Middletown man sought in ‘drug ring’ investigation served prison time for killing bicyclist

ajc.com

A Middletown man wanted by the FBI has a lengthy criminal history and served five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

Investigators continue to look for Marqui Conley, 26, who continued to use a self-storage unit in Warren County to do drug business while evading authorities, according to court documents this news organization obtained this week.

MORE: Warrant says wanted drug dealer used Warren County storage unit while on run

He is allegedly part of a violent criminal organization based in Middletown believed to be involved in multiple homicides. Federal and local law enforcement agencies executed a series of search warrants Monday in Middletown, Miamisburg and Dayton.

MORE: 3 more arrested after ‘drug ring’ raids in Middletown

Conley has been charged 25 times in Middletown since 2016, according to court records. He was charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs in 2017, twice for drug abuse-marijuana and seven times for window tinting. He’s scheduled to appear May 28 in Middletown Municipal Court for window tinting.

Marqui Conley (Courtesy/FBI Cincinnati-Dayton office)

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In 2011, Conley, then 18, was sentenced to five years in prison for killing a man he intentionally ran down with a car. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of 20-year-old TaShawn Smiley as part of a plea deal before a Butler County grand jury could consider a murder charge against him.

Common Pleas Judge Andrew Nastoff gave Conley the maximum sentence.

Middletown police said Conley was driving a green Chevrolet Malibu when he ran over Smiley, who was riding his bicycle, on June 19, 2010. Conley, then 17, sped away but was arrested later based on evidence taken off the car and charged in January. His case was bound over from county Juvenile Court so he could be tried as an adult.

Before handing down the sentence, Nastoff noted that Conley, even at his young age, had a violent past that included a robbery charge. Nastoff also noted that Conley, after killing Smiley, continued to drive without a license.

He is approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and 175 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

He is known to have ties to Middletown, Hamilton, West Chester, Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo.

If you have information about Conley, you are asked to call the FBI at 513-421-4310 or your local police.

The investigation is being worked cooperatively by the Middletown Division of Police, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Warren County Drug Task Force, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI Safe Street Task Force.

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