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Before out-of-state syndicates arrived, the foundation of Marion’s justice system was already under strain. Throughout the early 2000s, the Marion Watch Team including retired Sheriff Detective Dennis Potts, and the Citizen Action Network (CAN) documented a growing disconnect between law enforcement conduct and constitutional protections.
A defining flashpoint was the scrutiny surrounding Detective David Troutman of the Marion Police Department. While Troutman was a prominent figure in the MARMET Drug Task Force, his investigative methods and court testimony frequently drew fire from the Citizen Action Network.
The Procedural Scrutiny: Detective David Troutman’s issues were professional and systemic. The Marion Watch Team flagged instances where his sworn testimony in drug cases appeared to shift between initial reports and courtroom proceedings, amongst other things brought to our attention.
For the Citizen Action Network, Troutman’s presence on the force after being charged, became a symbol of a department that prioritized “securing the bust” over the strict adherence to the truth—a name that would become very well known to Marion Watch, despite our repeated objections to his involvement, conduct, and the shadow it cast.
Judicial Reform: The Edwards Era and the Shift to Treatment
Before we begin on the charges and arrests, we felt it necessary to highlight a few things that help the reader see the “battlefield conditions” a little bit better.
While federal courts focused on dismantling the out-of-state syndicates, local reform was spearheaded by Judge Warren T. Edwards of the Marion County Common Pleas Court.
Recognizing that the “Highway Pipeline” was fueled by an inexhaustible local demand, Judge Edwards became a vocal advocate for “fixing the system” from the inside. He shifted the court’s focus from purely punitive measures to a model of therapeutic jurisprudence, ensuring that for the first time in Marion’s history, high-level treatment was as available as a prison cell.
Under Judge Edwards’ leadership, the court formalized specialized dockets that prioritized Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and intensive supervision for non-violent offenders. This was not merely a humanitarian shift; it was a strategic strike against the DTOs’ business model. By expanding access to local recovery resources and ensuring that the justice system functioned as a gateway to health rather than just a revolving door for the “Career Offender,” Edwards sought to drain the reservoir of addiction that the Detroit and Chicago gangs relied upon. This judicial legacy remains a rare bright spot in the “Crossroads of Shadow,” representing a concerted effort to restore the soul of the city through accountability and accessible care.
The Final Disposition: A Duality of Justice
The modern era of Marion justice is defined by a distinct duality: the heavy hand of the law for those who import the shadow, and the open hand of the court for those lost within it. Through the Citizen Action Network, we continue to monitor these dockets to ensure the “Edwards Model”—prioritizing treatment over incarceration—remains a permanent fixture of our local landscape. This vigilance is more critical than ever as the 2026 methamphetamine surge tests the structural limits of our justice system.
Marion Watch was born from the crucible of the addiction and overdose crisis that intensified from 2009 onwards. The catastrophic lack of treatment options and the persistent denial of the epidemic’s scale by the Schertzer Administration undoubtedly exacerbated the community’s losses. It was this institutional failure that necessitated our involvement; we stepped into the void to demand the transparency and accountability required to save our city from the crossroads of shadow.
Political Warfare and the Audit Office
The struggle for accountability extended into the political arena, most notably in the rise of Robert Landon. After a successful tenure on City Council, defeating a long time incumbent Ralph Cumston II, and upsetting the career establishment, Landon’s transition to the City Auditor’s office was marked by intense administrative friction. Marion Watch documented what appeared to be a desperate attempt by the established political order to derail his momentum.
Landon Ballot Case Police Report
On the night of Landon’s election, his opponent, Carr, filed a report alleging ballot irregularities. Marion Watch and the entirety of our network saw this firsthand, and determined this as a clear instance of malicious prosecution, authorities attempted to leverage these claims to sway a campaign that was already viewed as hopeless for the incumbent. The allegations were eventually dismissed as entirely baseless, but the event underscored a recurring theme in Marion: the use of the legal and investigative apparatus to protect the status quo against reformers.
