Trooper & Network Trafficked Drugs, Laundered Cash

COLUMBUS, OH – A web of drug trafficking and corruption has been exposed in Delaware, Ohio, with the arrest of six men, including a sworn Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper. The charges, announced today by U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman, detail a conspiracy to distribute a cocktail of narcotics and launder the proceeds, implicating a member of law enforcement in the very crimes he was sworn to uphold the law against.

The criminal complaint names Nicholas Glassburn, 47, of Delaware, Ohio; Carlos Carvalho, 42, of Sandusky, Ohio; William Covrett, 41; Jason Delcol, 43, of Delaware, Ohio, an active Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper; Benjamin Owings, 37, of Delaware, Ohio; and Stevedore Crawford, 55, of Columbus. Each defendant is charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, as well as conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances.

The investigation, spearheaded by the Delaware County Drug Task Force and the FBI’s Cincinnati Division, began in June 2017, focusing initially on Glassburn’s suspected drug activity. What quickly unfolded was a network that reached into the ranks of law enforcement. The affidavit alleges that Trooper Delcol wasn’t just a bystander, but an active participant, allegedly using his position to shield Glassburn and facilitate the operation. “According to the affidavit, Delcol has used his position as a law enforcement officer to provide Glassburn with information, intervene in criminal cases of Glassburn and Owings, provide Glassburn with ballistic vests and corroborate Glassburn’s alibi to law enforcement when Glassburn was caught transporting drugs in August 2017,” U.S. Attorney Glassman stated.

Investigators uncovered communications detailing the trafficking of a wide array of drugs, including HGH, testosterone, Xanax, Oxycodone, Percocet, Adderall, Suboxone, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. The financial ties run deep; Glassburn allegedly owed Carvalho $17,000 for marijuana. Delcol allegedly provided Glassburn with ballistic vests, reportedly used during a meeting with Carvalho, solidifying Carvalho’s role as a primary supplier. Surveillance footage shows Delcol visiting Glassburn’s residence at least 16 times since October 2017, frequently while on duty and in his marked patrol cruiser. The relationship was symbiotic: Owings supplied HGH and steroids to Delcol, who then sold them to Glassburn. Glassburn, in turn, sold pills to Delcol, who passed them on to Owings.

The corruption extends beyond drug distribution. On August 5, 2017, officers discovered Glassburn asleep at the wheel of his vehicle, with drug paraphernalia and traces of cocaine and crack cocaine in the backseat. Glassburn attempted to claim the drugs belonged to his children and contacted Trooper Delcol for guidance. He even allegedly had Delcol verify his fabricated story to assisting officers. Delcol allegedly told officers Glassburn had “problem children,” further attempting to muddy the waters. Glassburn, Carvalho, and Covrett face additional charges of money laundering. Delcol and Owings are also charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of human growth hormone, with Delcol facing a separate charge of witness tampering.

The arrests signal a significant blow to drug trafficking in the Delaware area and a stark reminder that corruption can infiltrate even the highest echelons of law enforcement. This investigation is ongoing, and further charges are possible as federal authorities continue to untangle the full scope of this criminal enterprise. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you the unvarnished truth as it unfolds.