Hillsboro man sentenced for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity

A Hillsboro man charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and 22 other counts earlier this year was sentenced Monday to at least six years in prison and ordered to forfeit and/or pay thousands of dollars in currency, property and weapons.

As previously reported, a 23-count indictment was handed down in May against James Steven Fettro, 62, and included the following charges:

• One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony;

• 10 counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, one first-degree felony, five third-degree felonies and four fifth-degree felonies;

• 10 counts of aggravated possession of drugs, one first-degree felony, five third-degree felonies and four fifth-degree felonies;

• One count of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony; and

• A forfeiture specification.

Fettro pleaded guilty Aug. 11 to the engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity charge, as well as the first-degree felony charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs, amended to a second-degree felony charge; one of the third-degree felony charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs; and the forfeiture specification. The remaining 19 charges were dismissed.

The indictment accused Fettro of “recklessly, while being employed by or associated with, directly or indirectly, conducting or participating in the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of corrupt activity” during the period of June 1-Dec. 31, 2024.

All 21 drug charges in the indictment stemmed from that time frame, where it was alleged that Fettro “did knowingly sell or offer to sell,” and “did knowingly obtain, possess or use,” psilocybin (mushrooms).

The two drug trafficking charges for which Fettro pleaded guilty allege that on or about Sept. 26, 2024, Fettro “did knowingly sell or offer to sell … psilocybin (mushrooms) in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount.” On or about Nov. 14, 2024, Fettro is accused of “knowingly selling or offering to sell … psilocybin (mushrooms) in an amount equal to or exceeding five times bulk amount but less than 50 times bulk amount.”

After accepting Fettro’s guilty pleas, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Fettro to a mandatory three years in prison on the engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity charge, consecutive to 12 months on the third-degree felony trafficking charge and another mandatory two years on the second-degree felony trafficking charge, for a minimum of six years in prison. Under the Reagan Tokes Law, Fettro could serve up to seven and a half years. He had 97 days of jail time credit.

All of the property listed in the forfeiture specification of the indictment was ordered forfeited due to its alleged use or intended use in the course of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. That included a property on Pigeon Roost Road with an appraised value of $259,400; U.S. currency totaling $48,297; and eight different weapons.

Additionally, Fettro was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, which will be distributed to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Highland County Task Force and Highland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Fettro also was ordered to pay restitution to the Highland County Task Force either alone ($295) or joint and several with his co-defendants ($1,550 with Katie Fettro; $140 with Katie Fettro and Christopher Starkey). 

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