MAN INDICTED FOR TRAFFICKING IN COCAINE

Posted on 8/25/2015

Defendant: James E. Smith, Jr.

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against James E. Smith, Jr., age 51, for two counts Possession of Cocaine (F-1), and two counts Trafficking in Cocaine (F-1), for a total of four counts.  On August 12, 2015 officers of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force conducted a controlled delivery of 1 kilogram of cocaine to James Smith.  The package originally carried 6 kilos, but 5 were removed and replaced with dummy kilos.   Smith received the package containing one kilogram, signed for it using a false name, had it placed in his car, and attempted to drive away.  He was stopped by law enforcement before he could leave.  His car was searched and another identically packaged box was in his trunk containing an additional 6 kilograms of cocaine.  Smith was on probation at the time for trafficking in heroin and trafficking in marijuana. “If convicted on these charges, Smith faces up to 22 years in prison,” O’Brien stated.  Arraignment for this case is set for tomorrow, August 26th, 2015, at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B at 345 S. High Street.