Thomas is in Butler County Jail after being arrested in the early hours of July 4. The DEA complaint lists possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl as the potential charge.
RELATED: Illegal immigrants dealt kilos of fentanyl in Miami County, feds say
Thomas had his initial appearance on Tuesday, and federal prosecutors asked for pretrial detention. That hearing was scheduled for today. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 17.
The complaint written by DEA special agent Steve Lucas alleged Thomas received fentanyl from two Hispanic males in a Tipp City residence where a search warrant netted three kilograms of fentanyl, $150,000 in cash and cell phones.
A photograph of Thomas’ driver’s license was located during a search of the cell phones. A confidential informant told agents that Thomas had delivered large amounts of cash to the Tipp City residence.
MORE: Read other stories from Mark Gokavi
Lucas wrote that he observed Thomas visit 5287 Coco Drive in Huber Heights several times before DEA agents searched the residence last Monday. Thomas was served with the search warrants and had a key to the residence on his key ring.
Agents found more than 400 grams (14.1 ounces), several firearms including the AR-15 with extended magazine, a suspected drug press, cutting agents, scale, bags and a “large amount of U.S. currency,” Lucas wrote.
The complaint noted that Thomas was convicted of trafficking more than five kilos of cocaine in a 2017 federal case.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Mark Gokavi on Twitter or Facebook
Thomas was sentenced to 140 months in prison, but that sentence was reduced to 120 months in 2015 by U.S. District Court Judge Walter Rice.
Thomas has had only misdemeanor court cases involving traffic violations in the past couple years, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.
About the Author