Operation Hilltop Arrests Fifteen

NBC 4: Federal state and local authorities made ten arrests and unsealed charges against five convicts during “Operation Hilltop” Tuesday. The Hilltop Soldiers and The Murder Gang were the focus of the arrests.

Teams of federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested 10 people who were charged in a series of federal indictments and complaints with committing violent crimes, including trafficking crack cocaine, use of firearms in drug-trafficking crimes and possession of firearms by people who have been convicted of felonies.

Arresting officers also seized 11 firearms including two SKS rifles, one AK-47, one shotgun and seven handguns plus ammunition. Charges against five people already in custody on state charges also were unsealed.

The following details the 15 suspects and their charges and was according to the ATF:

1. Lawrence Ahart, 32, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine.

2. Corday Burgess, 23, of Columbus was charged with one count of distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base.

3. Scott Carnell, 38, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Carnell already was incarcerated in the Franklin County Jail.

4. Maurice Cooley, 33, of Columbus was charged with one count of distribution of five grams or more of cocaine.

5. Luis Correa, 30, of Columbus was charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and one count of distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base.

6. Eric Crawford, 28, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

7. Christopher Goff, 30, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

8. Michael Jackson, 32, of Columbus was charged with one count of knowingly and intentionally make available for use, with or without compensation, a place for the purpose of unlawfully storing and distributing of cocaine base and unlawfully using marijuana; one count of possession with intent to sell five grams or more of crack cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime; possession of a firearm after having previously been convicted of crime(s) punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and two counts of forfeiture. Jackson already was incarcerated in the Franklin County Jail.

9. Robert Irvin, 24, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession with intention to distribute and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Irvin already was incarcerated in the Ross Correctional Institution.

10. Daniel Koch, 36, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

11. Shawn Little, 27, of Columbus was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

12. Rommell Martin, 32, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession with intent to sell five grams or more of crack cocaine.

13. Keenan Parks, 21, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Parks already was incarcerated in the Southeast Correctional Institution.

14. Steven Reed, 27, of Columbus was charged with one count of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine, four counts of distribution of five grams or more of cocaine and one count of distribution of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine.

15. Tahlon Thornton, 31, of Columbus was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Thornton already was incarcerated in the Franklin County Jail.

Authorities said the operation was continuing and additional defendants were being sought. The charges were the result of a 12-month investigation known as “Operation Hilltop.”

Columbus police, investigators with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and Ohio Adult Parole Authority and ATF agents into drug and violent crimes in West Columbus neighborhoods were involved in the arrests.

The investigation was part of an ongoing effort to reduce crimes in targeted neighborhoods by employing Violent Crime Impact Teams (VCIT) of federal, state and local law enforcement officers.

The goal of the teams is to arrest the most violent offenders in the targeted area. The suspects received their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Columbus. The U.S. Attorney’s Office asked that some of those arrested be held without bond pending trial. The U.S. Marshals Service Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Team (SOFAST), the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Enforcement Unit and Adult Parole Authority and the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal also assisted in the arrests. The indictments or charges were accusations; all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.