Hillsboro man sentenced to at least 13 years in prison in connection with Highland County Task Force case

A Hillsboro man indicted on 27 counts last October in connection with a Highland County Task Force investigation was sentenced Tuesday, March 19 to a minimum of 13 years in prison and ordered to forfeit cash, weapons and vehicles.

As previously reported, seven individuals were named in a 32-count drug-related indictment handed down by a Highland County grand jury Tuesday, Oct. 3 as the result of a Highland County Task Force investigation. Justin Anderson, 37, was  charged with 27 of those 32 counts, including:

• Eight first-degree felony counts: two counts of trafficking in hashish (liquid) in the vicinity of a school zone; engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity; trafficking in marijuana in the vicinity of a school zone; aggravated trafficking in drugs (Adderall) in the vicinity of a school zone; aggravated possession of drugs (Adderall); trafficking in hashish (solid) in the vicinity of a school zone; and possession of hashish (liquid).

• Six second-degree felony counts: possession of marijuana; possession of hashish (solid); trafficking in marijuana in the vicinity of a school zone; trafficking in hashish (solid) in the vicinity of a school zone; aggravated trafficking in drugs (psilocybin) in the vicinity of a school zone; and possession of hashish (liquid).

• Seven third-degree felony counts: two counts of trafficking in marijuana in the vicinity of a school zone; aggravated trafficking in drugs (Adderall) in the vicinity of a school zone; having weapons while under disability; possession of marijuana; possession of hashish (solid); and aggravated possession of drugs (psilocybin).

• Five fifth-degree felony counts: two counts of aggravated possession of drugs (Adderall); two counts of aggravated possession of drugs (MDMA); and aggravated possession of drugs (LSD).

• A forfeiture specification.

Anderson pleaded guilty Jan. 29 to engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony; an amended count of aggravated trafficking in drugs (Adderall), lowered from a first-degree to a second-degree felony; trafficking in marijuana in the vicinity of a school zone, a second-degree felony; and a forfeiture specification. The remaining counts were dismissed. 

It is alleged that on or about May 1, 2020 and continuing through Oct. 2, 2023, Anderson engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity, which was outlined in allegations in the other 26 charges in his indictment. 

A bill of particulars alleged that Anderson “sells large quantities of illegal narcotics,” which he allegedly obtains from suppliers out of the state, “to multiple people.” Those people allegedly pay Anderson through a payment app “or in cash, and he then uses an account” at an area bank, the bill of particulars alleges, but he “has no other form of employment and has not filed taxes for the years 2018-present.” 

For the specific drug charges to which Anderson pleaded guilty, it is alleged that on May 19, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Anderson’s house  after Highland County Task Force officers observed individuals “loading things at [a] stash house” and then returning to Anderson’s home. Officers allegedly located 217.05 grams of amphetamine (Adderall) on that date.

It is also alleged that in September 2022, a Hillsboro police officer responded to Anderson’s home for a reported domestic violence incident. When the officer went inside, he allegedly observed “multiple bags of suspected marijuana” and notified the Highland County Task Force, who executed a search warrant. Officers allegedly found 4,591 grams of marijuana on that date, according to the bill of particulars. 

When Anderson pleaded guilty Jan. 29, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss agreed to a delayed sentence with Anderson remaining out on bond. On Feb. 15, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins filed a motion to revoke bond for Anderson and to schedule “immediate sentencing.” According to her motion, Anderson was “stopped in Kentucky and charged” with drug possession on Feb. 5.

“It is apparent this Defendant is not taking the orders of this Court seriously,” Collins wrote. “He has made a mockery out of the orders and these charges during the entire time this case has been pending. Any statement that he needs to get his affairs in order prior to going to prison is clearly nonsense.” 

Coss issued an order for Anderson’s arrest and scheduled a sentencing hearing for Feb. 23, according to court records. After Anderson failed to appear, Coss ordered the Highland County Sheriff’s Office to “enter in LEADS (Law Enforcement Automated Data System) that the warrant is a nationwide pickup.

“The March 12 sentencing date will remain in place in the event that [the] defendant is taken into custody prior to that date,” Coss wrote. “If defendant does not appear on March 12 or is not in custody, the State is directed to initiate bond revocation proceedings.” 

According to court records, Anderson failed to appear for his March 12 sentencing date, after which Collins filed the motion to forfeit his bond. Anderson was then arrested March 17, court records show.

During the sentencing hearing Tuesday afternoon, Anderson’s attorney, William Rapp, asked Coss to follow the recommended 11-year minimum sentence in the plea agreement, which he said was a “substantial” one.

“I would like to apologize for him not appearing as required,” Rapp said. “He indicates he had no intention of permanently leaving the state or the country or anything like that. It was more so just the acceptance of the agreed recommendation, which was difficult for him mentally. He has, however, accepted that resolution.”

Coss told Anderson that this case is “another example of why I don’t like to” defer sentences. 

“As I indicated to you at the time of the plea, the recommendation of sentencing is not binding,” Coss told Anderson. “I also told you that if you didn’t obey the court’s order, then that could have an impact on the court’s sentence, and it has.”

As a result, Coss sentenced Anderson to an additional two years beyond the agreed-upon sentence, including a minimum of five years on the engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity charge; a mandatory five years on the Adderall charge; and a mandatory three years on the marijuana charge, for a total minimum of 13 years in prison. Under the Reagan Tokes Law, the overall total sentence could be up to 15.5 years in prison. Anderson had 28 days of jail time credit.

Under the forfeiture specification, Coss ordered the following property to be forfeited: 

• A 9mm pistol, magazine and 11 rounds;

• $20,393 in U.S. currency located during search warrants executed in May 2022;

• $19,963 in U.S. currency located during search warrants executed in October 2023; and

• Seven different vehicles, including a Honda Accord, a Chevrolet Silverado, a Honda motorcycle, a Lexus, a Chevrolet Trader, a Hyundai and a Jaguar.

In addition to the prison term and forfeitures, Coss ordered Anderson to pay a fine of $15,000, which will be distributed equally to the Highland County Task Force, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Greenfield Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department and Highland County Prosecutor’s Office. 

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