Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn previously told the press that authorities investigating the Athens, Ohio, darknet drug trafficking case had not yet closed the case. Even after the first two arrests, Blackburn warned that more would follow. He spoke the truth. In March, Athens authorities arrested three more young adults involved in a widespread darknet drug trafficking conspiracy.
Earlier this year, Athens authorities investigated and arrested two Ohio University students for buying opioids on the darknet and selling them to fellow students and other local customers. Prosecutor Blackburn alleged that the two students purchased pills in packages of 400 to 500 per instance. This case attracted a significant amount of attention in Athens; Blackburn has built an entire political platform around treating opioid abuse and catching opioid dealers. And every town loves getting a piece of the darknet action that the media is increasingly fond of printing.
Blackburn, in a press release, explained that in the investigation into the students, they discovered that the darknet vendor shipped the drugs from Forest City, Iowa. Athens County law enforcement worked with the Forest City Police Department and Iowa State Troopers to catch the Iowa darknet vendor. The students helped investigators by giving them access to their marketplace accounts.
The Iowa investigation led to a conviction in late February. Authorities arrested Anthony Scott Boeckholt (and indicted one of his accomplices). Judge George P. McCarthy convicted Boeckholt of one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity; one count of money laundering; and three counts of aggravated trafficking of drugs. Blackburn told the public that he expected more arrests in the near future.
An Athens County Grand Jury, on March 7, indicted 22-year-old Andrew Davis Kamer; 21-year-old David Matthew Grimm; and 22-year-old Nicholas Sahagian. The trio allegedly allowed drug trafficking in their Mill Street residence. It should come as no surprise that the three men had a direct connection to the two college students, Scott Boeckholt, and his accomplice Tyler Strand. The trio lived with the two college students and allegedly engaged in the drug trafficking conspiracy knowingly.
The newly indicted trio allegedly participated in the conspiracy between February 1, 2017 until December of the same year. An arraignment hearing has been set for March 21.