Prosecution & Court News
Archived Stories
May 11, 2017 Drug Dealer Ryan Vogt sentenced to 6 years in Overdose Death case
Ryan Vogt of Marietta was found guily of involuntary manslaughter in the overdose death of Tyler Miller, age 21, of Beverly, Ohio. Miller died of an overdose of heroin in January of 2015. Miller overdosed shortly after being released from a rehab facility in Columbus. This case was the first of its kind in Washington County. Judge Randal Burnworth was presiding. Testifying on behalf of the prosecution was Detective Lockhart.
Vogt was also found guilty of two counts of drug trafficking.
October 22, 2014 New Cuyahoga County Drug Court to focus on Addictions related to Mental Illness
Channel 19 Nwew is reporting that Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court is adding a second Drug Court that will focus on helping those with addictions related to mental health issues.
"The current Drug Court program began in 2008 with the appointment of Judge David Matia. Initial participants were accepted into the program in May of 2009. Judge Joan Synenberg has been selected by Administrative and Presiding Judge John J. Russo to oversee the new docket in January, joining Judge Matia whose established docket has shown great success.
“The goal of Drug Court is to break the cycle of recidivism by addressing an offender's drug dependency. Drug Court adheres to science-based principals, only accepting those assessed as drug dependent,” says Judge Matia. “Drug Court graduates return to their communities as sober citizens, parents and employees
”To run the second Drug Court, the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court has received funding from a Joint Bureau of Justice Assistance and Substance Abused Mental Health Services Administration Adult Drug Court Grant. The BJA is providing a flat sum of $300,000 and SAMHSA is granting a total of $975,000 over three years. The SAMHSA grant is contingent on showing success as the program moves forward year-to-year.
An independent analysis of data by the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University looked at Cuyahoga County Drug Court participants from 2009 to 2013.
After 12 months, 8.4% of 249 Drug Court participants had been re-arrested compared with 27% in the comparison group. The study also shows that only 4.4% of the Drug Court re-arrests were for felony crimes compared to 14% for the comparison group.
December 7, 2011 Newborns Addicted to Pain Meds
Staff writer Dave Larsen, from the Dayton Daily News reported on a new alarming trend, related to the fast-growing prescription drug abuse problem. Some Ohio hospitals in the Dayton area have seen a 400% increase in the number of newborns addicted to painkillers, such as OxyContin and Vicodin.
This problem lengthens hospital stays and increases public health care costs.
“We definitely see an increased number of patients who come to us early in their pregnancy that are on pain medicine for whatever reason, and patients just demanding that they continue it despite them knowing it is going to be addicting to their baby,” said Dr. Stephen Guy, who practices obstetrics and gynecology at Miami Valley Hospital.
A 21 day stay at Nationwide Children’s Hosptial with a $1,200 daily bed charge costs more than $25,000.
“By and large we don’t get paid for these babies, because many of the moms don’t have insurance or are on Medicaid,” Wispe said.
January 24, 2012 Connecticut Cops respond to Text from Alleged Drug Dealers
The two were arrested on Friday after allegedly texting by mistake, and offering 200 Percocet pills to a police officer in Meriden, Connecticut, CBS reports.
Lorraine Apuzzo, age 19 was the wrong-fingered texter. The officer quickly arranged for a buy later that day. Appuzo met with the officer at the Westfield Mall with her friend, Frank Boemmels, age 25.
During the incident, Appuzzo got suspicious, but detetives detained the driver, and broke a window to remove the alleged dealer.
She was found with only 100 Percocets. Appuzo was charged with criminal attempt to commit sales of narcotics in a school zone, first-degree reckless endangerment, and interfering with an officer. She was released on a $50,000 bond.
Boemmels remains in jail on $150,000 bond.
September 10, 2008 Feds Indict Another 21 People in "Operation Poole Party"
According to Jason Schultz of the Palm Beach Post, a substantial police crackdown on crack and cocaine dealing in Boynton Beach has more than double the total number of alleged dealers arrested. During raids by a team of 450 officers, 26 people were arrested and accused of running a cocaine trafficking ring in the neighborhood for decades. Among items seized were a pound cocaine, a pound of crack and guns. According to police spokesperson Stephanie Slater, more arrests are coming.
Also today, the U.S. Attorney's Office that from August 21 to September 4, a West Palm Beach federal grand jury indicted another 21 people in a related investigation called Operation Poole Party.
U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta announced in a press release that the suspects are facing federal charges. They conspired to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine this year. Some traffickers are looking at over 20 years in prison.
September 6, 2008 Drug Traffickers Looking for Quiet Life in Remote Towns
According to Gordon Dritschilo of the Rutland Herald, three people facing charges that could earn them 55 to 75 years in federal prison, pled innocent to felony charges of heroin possession, heroin trafficking, sale of heroin, and conspiracy. The three, Robert T. Coble, age 22, Kasandra L. Cole, age 19, and Rondelle L. Esters, age 19 were arrest. On Coble's property on Silver Lake Road, police confiscated 540 bags of heroin and weapons.
After another in a series of busts in rural areas, Deputy State's Attorney Christopher Perkett said, "At this point, all our evidence is anecdotal. It seems to me, drug dealers coming to Vermont are starting to seek out the more isolated towns in hopes these are areas they will not get caught selling their drugs."
According to an informant, the location in Goshen was described as "the perfect spot in the middle of nowhere" with "plenty of room to keep watch for police."
