CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — The legal fallout from a major 2025 joint drug raid has reached its conclusion this week as the second of two defendants was found guilty by a Pickaway County jury.
The case stems from an early-morning operation on September 12, 2025, at a residence located at 301 Sumpter Avenue. The raid, conducted by the South-Central Major Crimes Unit, Circleville Police, and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, uncovered a stash of firearms, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Misty Lee Found Guilty
Misty Lee, 50, of Circleville, was convicted this week on five felony counts. Following the jury’s verdict, she was found guilty of:
- Three counts of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (Felonies)
- One count of Possession of Drugs (Felony)
- One count of Possession of Cocaine (Felony)
A Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) has been ordered, and Lee is scheduled to face formal sentencing on May 20, 2026.
Jeffrey Rice Already Sentenced
Lee’s co-defendant, 49-year-old Jeffrey C. Rice, saw his portion of the case conclude last month. A jury previously found Rice guilty of trafficking in fentanyl, aggravated possession of drugs, and possession of cocaine.
In March 2026, a judge sentenced Rice to 36 months in prison for his role in the drug distribution operation.
Background on the Raid
The 2025 bust was a high-stakes operation that required the Pickaway County Sheriff’s SRT Team to secure the property before investigators could move in. At the scene, detectives recovered:
- Five firearms (three long guns and two handguns)
- More than a half-ounce of methamphetamine and suspected fentanyl
- Over $700 in cash and various stolen items
Sheriff Matthew Hafey and Chief Kenny Fisher had previously noted that the operation was part of a larger, ongoing effort to scrub narcotics and illegal firearms from Circleville neighborhoods. With Lee’s conviction this week, both primary targets of the Sumpter Avenue investigation have now been held accountable.
