COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Two people on trial for their part in a large-scale drug and sex trafficking ring that operated near a Columbus elementary school have been found guilty.
On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced the two were convicted for their roles in a narcotics distribution ring involving mass amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs.
The jury found 56-year-old David Price guilty on 11 charges and 25-year-old Tavaryyuan Johnson guilty on four.
Prosecutors said a multi-agency law enforcement task force initially announced the case in July 2022 after a federal grand jury indicted 11 people for distributing bulk amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in central Ohio within 1,000 feet of a school.
A superseding indictment returned in October 2022 charged additional people with distributing those drugs, plus methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax and Oxycodone.
Price, also known as “DP,” was charged in a third superseding indictment in December. His conviction includes a minimum of 25 years and up to life in prison. Johnson is also known as “Gucci” and “TJ” was also charged in the third superseding indictment and faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
The two were part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin, as well as marijuana, oxycodone and alprazolam. The drug trafficking organization operated from January 2008 until it was dismantled in 2022.
The crimes took place at residences near Burroughs Elementary School in the Hilltop neighborhood.
In July 2021, Price distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine that resulted in the overdose death of a woman, and testimony at his trial indicated he purposefully killed her after she began talking to the police about his drug business.
The case against Price also proved that he conspired to commit sex trafficking from 2016 until 2022. Price and other members of the conspiracy would force and/or coerce adult female drug addicts into performing commercial sex acts by providing, withholding or threatening to withhold controlled substances and housing.
Law enforcement’s investigation showed that various women engaged in a “rinse and repeat” cycle where they would be allowed to stay at a drug residence associated with Price, receive a front of drugs so they were not in active drug withdrawal, go to Sullivant Avenue, have sex for money, pay the debt from the front drugs, and then be allowed to remain at the house.
Trial testimony also indicated that Price, who was also found guilty of three counts of sex trafficking, would lock the women inside his residence for days or weeks at a time and refuse to let them leave, forcing them to engage in sex acts. One victim was locked in a dog cage, shot and stabbed by Price. He would refuse to provide them drugs unless or until they engaged in the sex acts, forcing them into withdrawal if they did not comply.
NBC4 previously reported that federal officers arrested eight men and three women who were all charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs over two years. In total agents seized $1.5 million in cash, 44 firearms, seven vehicles and a motorcycle.
The original indictment included the following defendants:
| Name | Age | City of Residence |
| Cordell A. Washington, aka Corey, Dub, Bro | 35 | Columbus |
| Patrick M. Saultz, aka White Boy Pat | 44 | Columbus |
| David E. Price, aka DP | 53 | Columbus |
| Allison E. Smith, aka Alli | 27 | Columbus |
| Tavaryyuan Johnson, aka Gucci | 22 | Columbus |
| Tyler N. Bourdo | 28 | Columbus |
| Alexis C. Lewis | 30 | Columbus |
| Michael Fowler | 45 | Canton |
| Carmela Brooks | 48 | Canton |
| Dustin A. Speakman, aka Dawg | 32 | Columbus |
| Danny G. Mullins | 53 | Columbus |
Defendants added in the superseding indictment unsealed in October of 2022 include:
| Name | Age | City of Residence |
| Robert E. Tinsley, III, aka Cam | 22 | Columbus |
| Priscilla L. Washington | 58 | Columbus |
| Lauren E. Brezney | 29 | Shallotte, N.C./Columbus |
| Brittany A. Williams | 36 | Columbus |
| Gabriel R. Smith, aka Gabe | 34 | Canal Winchester |
| Robert L. Pyles, aka Pork | 45 | Columbus |
| Mitchell A. Powers | 33 | Columbus |
| Vincent T. Griffin | 50 | Reynoldsburg |
| Caitlin R. Duff | 27 | Columbus |
| Michael D. Burton | 39 | Columbus |
| Brian K. Long, II | 32 | Columbus |
| Anthony B. Frierson, aka Royal | 31 | Columbus |
