7menindictedin alleged prison drug ring

Federal case includes 5 from Dayton area, corrections officer.

Sevenmen— includingfive with ties to theDayton area— face federal charges relatedto distribution ofmeth in a state prison.

Sevenmen— includingfive with ties to the Dayton area — face federal charges related to distribution of methamphetamine, said U.S. Attorney for the SouthernDistrict of Ohio Benjamin Glassman.

The Sept. 28 indictment unsealed this week alleges the men, including a correctionsofficer, attempted to deliver methamphetamine to the Chillicothe Correctional Institute for distribution within the state prison.

The indictment charged the following men with conspiracy to distributemethamphetamine:

■ James Barlage, Jr., 31, of Chillicothe

■ Mario Evans, 40, formerly of Dayton

■ Edward E. Bellman, 45, formerly of Miamisburg

■ Moses M. Stevens, 53, formerly of Xenia

■ Jon Christopher Birt, 50, of Dayton

■ Jamie L. Naegele, 47, of Brookville

■ Anthony Scott Blankenship, 32, of Columbus

Barlage and Blankenship are also charged with one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, according to Glassman. Conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine are each crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The indictmentalleges that Barlage was employed as a corrections officer at Chillicothe Correctional Institute in June and July 2017, according to the press release. At the same time, Evans, BellmanandStevenswereinmates at the prison, Glassman said.

Glassmansaid Birtwould obtain the drugs fromhis suppliers and he and Naegele would arrange for the delivery of the methamphetamine to the prison.

“The defendants allegedly used at least one unauthorized cell phone within the prison to coordinate payment for the drugs and exchange of the drugs for transportation to CCI,” Glassman said in a press release. “They also allegedly used Western Union to transfer funds for the drugs.”

Glassman said Birt, Barlage and Naegele have been arrested and have made their initial appearances. Arrestwarrantswereissued for the remaining defendants, Glassman said.

Evanswas incarcerated in 1995 after an aggravated robbery, felonious assault, theft and weapons under disability conviction, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records.