Systematic Procedural Failures
A culture of “procedural shortcuts” led to a string of high-profile legal battles:
- The Ayres Ratliff Case (2024–2026): Former councilman Ayres Ratliff maintained he was the target of a politically motivated campaign. His federal civil rights lawsuit alleged “malicious prosecution” and procedural disregard, citing issues like questioning a minor without a parent present and forcing Mr. Ratliff to remain unclothed for an extended period. In February 2026, a jury found Ratliff not guilty on all counts after just hours of deliberation. Despite this total acquittal, Mrs. Ratliff is still scheduled to stand trial for related charges.
- The Christa Wilson Mistaken Identity (2010): Detective Daniel Ice arrested Wilson based solely on an unverified tip, failing to cross-check her identity against the OHLEG database. She spent 31 hours in jail before her family proved she was not the suspect.
- The Kennedy Burroughs Search (2019): Officers performed a warrantless search of a zipped backpack. The Supreme Court of Ohio vacated the conviction in 2022, ruling that “police confidence” does not replace the Fourth Amendment.
Geography as Destiny: The U.S. 23 Corridor
Marion’s strategic location on U.S. Route 23—the direct line between Columbus and the markets of Detroit and Toledo—turned the city into a transshipment node. Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) utilized the city as a “stash node,” exploiting the lower law enforcement density compared to major urban centers to store and process narcotics.
The James Funk Conspiracy (1998–2001)
The case of James Funk proved how much volume could move through a small city. Funk and seven associates imported massive quantities of narcotics from Florida and Texas.
- The Scale: Over 15 kilograms of cocaine and 2,000 pounds of marijuana.
- The Final Disposition: Funk was convicted in 2002 and labeled a “Career Offender.” Despite attempts by a district judge to lower the sentence, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals enforced a strict sentence of 262 months (21.8 years) in federal prison.
The Opioid Crisis and the “Blue Drop” Tragedy (2010–2019)
The Detroit Colonization and the Marion Watch Warning
By 2014, Marion’s drug trade was effectively “colonized” by gangs from Detroit and Chicago.
They brought a “hub-and-spoke” model, using rental properties as “trap houses” and rotating dealers, and sometimes locations, every few weeks to keep a low profile.
Crucial Context: In 2014, and again in 2016, Marion Watch issued a public warning on social media due to the inaction of certain officials in making these things known. It was decided by Marion Watch, including advice from retired Marion Sheriff Detective Dennis Potts, that the information could not wait: these arrivals were not random dealers, but organized criminal rings.
While the local administration remained largely silent, our team documented the systematic takeover of neighborhoods by structured syndicates beginning in 2009 and increasing with our street level involvement beginning in 2014. Soon after, the Marion Star released an article called Drug Ring: A Decade of Dealing.
The “Blue Drop” Heroin Case (2015)
In mid-2015, a batch of heroin dyed with blue fabric dye hit the streets. Marketed as a high-potency “brand,” it was actually a lethal mixture of heroin and raw fentanyl.
- The Players: Eric Creagh (manufacturer/supplier) and Rashawn Thomas (street-level dealer).
- The Tragedy: On May 22, 2015, the blue heroin caused the overdose death of Christopher Wolford.
- The Investigation: MARMET launched a 14-day blitz, tracing the “Blue Drop” to Creagh’s properties. They found a hydraulic press, face masks for handling fentanyl, and the blue dye used for branding.
- The Final Disposition: In 2016, Eric Creagh was sentenced to 15 years and 10 months in federal prison. Rashawn Thomas received 9 years.
The Allen Graves Network (2014–2015)
The Detroit-based Allen Graves organization used “corporate” tactics, including “community phones” passed between dealers to hide leadership. They used “straw renters” at stash houses like 438 1/2 North Prospect Street.
- The Final Disposition: In 2015, Graves was convicted of leading a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) and sentenced to 24 years in federal prison.
The Thousand-Bust Era (2016–2018)
The federal government responded to the colonization with Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
- Short North Posse (2016): A Columbus gang linked to 14 murders that controlled Marion satellite markets. Disposition: 20+ members received 20+ years.
- T&A Crips (2018): A massive RICO case against 26 members who saturated “trap houses” in Central Ohio. Disposition: Leaders received life sentences.
- The Jose Valdez Jr. Node: Valdez was sentenced to 8 years in 2015. His 2023 re-arrest proved that local dealers like him were the “permanent infrastructure” out-of-state gangs used to “plug in” to Marion.
