DAYTON, OH – Keon Rutledge, 35, of Dayton, is headed to federal prison for 90 months after being sentenced in U.S. District Court for a substantial cocaine operation. Rutledge was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine – nearly two kilos of the hard stuff.
The sentence was announced today by United States Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman, alongside Steve Francis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer, and members of the Sheriff’s RANGE Task Force. Clinton County Sheriff Ralph D. Fizer, Jr. and the Miami Valley Bulk Cash Smuggling Task Force also contributed to the investigation.
The bust originated on May 4, 2016, when authorities tracked a large cocaine shipment delivered to a business on Salem Avenue in Dayton. The location was disturbingly close – within 1,000 feet – of a local middle school, adding a layer of brazen disregard for community safety. Nearly 2,000 grams of cocaine changed hands at that location, setting off a chain of events that led to Rutledge’s downfall.
A subsequent search warrant executed at Rutledge’s residence on Riverview Terrace uncovered more than just drugs. Law enforcement seized a bulletproof vest, additional quantities of cocaine, and firearms. All of these items, along with $2,300 in cash, were forfeited to the government. It’s a clear indication Rutledge wasn’t just holding, but actively pushing product.
Rutledge entered a guilty plea on December 7, 2016, to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He didn’t bother contesting the evidence – a smart move, considering the sheer volume of narcotics involved. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose handed down the 90-month sentence, sending a message that large-scale drug trafficking won’t be tolerated in the Southern District of Ohio.
U.S. Attorney Glassman praised the collaborative effort of the various law enforcement agencies involved. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Hunt, who prosecuted the case, also received commendation. This case serves as a reminder that federal agencies are actively working to dismantle drug networks and bring traffickers like Keon Rutledge to justice. The streets of Dayton are a little safer tonight, but the fight against narcotics is far from over.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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