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Alleged Drug Ring Leaders Make First Court Appearance
< < Back toThe alleged leaders of an Athens County drug ring pleaded not guilty to charges during their arraignment today in Athens Common Pleas Court.
Anthony Spears, 35, and Megan Vore, 25, were both charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, trafficking in heroin, possession of heroin, having weapons under disability, possessing criminal tools, operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment, tampering with evidence, and possession of cocaine.
Judge George P. McCarthy set bail for Spears at $1.5 million cash, and $1.4 million cash for Vore.
Prosecutor Keller Blackburn outlined in full detail of why he requested the high amount bonds for both Spears and Vore. Spears served prison time before on charges of heroin possession and was released in 2013. Blackburn says after a warrant was issued for Spears’ arrest, he told his attorney he would turn himself in, but fled instead.
According to Blackburn, Vore told her sister she knew there was a warrant out for her arrest but refused to turn herself in.
Blackburn also requested Vore to have no contact with her mother because the investigation shows Vore and Spears had been laundering money to her. He says he is considering indicting Vore’s mother in connection with the ring.
Blackburn also says Vore had connections with a drug dealer in Columbus that helped her traffic heroin to Athens County.
“We’re not done investigating yet,” Blackburn said. “We are following leads we can follow, but we have not made any further arrests in Columbus yet.”
The trial for Spears and Vore is set for September 1 at 10a.m.