A federal jury in Columbus, Ohio, has convicted two men for their involvement in a narcotics distribution network. The operation dealt with significant quantities of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs. Authorities have seized over $1.7 million in cash, 50 firearms, and nine vehicles as part of the investigation.
David Price, aged 56 from Columbus, was found guilty on all charges. Tavaryyuan Johnson, 25 also from Columbus, was convicted on drug trafficking counts. The trial commenced on January 13 and concluded with the verdict announcement on February 5 under U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr.
The case originated in July 2022 when a multi-agency law enforcement task force revealed that a federal grand jury had indicted 11 individuals for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl and cocaine near an elementary school in central Ohio. An updated indictment in October 2022 included additional co-conspirators charged with distributing methamphetamine and other drugs.
Price faced charges in December 2024 related to drug offenses as well as firearm and sex trafficking crimes. He could receive a sentence ranging from a minimum of 25 years to life imprisonment.
Johnson was also charged in December 2024 with four drug offenses linked to using his family residence as a stash house for narcotics. His potential sentence ranges from at least ten years to life imprisonment.
Court documents reveal that both men were involved in a conspiracy that distributed substantial amounts of various drugs between January 2008 until its dismantling by authorities in 2022.
Testimonies during the trial highlighted Price's involvement in distributing fentanyl resulting in an overdose death and engaging in sex trafficking activities involving coercion of female addicts into commercial sex acts by manipulating their access to controlled substances.
U.S Attorney Kenneth L Parker acknowledged the coordinated investigation led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s task force which included multiple agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit and U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), among others.
Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Prichard and Emily Czerniejewski are prosecuting this case which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations through collaborative efforts across various agencies.
