On November 8, 2022, Agents with the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force, Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, and Investigators from the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office located and arrested a primary dealer in Athens County after an in-depth drug investigation into trafficking of
Fentanyl.
Investigators gained information and obtained a search warrant for a residence on Campbell Road, Athens. The Athens County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team served the warrant and secured
the home.
During the search, a large amount of Fentanyl was found along with Methamphetamine, cash, guns, and evidence of trafficking in drugs. Applicable items confiscated will be sent to the Ohio Bureau of
Criminal Identification for laboratory testing.
Jessica R. Hart, 36, of Athens was arrested and charged with Possession of Drugs (F1) and Trafficking in Drugs (F1). Hart was transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
Sheriff Rodney Smith states “Investigators and deputies seized 79 grams of suspected Fentanyl, which has a street value of over $11,000 and the potential to kill approximately 40,000 people. This Fentanyl was intercepted before it reached our streets and we will continue to work hard to remove dealers and drugs from our neighborhoods and communities.”
Sheriff Smith would like to thank the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force, Athens County Prosecuting Attorney Keller J. Blackburn, Chief Investigator Jay Barrett, Investigators with the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Athens County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team for their
assistance with the investigation and arrest.
The Southeast Major Crimes Task Force is part of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Organized Crime Investigation Commission and is comprised of representatives of the Washington, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Meigs, and Athens County Sheriff’s Offices; the Marietta, Belpre, Glouster, Middleport,
McConnelsville and Nelsonville Police Departments; the Washington, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Meigs, and Athens County Prosecutor’s Offices; and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
