Prosecuting Attorney Jason Holdren announces that Michael D. Simpson, age 36, of Dayton, Ohio was convicted by a Gallia County jury on Monday, April 17, 2017. “Mr. Simpson was convicted on all counts, which included Trafficking in Cocaine, Trafficking in Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Heroin,” stated Holdren. “Mr. Simpson was sentenced today by Judge Margaret Evans and received 12.5 years in prison, the maximum sentence permitted under the law.”
On March 11, 2016, Simpson was travelling form Dayton, Ohio to Charleston, West Virginia on U.S. 35 while transporting 160 grams of cocaine, 29 grams of crack cocaine, and 2 grams of heroin. After noticing a missing headlight and numerous criminal indicators, Trooper Matthew Atwood of the Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle that Simpson was riding in. Simpson attempted to conceal the drugs in a chex-mix bag, but Atwood quickly found the illegal substances that had an approximate street value of $40,000.00.
“It is an honor to work alongside our law enforcement officers each and every day, as they work tirelessly to rid our county of the poison that is taking so many lives. I hope that drug dealers and drug runners are taking note that their actions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
