SIDNEY — Two Fort Loramie brothers, who turned from using illegal drugs to distributing them, were each sentenced to serve up to six years in prison for aggravated trafficking in drugs.
On or about May 7, 2021, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office discovered and broke up their drug trafficking operation based at 4662 Cardo Road in Fort Loramie, seizing their gun armory and drug-making apparatuses and substances. As previously reported, an upstairs bedroom of this three-bedroom home had been converted to manufacture synthetic marijuana.
At this time, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office also seized more than 50 grams of a synthetic psychoactive substance called “pharmacophore.” A pharmacophcore is “the portion of a chemical structure that confers the activity of the substance.” In this case, it was a cannabinoid that was being prepared for transportation and resale.
The brothers’ illegal operation had netted them $19,144.31 in cash, collectible coins, and precious metals, which were also seized as profits deemed to be gained from the sale of illegal drugs.
Additional items used to carry out the commission of a felony were also seized, including a money counter, a large armory comprised of 21 weapons, and an orange concrete mixer.
The armory included a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber pistol with two magazines, a Colt Lawman .357MKIII pistol, a Bushmaster rifle, a Henry Golden Boy .22 caliber rifle, a Mossberg 715 .22 caliber rifle, a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge rifle, an H & R single-shot 12-gauge shotgun, a Ranger 101-2 Lever Action shotgun, a Springfield single shot 12-gauge shotgun, a Stevens 62 .22 caliber rifle with scope, a Stevens 320 12-gauge pump shotgun, a Marlin Glenfield 60 .22 caliber rifle, a Marlin 336 30-30 with scope, a Marline 75 .22 caliber rifle, a Raven Arms P-25 .25 caliber pistol, a Dremand Arms revolver, a Sears & Roebuck 2-gauge single-shot, a Marline 60 .22 caliber rifle, a NatMil .223 rifle, a J.C. Higgins .22 caliber rifle, a Springfield Arms .22 caliber rifle.
A transition to drug trafficking from drug use can be seen by looking at their past history of criminal convictions.
Joshua David Brunswick, 36, and his younger brother Jacob Joseph Brunswick, 30, both of Fort Loramie, had a history of drug-related convictions.
Previously, between 2010 and 2011, Jacob Brunswick was indicted for drug paraphernalia possession (2010) but the case was dismissed. The following year, he was convicted on two drug use charges that included a DUI and drug abuse. The jail sentence was waived by the court for both convictions.
Then, in 2015 and 2016, Joshua Brunswick was convicted in two separate cases for possession of drugs, each being a fifth-degree felony. The first case, occurring on or about Nov. 17, 2015, involved heroin. He was sentenced to 11 months in prison, up to three months of probation, and all costs of prosecution. The second case, occurring on or about April 9, 2016, and April 19, 2016, involving the controlled substance Fentanyl, he was fined and ordered to complete drug and alcohol counseling as well as pay all costs of prosecution. It was noted that if he violated the terms of his sentence, he would be ordered to a 12-month prison sentence and up to three years of probation.
In addition to the brothers’ current first-degree felony sentences of between four and six years in prison, both brothers will receive a mandatory two to five year probation, and charged all costs of prosecution.
Jordan Hale, 32, of Sidney, was sentenced to 17 months in prison, a mandatory five years of probation, and all costs of prosecution, for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He was initially charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (a 15-year-old), a third-degree felony, for events that occurred between June 2015 through September 2015.
Ryan R. Hunt, 27, of Sidney, was sentenced to two years in prison for the combined crimes involving multiple indictments for grand theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property (automobiles and license plates), and selling drugs.
He received one year in prison and up to two years of probation, along with financial penalties of $3,200 in restitution to the victim for grand theft of a motor vehicle (a 2006 Honda Accord), which occurred on or about Jan. 28, 2020, and all costs of prosecution, for this fourth-degree felony.
Hunt was also sentenced to one year in prison (to run concurrently with the previously mentioned conviction), for one count of receiving stolen property (a 2011 Buick Enclave), a fourth-degree felony. He had initially been indicted on four counts of receiving stolen property, two of which being fourth-degree felonies (a 2011 Buick Enclave and a 2005 Ford Mustang), and two being fifth-degree felonies (two stolen license plates, one Ohio and one Arkansas), occurring on or around Jan. 28 to Jan. 30, 2020. The other three indictments were dismissed.
Finally, Hunt was sentenced to one year (to run consecutively with the other two convictions), a discretionary probation of up to two years, and all costs of prosecution, for one count of the sale of counterfeit controlled substances (a counterfeit as Methamphetamine) and one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs (Methamphetamine). He was initially indicted on six counts trafficking in drugs: three counts of aggravated tracking in drugs (Methamphetamine), each being a fourth-degree felony, two counts of trafficking in drugs (Fentanyl), a fifth-degree felony, and sale of counterfeit controlled substances (a counterfeit sold as Methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. The drug activities allegedly occurred on the following dates: Dec. 26, 2019, Dec. 30, 2019, and Jan. 7, Jan. 9, and Jan. 13, 2021. All other indictments were dismissed after changing his plea to guilty on Sept. 24, 2021.
Hunt was previously convicted of possession of a Fentanyl-related compound in Montgomery County with a disposition date of March 24, 2020 to five years of probation. He was also convicted of escape, with a disposition date of Sept. 15, 2020, to one year of confinement.
Jacob A. Balsley, 30, of Fairborn, was sentenced to five years of probation, completion of a treatment program at WORTH or another community-based correctional facility, as well as all prosecution costs, for possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. Initially, he was also charged with aggravated possession of drugs, also a fifth-degree felony, which was dismissed upon a plea of guilty for the other charge. On or about March 29, 2021, he possessed Methamphetamine and a pipe used for abusing Methamphetamine. On this same date, in a separate charge, Balsley also allegedly lied to police about his identity, for which he initially pleaded not guilty but the court is currently awaiting a change of plea.
Brennan Taylor, 23, of Sidney, was sentenced to treatment at WORTH or another community-based correctional facility, additional counseling, as well as all costs of prosecution. He was initially charged with one count of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. On or about Oct. 7, 2020, Taylor had a loaded black Taurus handgun stored under the passenger seat within reach. If the terms of sentencing are violated, he could face between six and 18 months of prison and up to two years of probation.
Rodney Messer, 41, of Anna, was sentenced to up to five years of probation, a $200 fine, and all costs of prosecution, for one count of attempted forgery. He was initially charged with two counts of forgery, each a fifth-degree felony, but the second count was dismissed with a guilty plea. On or about Oct. 10, 2020, and Dec. 11, 2020, Messer allegedly forged signatures onto two separate checks with the purpose of defrauding the victim(s).
