State Trooper Among Men Charged with Drug-Trafficking Crimes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six Ohio men, including an Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper, have been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with drug-trafficking crimes arising in the Delaware, Ohio area.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and other members of the Delaware County Drug Task Force announced the charges.

Each of the defendants is charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, as well as conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances.

Nicholas Glassburn, 47, of Delaware, Ohio, Carlos Carvalho, 42, of Sandusky, Ohio, and William Covrett, 41, are also charged with money laundering.

Jason Delcol, 43, and Benjamin Owings, 37, both of Delaware, Ohio, each face an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of human growth hormone. Delcol is charged with one count of witness tampering, as well.

Stevedore Crawford, 55, of Columbus, is charged with the first two counts named.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in June 2017, the Delaware County Drug Task Force and the FBI opened an investigation into Glassburn’s suspected drug trafficking activity in the greater Delaware area.

The investigation identified others believed to be sources of the supply of drugs trafficked by Glassburn, including an active law enforcement officer – Delcol – who was receiving drugs from and providing drugs to Glassburn and at least one other individual.

“According to the affidavit, Delcol has used his position as a law enforcement officer to provide Glassburn with information, intervene in criminal cases of Glassburn and Owings, provide Glassburn with ballistic vests and corroborate Glassburn’s alibi to law enforcement when Glassburn was caught transporting drugs in August 2017,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said.

Investigators discovered communication between defendants about drug trafficking, including HGH, testosterone, Xanax, Oxycodone, Percocet, Adderall, Suboxone, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana.

The investigation also showed Glassburn owed $17,000 to Carvalho for marijuana. It is believed that Delcol provided ballistic vests to Glassburn, which he used in meeting with Carvalho. The investigation revealed that Carvalho is likely one of Glassburn’s main sources of supply of drugs.

Law enforcement surveillance shows Delcol visiting Glassburn’s residence at least 16 times since October 2017, including at least two occasions in which Delcol was driving his Ohio State Highway Patrol marked cruiser and in uniform. Further investigation revealed communications between the men discussing drug trafficking of HGH, testosterone, Xanax, Percocet and possibly other opioid pills.

It was also revealed that Delcol is a middleman between Glassburn and Owings. Owings supplies HGH and steroids to Delcol, which Delcol sells to Glassburn, and Glassburn sells pills to Delcol, which Delcol sells or gives to Owings.

It is also alleged that Delcol engaged in misleading conduct toward law enforcement officers to help Glassburn. On August 5, 2017, around 4:30am, police officers from a law enforcement agency discovered Glassburn asleep at the wheel and observed a drug pipe in the backseat. A search of the car discovered a substance that later tested positive for cocaine and a substance that later tested positive for cocaine base.

Glassburn claimed to just be tired and told officers he had found and removed the drugs from one of his children’s bedrooms. He said he called a Trooper friend of his, Delcol, and asked for advice on what to do with the drugs. Another officer who had stopped to assist had Glassburn call Delcol to verify his story. The Deputy spoke with Delcol, who stated Glassburn had children who were problems and also said he did not know Glassburn to be involved with drugs. During a recorded follow-up call with police officers, Delcol again served as Glassburn’s alibi.

Five of the six defendants were arrested today and remain in custody pending detention hearings on Thursday at noon and 12:30pm.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and Delaware County Drug Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, who is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

If you have any information related to these allegations and the individuals named, please contact the FBI at 614-224-1183.