BUCYRUS —A Galion man will spend the next two decades in prison after pleading guilty Monday to drug-related charges in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Khabeer J. Brown, 39, formerly of 231 Walker St., Galion, pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in corrupt activities — both first-degree felonies — as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Judge Sean Leuthold sentenced Brown to 10 years on each count, with the sentences to be served consecutively for a total of 20 years.
When Brown was arrested last March, he had two addresses, including the Walker Street address in Galion and 937 N. Sandusky Ave., in Bucyrus. The Bucyrus and Galion Police Departments raided both Brown’s residences with help from the Crawford County Special Response Team and METRICH task force. A large quantity of suspected crack cocaine, suspected heroin, more than $1,200 in cash and evidence of drug trafficking were found in the Bucyrus residence, where Tim and Billie Rathers were also arrested.
Officers then searched the Galion address, seizing more suspected crack cocaine and heroin.
“This case is a great example of a persistent and patient investigation by the Bucyrus Police Department. The information was first received in 2014 by another agency. Nearly two years and several warrants later, an arrest was finally made. The results were telling: over 6.4 kilograms of cocaine and 557.95 grams of heroin,” said Prosecutor Matthew Crall.
The Bucyrus Police Department estimates the value of these drugs to be approximately $300,000.00 and believes this is the largest seizure of drugs ever in Bucyrus. The drugs will be destroyed.
Crall said, “As a result of this arrest, we saw a noticeable difference in the amount of drugs on the street in our community.”
In addition to the seizure of drugs, the police department also seized $74,190.05. That money was ordered forfeited to the Bucyrus Police Department and the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.
“This forfeited money can only be used by the agencies in our efforts to eradicate the City of Bucyrus and Crawford County of illegal drugs. We use it to train our officers and purchase equipment. By using these illegally gained monies, taxpayers save money,” Crall said. “Today our community should be thanking the Bucyrus Police Department, specifically, Capt. Neil Assenheimer and Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoover for their diligent work in apprehending this offender.”
