Drug Raids Bring Marijuana Trafficking Arrests

On Friday, 9-11-09, at approximately 10:30 PM, officers of the Alliance Police Department Special Investigations Unit and Patrol Division and Stark County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at 709 S Mechanic Ave, Alliance after a two month long investigation, conducted by SIU Detective Stephen Minich, into illegal marijuana and cocaine sales being conducted by the resident, Thomas Sampson (37). Officers forced entry into the residence through the side door and used a distraction device inside the residence. Eight subjects were located inside the residence upon our arrival. One of those persons, Jeffrey Hancox (48) of 766 E Broadway St, was arrested for Obstructing Official Business. Another, Charlotte Prather (50), of 2129 S Seneca Ave was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia. During the search, officers located approximately 6 lbs of marijuana belonging to Sampson. The marijuana was located in a closet on the first floor in a vacant bedroom. Two small baggies of marijuana were found under Charlotte Prather on the couch in the family room. Officers also seized a 42” large screen television set believed to be proceeds of illegal drug sales. Sampson was charged with Trafficking in Marijuana as a result of the search. He was also charged with one count of trafficking in cocaine. This charge was the result of Sampson allegedly having sold cocaine to a confidential informant previously. This drug transaction and numerous other ones committed by Sampson were recorded on video. Additional counts of drug trafficking will be pursued through the Stark Grand Jury for other sales he made including drug sales made in the presence of children. You may remember Sampson from a June 22nd, 2009 Alliance Review article in which Sampson was praised for being part of a youth movement involving the Cantell Elks Lodge. The article mentioned that he spent seven years in prison for selling crack cocaine. In this article he was quoted as saying, “…no matter what mistakes you make, you can always make yourself a better person and give something back to your community”. Rinada Andrews (26) is the live-in girlfriend of Sampson and was subsequently charged with Permitting Drug Abuse. Sampson and Andrews were transported to the Stark County Jail pending their initial appearance on Monday at 1PM. Thomas W. Sampson, 706 S Mechanic Ave, Alliance, Ohio Trafficking in Marijuana (Juvenile Spec) (F-2) Trafficking in Cocaine (F-5) ($102,500 cash bond) Rinada M. Andrews, 706 S Mechanic Ave, Alliance, Ohio Permitting Drug Abuse (F-5) ($2500 cash bond) Jeffrey L. Hancox, 766 E Broadway St, Alliance, Ohio Obstructing Official Business (M-2) ($750 cash bond) Charlotte M. Prather, 2129 S Seneca Ave, Alliance, Ohio Possession of Marijuana (MM) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M-4) ($250 cash bond)