Marion Man Sentenced to 27–32 Years for Role in Multi-State Drug Trafficking Operation

A Marion man was sentenced this week in Marion County Common Pleas Court for his role in a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking organization.

According to a release from Prosecutor Ray Grogan’s Office, Tommy Lee Owens was sentenced to a prison term of 27 to 32 years and five months following his convictions one count of Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, a felony of the first degree, one count of Possession of Cocaine, a felony of the first degree, and one count of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, a felony of the first degree.

The convictions and sentence stem from a months-long investigation conducted by the MARMET Drug Task Force in coordination with the Delaware County Drug Task Force.

The investigation uncovered a major drug trafficking operation spanning multiple states, multiple counties, and utilizing a structured network of lower-level dealers to distribute significant quantities of narcotics.

The full release can be found below:

Tommy Lee Owens was sentenced yesterday by Judge Matthew P. Frericks to a prison term of 27 to 32.5 years following his convictions for his role in a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking organization.

On January 22, 2026, Owens was found guilty by a jury of one count of Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, a felony of the first degree, one count of Possession of Cocaine, a felony of the first degree, and one count of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, a felony of the first degree. He has now been ordered to serve an aggregate indefinite prison term of 27 to 32.5 years.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offenses and the substantial danger posed to our community from illegal drugs,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan. “The coordinated efforts of our task force officers and partner agencies dismantled a significant drug trafficking network and prevented large quantities of dangerous narcotics from being distributed locally.”

The convictions and sentence stem from a months-long investigation conducted by the MARMET Drug Task Force in coordination with the Delaware County Drug Task Force. The investigation uncovered a major drug trafficking operation spanning multiple states, multiple counties, and utilizing a structured network of lower-level dealers to distribute significant quantities of narcotics.

Owens resided at New Park Drive in Marion, Ohio, with Manuel Allen, who previously pleaded guilty to Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, a felony of the second degree and Aggravated Trafficking, a felony of the first degree.

Investigators determined that Owens was instrumental in coordinating the shipment of narcotics from downtown Los Angeles, California, via UPS parcel service to associates in Marion. Those packages were transported to the New Park Drive apartment, where the narcotics were re-manufactured, repackaged, and prepared for distribution.

On November 2, 2022, a search warrant executed at the residence of an associate of Owens in Delaware County resulted in the seizure of approximately eight pounds of marijuana, $14,000 in cash, and more than $97,500 in high-end merchandise believed to be connected to drug proceeds.

Through court-authorized GPS surveillance of a Hyundai Elantra connected to the investigation, law enforcement established a strong nexus between the New Park Drive residence and the receipt and redistribution of narcotics. Surveillance revealed numerous short-duration stops consistent with trafficking activity.

On May 5, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at the New Park Drive apartment. The search resulted in the seizure of:

203.4 grams of cocaine

447.3 grams of methamphetamine

107.04 grams of fentanyl (enough to kill 50,000 people)

$10,000.00 in cash

Officers also recovered vacuum-sealed packaging materials consistent with kilogram-level distribution, large quantities of plastic bags, digital scales, and individually packaged narcotics. A ledger recovered from a co-defendant’s phone detailed numerous smaller-level dealers, several of whom were already under investigation.

Shortly after the search warrant execution, another parcel shipped from California and destined for an associate in Richland County, was intercepted before delivery. A search of that package revealed approximately 13 pounds of methamphetamine in vacuum-sealed packaging.

The evidence at trial demonstrated that Owens played a central role in the coordination, planning, shipment, and distribution of felony-level quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine that would have reached the community absent law enforcement intervention.

This case was primarily investigated by Det. Alison Castrilla of the Delaware Drug Task Force. The case was tried to the jury by Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys John Scott and Heath Findley.