A trio of local men has been indicted for allegedly running a cocaine trafficking ring.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Ryan William Shuster, Eric Edward Mills and Dylan Michael Goen, charging them a variety of drug offenses.
Shuster, 41, of 13934 Watkins Rd., is charged with one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, illegal manufacture of drugs, possession of cocaine, trafficking in cocaine and corrupting another with drugs.
Mills, 36, of 13690 Hinton Mill Rd., is charged with one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, illegal manufacture of drugs, possession of cocaine and trafficking in cocaine.
Goen, 31, of 515 N. Main St., is charged with one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, illegal manufacture of drugs, possession of cocaine and 16 counts of trafficking in cocaine.
According to court documents, police conducted a “months-long” investigation, learning that between October 2023 and April 26, 2024, Mills, Goen and Shuster allegedly manufactured and trafficked both cocaine and crack at 515 N. Main St., as well as at multiple hotels throughout Marysville and Dublin.
Crack is a form of cocaine that gives a very quick, intense high.
“Crack is nearly always smoked,” according to information from the U.S. Department of Justice. “Smoking crack cocaine delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing an immediate and intense euphoric effect.”
The DOJ added that crack is abused “because it produces an immediate high and because it is easy and inexpensive to produce, rendering it readily available and affordable.”
According to the Department of Justice, crack is produced by dissolving powdered cocaine in a mixture of water and ammonia or baking soda. The mixture is boiled until a solid substance forms. The solid is removed from the liquid, dried, and then broken into the pieces, or rocks, that are sold as crack cocaine.
Cocaine is a white powder while crack rocks are white or off-white and vary in size and shape.
Crack got its name because it crackles when it is heated and smoked.
The DOJ stresses that in addition to the risks associated with cocaine use — constricted blood vessels; increased temperature, heart rate and blood pressure and risk of cardiac arrest and seizure — crack users may experience acute respiratory problems, including coughing, shortness of breath and lung trauma and bleeding. Crack cocaine smoking also can cause aggressive and paranoid behavior.
According to court documents, Goen would manufacture and sell crack cocaine would sell the and Mills would then make deliveries of the drugs. The group would sell a gram of crack for $100.
Eventually Goen was arrested on a probation violation.
“At that time, Eric Mills then took over manufacturing the crack cocaine while Ryan Shuster would make deliveries, still selling the crack cocaine for $100 per 1g,” according to court documents. “By January 2024, both Eric Mills and Ryan Shuster were manufacturing crack cocaine, while Ryan Shuster continued to make deliveries.”
During the investigation, detectives learned the group was making $3,000 or more per day “as a result of drug transactions.”
With the assistance of Dublin Police, on April 26, detectives executed a search warrant at the Extended Stay of America in Dublin, less than 1,000 feet from a day care center.
Mills and Ryan Shuster were taken into custody
Detectives found “a white powdery substance” as well as “a rock like substance” inside of the hotel room. Officials believe the substances, totaling 15.57 grams, were crack cocaine in various forms.
Detectives also located a butane lighter covered in white residue along with numerous spoons along with other silverware that had just been washed.
There was also a large bag of baking soda in the kitchen area of the hotel room.
When he was arrested, Mills had $860 in cash in his pocket.
According to court documents, after his arrest, Shuster “admitted to trafficking cocaine to various people, in Union County, for another cocaine dealer.”
While under arrest, Mills made a call to his mother, instructing her to go to his bedroom and get an envelope of cash he had there. Detectives executed a search warrant at the mother’s house and found $6,333 in cash.
If convicted on all counts, Goen could face as many as 35 years in prison, Mills could face as many as 26 years in prison and Shuster could face as many as 34 years in prison.