BY MICHAEL CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- An undercover agent's infiltration of an alleged drug ring brought the arrest of five people and helped Butler County sheriff's deputies make their largest LSD bust ever.
"We feel we have really put a dent in the spread of this dangerous drug," Butler County Sheriff's Sgt. Greg Blankenship said of the 21 bottles of LSD confiscated from the suspects.
Sgt. Blankenship said the five young adults were selling the LSD on the street by carrying the drug and store-bought sugar cubes. Buyers, mostly teens and young adults, would get one drop of LSD placed on a sugar cube for $10.
"It's dangerous. It's targeted for kids and it's cheap for kids," he said.
Authorities did not offer a street value of the drugs.
Deputies declined to reveal the details of the undercover operation that began about three weeks ago, but said one of the department's agents was able to befriend members of the drug ring.
By buying ever-larger quantities of LSD, the agent was able to move up through the ranks to the leaders.
The confiscated LSD differed from earlier drug arrests because the drug was in liquid form in bottles -- an estimated 30 grams of the liquid -- and not on postage stamps or other pieces of paper.
Those arrested were:
Erin Allen, 19, of the 5300 block of Blossom Drive in Union Township, who was charged with one count of felony drug abuse and permitting drug abuse.
Craig Bolden, 24, same address. He was charged with three counts of trafficking in LSD and permitting drug abuse.
Jason Swank, 21, of the 100 block of Hancock Avenue in Hamilton. He was charged with four counts of trafficking in LSD.
Justin A. Bach, 22, of the 100 block of Dorset Avenue in Middletown. He was charged with one count of trafficking in LSD and permitting drug abuse.
Phillip Chalfant, 19, of the 600 block of Prytania Avenue in Hamilton. He was charged with four counts of trafficking in LSD. All remained in the Butler County Jail on Monday in lieu of $150,000 bond each.