The Modern Cartel Wars (2020–2025)
The Stanley and Payne Organizations (2023–2025)
By 2023, the trade consolidated under the Justin Stanley DTO and the Christopher Payne DTO.
- The Seizures: 3 kilograms of fentanyl (1.5 million doses) and 15 firearms.
- Final Dispositions: Christopher Payne was sentenced to 9 years in September 2025. Justin Stanley pleaded guilty in 2024, facing a potential 20-year minimum.
The November 2025 Raid and the 2026 Integrity Crisis
On November 26, 2025, MARMET seized 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine and arrested Karlise Owens, Tarik Chukes, and James Jacobs.
In February 2026, Marion Police Officer Brendan Damron was arrested and charged with Rape and Abduction. This arrest, following decades of warnings from the Citizen Action Network, could confirm that the shadow over Marion is not just on the highway—it is sometimes behind the badge.
Conclusion: The Shadow That Endures
The 125-year history of organized crime in Marion, Ohio, is a narrative of dark resilience. As explored in Part I: The Shadow of the Black Hand and the Ohio Gang, this city has long served as a mirror to the nation’s vices. From the early 1900s, when Sam Lima’s “Society of the Banana” used a fruit store as a headquarters for a multi-state extortion racket, to the 1920s, when the “Ohio Gang” used Marion friendships to loot the federal treasury from the highest levels of the Department of Justice, the pattern was set: Marion is a Hub.
In this second installment, we have seen that while the commodities have shifted from whiskey and extortion letters to fentanyl and methamphetamine, the geography remains the same. The factories that once defined the local economy are largely gone, replaced by a service and disability economy that has been mercilessly exploited by out-of-state syndicates.
As the Marion Watch Team and the Citizen Action Network predicted as far back as 2010-2012, the “colonization” of our neighborhoods by Chicago and Detroit rings was not a temporary wave, but a structural occupation. This occupation has been facilitated by a local “permanent infrastructure” of career dealers and, tragically, shielded at times by a justice system struggling with its own internal integrity. From the perjury of the 2000s to the devastating integrity crises of 2026, the struggle for Marion is two-fold: a war against the highway pipeline and a fight for the soul of our local institutions.
The names change, and the powder turns from white to blue, but the shadow over the crossroads remains.
Works Cited (Click Here)
ABC6 News (2025)
- Relevance: Coverage of secondary indictments against Ayres Ratliff despite recanted testimony.
- URL: https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/marion-county-councilman-ayres-ratliff-indicted-again-rape-charges-recanting-accuser
Court of Appeals of Ohio, Third District (2012)
- Relevance: State of Ohio v. Torrece Troutman (9-11-17). Documentation of the 2010 drug arrest and search procedures.
- URL: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/9/2012/2012-Ohio-558.pdf
Court of Appeals of Ohio, Third District (2017)
- Relevance: State of Ohio v. Jose Valdez, Jr. (9-16-01). Provides the legal background on the 2015 surveillance battle at 142 North Grand Avenue.
- URL: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/9/2017/2017-Ohio-241.pdf
Marion County Now (2025)
- Relevance: Documented the November 26, 2025, MARMET raids and the 1.6kg methamphetamine seizure.
- URL: https://marioncountynow.com/major-drug-bust-nets-over-1-6-kilograms-of-drugs/
Marion County Now (2026)
- Relevance: Reported the February 2026 arrest and bond hearing of Marion Police Officer Brendan Damron.
- URL: https://marioncountynow.com/marion-police-officer-arrested-facing-rape-charges/
NBC4 Columbus (2026)
- Relevance: Reported the total acquittal of Ayres Ratliff on all felony counts following a jury trial.
- URL: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/marion-county/former-marion-councilman-found-not-guilty-of-rape/
Supreme Court of Ohio (2022)
- Relevance: State v. Burroughs (2022-Ohio-2146). Vacated a local conviction due to unconstitutional warrantless searches.
- URL: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2022/2022-Ohio-2146.pdf
U.S. Department of Justice (2014)
- Relevance: Indictment details of the Allen Graves/Martez Montgomery Detroit-to-Marion pipeline.
