Drug trafficking investigation in Brown County yields 4 arrests

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that from July 25-27, four arrests were made after a yearlong investigation into an alleged drug trafficking organization that began in the Cincinnati area and provided illegal drugs to Brown County.

This investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Brown County Drug Task Force, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Mount Orab Police Department, Ripley Police Department, Sardinia Police Department and the Hamilton County Heroin Task Force.

This investigation resulted in the alleged seizure of a large amount of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and several firearms. The street price of the narcotics seized during the investigation was approximately $35,000 worth of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The arrested individuals were charged with the following drug crimes:

• Joshua Childers of Cincinnati:
Count 1: Trafficking in drugs - fentanyl (F-1)
Count 2: Trafficking in drugs - methamphetamine (F-1)
Count 3: Trafficking in drugs - methamphetamine (F-1)
Count 4: Possession of drugs - fentanyl (F-1)
Count 5: Trafficking in drugs - fentanyl (F-2)
Count 6: Tampering with evidence (F-3).

• Austin Hilderbrand of Georgetown:
Count 1: Trafficking in drugs - methamphetamine (F-1)
Count 2: Trafficking in drugs - methamphetamine (F-1)
Count 3: Possession of drugs - methamphetamine (F-1).

• Niko Adams of Cincinnati:
Count 1: Trafficking in drugs - fentanyl (F-1)
Count 2: Possession of drugs - fentanyl (F-1).

• Cassi Nicole Thomas of Amelia:
Count 1: Trafficking in drugs - methamphetamine (F-1)
Count 2: Possession of drugs - methamphetamine (F-1).

These four suspects are currently being held in the Brown County Jail.