4 Columbus-area women convicted of drug-related crimes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Seven people, including four Columbus-area women, have been convicted of trafficking thousands of oxycodone pills and three kilograms of methamphetamine into Columbus from Florida and California. U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker’s office.

The latest man to be charged with drug and money laundering conspiracy, Michael Moore, 47, of Inglewood, Calif., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. A release from Parker’s office said he and six women were responsible for drug trafficking and conspiracy to launder more than $2.5 million in drug proceeds.

Moore admitted to conspiracy to commit money laundering and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess for the purpose of distributing drugs.

The recommended sentence range for him is 11 to 16 years in prison.

The six women were also charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone. According to court records, from at least 2015 to 2018, the group smuggled pills from Florida to Ohio and from California to Ohio and transported methamphetamine from California.

Among the convicted are six women:

• Michael Renisha Unique Hawes, 33, of Cerritos, Calif., is awaiting sentencing.
• Brandi Monique Casey, 44, of Inglewood, California, is awaiting sentencing.
• Marissa A. Wallace, 29, of Columbus, was sentenced to 72 months in prison.
• Angela Faber, 41, of Reynoldsburg, was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
• Heather Russell, 36, of Columbus, was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
• Janet Breckenridge, 33, of Columbus, was sentenced to 48 months in prison.

In total, Kennett’s office says the group obtained and distributed between 5,656 and 100,000 30-milligram oxycodone pills, which were then sold for between $20 and $30 per pill.

The group reportedly opened bank accounts at several banks and made money transfers, hiding the cash and transporting it on commercial flights, the release said.

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