- URL: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/nineteen-people-indicted-conspiracy-involving-heroin-pills-and-crack-cocaine-marion
U.S. Department of Justice (2016)
- Relevance: Sentencing and investigative summary for the “Blue Drop” tragedy involving Eric Creagh and Rashawn Thomas.
- URL: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/marion-man-sentenced-nearly-16-years-prison-distributing-heroin-and-fentanyl
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio (2023)
- Relevance: Indictment records for the Justin Stanley and Christopher Payne DTOs.
- URL: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/31-individuals-involved-drug-trafficking-organization-marion-county-and-lorain-county
WOSU Public Media (2020)
- Relevance: Coverage of “Operation Redemption” (Pork Chop Express) and the 43 arrests.
- URL: https://news.wosu.org/news/2020-09-23/marion-county-drug-trafficking-bust-leads-to-43-arrests
Silent Sabotage (Marion Auditor and IT) Articles
City IT Analysis
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17xKsx4Yg7/
It Wasn’t a “Glitch”: Why Marion’s Deficit Requires a Digital Autopsy
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/12/10/it-wasnt-a-glitch-why-marions-deficit-requires-a-digital-autopsy/17/53/marion-news/admin/
Obvious to the Experts Hidden From You: How an IT Observer Could See Marion’s “Silent Sabotage” Years Before the City Admitted It: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/12/03/obvious-to-the-experts-hidden-from-you-how-an-it-observer-could-see-marions-silent-sabotage-years-before-the-city-admitted-it/05/38/marion-news/admin/
The Silent Sabotage Truth Again Proven Accurate: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/24/the-silent-sabotage-truth-again-proven-accurate/10/13/marion-news/admin/
“The Inconvenient Receipts” Facebook Teaser:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Ukt11xZ1/
The Override That Broke Marion? How a Hidden Software Loophole Fueled 16 Years of Fiscal Chaos & Contributed to the Silent Sabotage https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/21/the-override-that-broke-marion-how-a-hidden-software-loophole-fueled-16-years-of-fiscal-chaos-contributed-to-the-silent-sabotage/05/45/marion-news/admin/
Part II: The 20-Year ‘Ghost Committee’ That Oversaw Marion’s IT Collapse https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/17/part-ii-the-20-year-ghost-committee-that-oversaw-marions-it-collapse/17/48/marion-news/admin/
Former Auditor Landon Claims Vindication as Audits Confirm Financial Flaws https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/14/former-auditor-landon-claims-vindication-as-audits-confirm-financial-flaws/09/16/marion-news/admin/
Silent Sabotage Culture Again Proven: Newly Released 2021 Audit Reveals Ongoing Severe Mismanagement, Illegal Spending, and Critical IT Failures https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/13/silent-sabotage-culture-again-proven-newly-released-2021-audit-reveals-ongoing-severe-mismanagement-illegal-spending-and-critical-it-failures/12/13/marion-news/admin/
The 20-Year ‘Ghost Committee’ That Oversaw Marion’s Silent Sabotage IT Collapse https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/12/the-20-year-ghost-committee-that-oversaw-marions-silent-sabotage-it-collapse/18/25/marion-news/admin/
The Silent Sabotage Time Bomb: Marion Watch Predicts Sewer Sanitation & Utility Billing STILL Following the Trail of Broken IT & Financial Controls https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/10/the-silent-sabotage-time-bomb-marion-watch-predicts-sewer-sanitation-utility-billing-still-following-the-trail-of-broken-it-financial-controls/17/48/marion-news/admin/
Silent Sabotage III: A Pattern of Problems Marion City Audits Reveal Four Decades of Control Failures 1983-1999 & 2000-2025
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/09/silent-sabotage-iii-a-pattern-of-problems-marion-city-audits-reveal-four-decades-of-control-failures-1983-1999/05/02/marion-news/admin/
Robert Landon Breaks the Silence:
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/08/16/robert-landon-breaks-the-silence/19/32/marion-news/admin/
Marion Watch Silent Sabotage Research Prompts Mayor’s Request for Forensic IT Audit: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/03/marion-watch-silent-sabotage-research-prompts-mayors-request-for-forensic-it-audit/17/14/marion-news/admin/
