COLUMBUS, OHIO - Stephen A. Cagle, 46, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison for distributing cocaine and money laundering.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Robert Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs and Michael Boxler, Special Agent in Charge, Columbus Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost.
According to court documents, on or about Jan. 1, 2010 through Sept. 21, 2011, Cagle, along with several others, was part of a large scale narcotics organization involved in importing, manufacturing and distributing cocaine throughout Central and Northern Ohio, Penn. and Texas.
Specifically, Cagle was responsible for distributing multiple kilograms of cocaine that was being transported into Ohio from Texas. The defendant was also involved in operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, often transporting several hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ohio to Texas.
While executing a search warrant at Cagle’s residence on Sept. 21, 2011, investigators discovered more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, several firearms, more than $142,000 in cash and several vehicles.
Cagle pleaded guilty on May 21, 2014 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and money laundering.
He was ordered to forfeit $142,020 in cash and $10,000 in lieu of a vehicle seized on his property, as well as at least 13 firearms.
“All financial transactions leave a trail and we have the unique expertise to follow those leads," said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “Not only is a criminal going to jail for his crimes, but the government has seized a significant portion of the illegal proceeds through asset forfeiture."
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by the DEA, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Columbus Division of Police, and ATF, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth F. Affeldt, who is representing the United States in this case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
