7:43 a.m., Jan. 11, police raided the Titus Road home. Inside the home investigators found three individuals on the first floor and another nine in the basement. They also found drugs, cash, drug paraphernalia, a drug ledger, a safe with cash, equipment to manufacture and distribute drugs and weapons.
“To say that it was a mess would be an understatement,” Phillips said.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton did not say exactly what was listed on the search warrant, but said the investigation included heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine, “every type of drug.”
Investigators also seized video equipment, used as security for the home.
“That video depicted the alleged drug activity,” Phillips said, adding that Lane and Reisinger are each shown on the video allegedly giving drugs to others.
Investigators determined that inside the home, owned by Wright’s parents, the occupants were making or distributing meth, cocaine and crack cocaine. They also learned that Wright was running an alleged chop shop, allegedly taking parts from cars, destroying the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the part and selling them.
“They were motor vehicles that were identified as being stolen,” Phillips said.
The prosecutor explained that cars and parts have some numbers on them that are in plain sight and others that are hidden.
“It is criminal to delete a VIN number,” Phillips said.
The prosecutor said there is “no indication the parents, the owners of the house, had knowledge of the criminal activity.” He said they live out of state, adding that the house would have been subject to seizure if the owners were aware of what was happening.
Phillips also explained that investigators found a sawed-off shotgun in the home. He explained that because Lester was convicted of burglary in 1994, he is not allowed to live in a home that has guns.
The indictment does list five other co-conspirators, though they are not charged. Additionally, at the time of the raid the home had several people arrested, but not indicted.
“Not all of them are indicted at this time,” Phillips said. “There will be more charges coming out of this but there is just so much data and video to go through.”
He added that investigators are also working to see if they can connect the individuals to higher-level drug offenders.
If convicted on all charges, Wright could face as many as 21.5 years in prison, Lester could face as many as 36 years in prison, Reisinger could face as many as eight years in the Ohio Reformatory for Women and Lane could face as many as 64 years in prison. All four of the individuals are set for arraignment later this month.