The New World System: One Party Control, the Great Recession, and a Fiscal Nightmare for Marion: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/01/the-new-world-system-one-party-control-the-great-recession-and-a-fiscal-nightmare-for-marion/17/20/marion-news/admin/
Marion Watch Predicts: Old, Unsafe Computer Habits Likely Still Harming City Finances: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/11/07/marion-watch-predicts-old-unsafe-computer-habits-likely-still-harming-city-finances/05/47/marion-news/admin/
Mayor Collins Announces Fiscal Caution Analysis: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/29/mayor-collins-announces-fiscal-caution-analysis/06/28/marion-news/admin/
The Bomb at the Center of Marion’s Financial & IT Silent Sabotage Blast: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/27/the-bomb-at-the-center-of-marions-financial-it-silent-sabotage-blast/17/51/marion-news/admin/
Echos of Silent Sabotage ‘Same Issues, New Account’: Fraud Hits City’s New Checking Account:
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/22/echos-of-silent-sabotage-same-issues-new-account-fraud-hits-citys-new-checking-account/02/51/marion-news/admin/
‘Misfeasance’ Charge Against Auditor, Flock Camera Legality Dominate Council Committees: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/21/misfeasance-charge-against-auditor-flock-camera-legality-dominate-council-committees/05/54/marion-news/admin/
“You Lose Control”: Veteran IT Specialist Ralph Smith Demands Audit, Slams Marion’s Financial Failures:
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/10/you-lose-control-veteran-it-specialist-ralph-smith-demands-audit-slams-marions-financial-failures/05/48/marion-news/admin/
Heated Exchanges in Finance Committee Overshadow Marion Council’s Development Talks: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/08/heated-exchanges-in-finance-committee-overshadow-marion-councils-development-talks/05/42/marion-news/admin/
Twila Laing: Silent Sabotage and the Crisis of Financial and IT Controls:
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/05/twila-laing-silent-sabotage-and-the-crisis-of-financial-and-it-controls/10/18/marion-news/admin/
Marion Charter Candidate Lovell Calls for Radical Financial Overhaul, Citing Decades of Dysfunction: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/04/marion-charter-candidate-lovell-calls-for-radical-financial-overhaul-citing-decades-of-dysfunction/11/03/marion-news/admin/
The Digital Profile: Why Local Financial Failures Fit a Federal Pattern of Silent Sabotage: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/10/03/the-digital-profile-why-local-financial-failures-fit-a-federal-pattern-of-silent-sabotage/05/30/marion-news/admin/
Prelude to Silent Sabotage III:Marion’s 40-Year Financial Collapse:
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/09/29/prelude-to-silent-sabotage-iii-marions-40-year-financial-collapse/05/51/marion-news/admin/
Ohio Auditor of State Responds to the Silent Sabotage of Marion City’s Financial and IT systems: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/09/28/ohio-auditor-of-state-responds-to-the-silent-sabotage-of-marion-citys-financial-and-it-systems/13/41/marion-news/admin/
Marion City Council Grapples with Financial Chaos, Software Woes, IT Audit, and a Push for Accountability in Spirited August 4th Meeting: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/08/06/marion-city-council-grapples-with-financial-chaos-software-woes-it-audit-and-a-push-for-accountability-in-spirited-august-4th-meeting/05/35/marion-news/admin/
Marion Council Tackles Charter Vote, Financial Scrutiny, and Alleged IT Misconduct: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/07/22/marion-council-tackles-charter-vote-financial-scrutiny-and-alleged-it-misconduct/05/48/marion-news/admin/
Silent Sabotage II: Marion City Auditor Decades of Disaster and the Roots of the Silent Sabotage:
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/07/20/silent-sabotage-ii-marion-city-auditor-decades-of-disaster-and-the-roots-of-the-silent-sabotage/19/22/marion-news/admin/
Silent Sabotage: Did Marion Insiders Let Financial Problems Fester?: https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/05/05/silent-sabotage-did-marion-insiders-let-financial-problems-fester/05/29/marion-news/admin/
A Quick Look: Marion’s Auditor Office: A Decades-Long Disaster Zone (Full Investigation Coming Soon):
https://news.marionwatch.com/2025/05/02/a-quick-look-marions-auditor-office-a-decades-long-disaster-zone-full-investigation-coming-soon/04/45/marion-news/admin/