Columbus Man Sentenced For Role In Cocaine Distribution Ring
2014-12-11 · Press release
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Stephen A. Cagle, 46, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison for distributing cocaine and money laundering.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Robert Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs and Michael Boxler, Special Agent in Charge, Columbus Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost.
According to court documents, on or about January 1, 2010 through September 21, 2011, Cagle, along with several others, was part of a large scale narcotics organization involved in importing, manufacturing and distributing cocaine throughout Central and Northern Ohio, Penn. and Texas.
Specifically, Cagle was responsible for distributing multiple kilograms of cocaine that was being transported into Ohio from Texas. The defendant was also involved in operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, often transporting several hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ohio to Texas.
While executing a search warrant at Cagle’s residence on September 21, 2011, investigators discovered more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, several firearms, more than $142,000 in cash and several vehicles.
Cagle pleaded guilty on May 21, 2014 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and money laundering.
He was ordered to forfeit $142,020 in cash and $10,000 in lieu of a vehicle seized on his property, as well as at least 13 firearms.
“All financial transactions leave a trail and we have the unique expertise to follow those leads,” said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “Not only is a criminal going to jail for his crimes, but the government has seized a significant portion of the illegal proceeds through asset forfeiture.”
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by the DEA, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Columbus Division of Police, and ATF, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth F. Affeldt, who is representing the United States in this case.- district_office
- Southern District of Ohio
- usa_name
- Carter M. Stewart
- event_type
- sentencing
- judge_name
- Gregory L. Frost
- judge_title
- U.S. District Judge
- case_number
- max_penalty_text
- sentence_summary
- 36 months in prison
- money_amounts
- $142,020, $10,000
- crypto_assets
- statutes_json
- timeline_json
- {"plea_date": "2014-05-21"}
- press_release_url
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/columbus-man-sentenced-role-cocaine-distribution-ring
- extras_json
| participant_id | name | role | title | organization | location | age | nationality | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2671 | Stephen A. Cagle | defendant | Columbus, Ohio | 46 | sentenced | |||
| 2672 | Carter M. Stewart | prosecutor | U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office | Southern District of Ohio | |||
| 2673 | Robert Corso | investigator | Special Agent in Charge | Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) | Ohio | |||
| 2674 | Kathy Enstrom | investigator | Special Agent in Charge | Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation | Ohio | |||
| 2675 | Kim Jacobs | police chief | Chief | Columbus Police Department | Columbus, Ohio | |||
| 2676 | Michael Boxler | investigator | Special Agent in Charge | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) | Columbus, Ohio | |||
| 2677 | Gregory L. Frost | judge | U.S. District Judge | U.S. District Court | Ohio | |||
| 2678 | Kenneth F. Affeldt | prosecutor | Assistant U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office | Southern District of Ohio |
| agency_id | agency_name | abbreviation | role | office_location | agents_mentioned | contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1721 | Drug Enforcement Administration | DEA | investigation | Robert Corso | Coordinated investigation into cocaine distribution and enforcement actions | |
| 1722 | Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation | IRS-CI | investigation | Cincinnati Field Office | Kathy Enstrom | Tracked financial transactions and executed asset forfeiture |
| 1723 | Columbus Division of Police | investigation | Kim Jacobs | Provided local law enforcement support and participated in cooperative investigation | ||
| 1724 | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives | ATF | investigation | Columbus Field Division | Michael Boxler | Conducted investigations involving firearms and coordinated enforcement efforts |
| charge_id | charge_description | statute | severity | max_penalty | fine_amount | defendant | status | participant_id | cl_docket_id | count_num | is_1960 | verified_1960 | source | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1395 | conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance | Stephen A. Cagle | pleaded guilty | 0 | enrichment | |||||||||
| 1396 | money laundering | Stephen A. Cagle | pleaded guilty | 0 | enrichment | |||||||||
| 3488 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, often transporting several hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ohio to Texas | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:46:00+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 3489 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, often transporting several hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ohio | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:46:00+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 3490 | unlicensed money transmitting business, often transporting several hundreds of | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:46:00+00:00 |
| fin_id | action_type | amount | currency | description | asset_type | defendant | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1391 | forfeiture | $142,020 | USD | cash | cash | Stephen A. Cagle | ordered |
| 1392 | forfeiture | $10,000 | USD | in lieu of a vehicle | vehicle | Stephen A. Cagle | ordered |
| 1393 | seizure | $142,000 | USD | cash | cash | Stephen A. Cagle | completed |
| 1394 | seizure | null | null | at least 13 firearms | firearms | Stephen A. Cagle | completed |
| 1395 | seizure | null | null | several vehicles | vehicles | Stephen A. Cagle | completed |
| victim_id | victim_type | description | number_affected | loss_amount | geographic_scope | vulnerability_factors | impact_description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 746 | individual | general public | Central and Northern Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas | exposure to cocaine distribution and money laundering activities |
| quote_id | quote_text | speaker_name | speaker_title | speaker_organization | quote_type | context | significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2955 | All financial transactions leave a trail and we have the unique expertise to follow those leads. | Kathy A. Enstrom | Special Agent in Charge | IRS Criminal Investigation | statement | Discussing the investigation and asset forfeiture | Highlights the role of financial tracking in the investigation and the impact of asset forfeiture |
| theme_id | theme_name | description | significance | related_statutes | geographic_scope | temporal_aspects | stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Cocaine Distribution | Large-scale narcotics organization distributing cocaine across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. | Highlights the organized nature and geographic reach of drug trafficking operations. | 21 U.S.C. § 846 | National | Historical trend (2010–2011) | Law enforcement, Defendant |
| 1953 | Money Laundering | Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business to move illicit proceeds between Ohio and Texas. | Essential to concealing and legitimizing drug-related profits. | 18 U.S.C. § 1960 | National | Historical trend (2010–2011) | Law enforcement, Defendant |
| 1954 | Asset Forfeiture | Seizure of cash ($142,020), firearms, and vehicles linked to criminal activities. | