A local man facing 27 counts of cocaine-related charges following a six-month investigation into drug trafficking is set to have his final pretrial on Monday in Fayette County Common Pleas Court.
According to Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, his detectives and US 23 Major Crimes Task Force agents started an investigation following complaints of suspected drug trafficking with Anthony B. Adkins, 40, as the suspect. Detectives and task force agents conducted multiple undercover drug sale transactions with Adkins over a six-month period.
A Fayette County jury indicted Adkins on two counts of first-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, two counts of first-degree felony possession of cocaine, two counts of fourth-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, two counts of fourth-degree felony possession of cocaine, two counts of third-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, two counts of third-degree felony possession of cocaine, seven counts of fifth-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, and seven counts of fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine.
Adkins was also indicted for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree. Specifications to this charge say that a 2007 Harley Davidson, 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, 2005 Lincoln SUV and 2002 Pontiac Bonneville are all up for criminal forfeiture.
On June 29, sheriff’s detectives saw Adkins returning from the Dayton area in the black Lincoln SUV, according to Stanforth. A traffic stop attempt was made on State Route 72 just south of Interstate 71 in Clinton County, however, Adkins did not pull over and led deputies on a chase that concluded on Gallimore Road near State Route 72.
Adkins’s vehicle went off the roadway and drove through a field to evade law enforcement. Detectives pursuing the vehicle could see Adkins discarding objects out of the driver’s window of the vehicle before coming to a stop and being secured by deputies, according to Stanforth.
Once Adkins was in custody, detectives reportedly located a bag containing a white powdery substance on his person, and also recovered two additional bags containing a white powdery substance in the field where he was seen discarding them out of the vehicle window before capture. The substances inside the baggies were presumptively identified as cocaine, said Stanforth.
Later in the evening on June 29, detectives executed a search warrant at Adkins’s home, 9159 Allen Road Northwest near the Village of Octa. Detectives located two individuals in the home. They were unnamed and were not charged during the search warrant execution as detectives continue to investigate what, if any involvement they had in the alleged crimes, according to Stanforth.
During the search, detectives found numerous firearms, a large quantity of substances presumptively identified as methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and an ATV that was reported stolen.
Agencies assisting the sheriff’s office in this investigation include the US 23 Major Crimes Task Force, Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, London Police Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Adkins’s trial is set for Dec. 11 at 8 a.m. He is being held in the Fayette County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
