Two of three men charged with running an elaborate scheme to smuggle drugs, cellphones, and other contraband into Ohio prisons were sentenced Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge David Young sentenced Grove City’s Cory Sutphin, 32, and Sandusky’s Charles Gibbs, 37.
Gibbs, who is currently serving a sentence in other counties for unrelated cases, was sentenced to ten years in prison by Young. Sutphin received four years and eleven months in prison.
Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Trent Grohe stated that the trio used a “elaborate business model” to traffic drugs, cellphones, and other contraband into prisons across the state.
Grohe stated that the men would call inmates or have inmates call them to place orders for whatever they desired.
“Mr. Gibbs and his codefendants would traffic those drugs into prisons via drone,” Grohe told me. “They would use the Cash App. They were very open about their business transactions.”
According to Grohe, Sutphin would serve as a lookout or driver for Gibbs and Faulkner, who would obtain the drugs and operate the drones.
Young will sentence Faulkner, 37, at a later date after he pleaded guilty on Monday.
Grohe claimed that the trio sold cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, cellphones, and other contraband into at least five prisons, including Toledo, Richland, Ross, and Mansfield correctional institutions, as well as the North Central Correctional Complex.
The Ohio Highway Patrol launched an investigation in May 2021 after a drone was intercepted at the Toledo Correctional Institution, according to court records.
Sutphin and Gibbs both apologized for their actions before their sentences were handed down. Gibbs described his role in the enterprise as “pretty much stupid” and “reckless.” Sutphin also apologized and admitted his actions were wrong.
Sutphin, Gibbs, and Faulkner all pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to engage in corrupt activity, drug trafficking, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, and illegal conveyance. Faulkner also pleaded guilty to having weapons while disabled.
They used drones to drop drugs into Ohio prisons, and now they are serving time there
by Starc
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