Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Columbus man indicted on cocaine distribution charges
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Columbus, Ohio man was indicted today by a federal grand jury on drug distribution charges, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.
Jason R. Smoot, age 30, was indicted on one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base within 1,000 Feet of a Protected Location,” and one count of “Distribution of Cocaine Base.” Smoot is accused of selling cocaine near the Jensen Playground in Wheeling in June 2017.
Smoot faces up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000 for the first count and faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the second count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven L. Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.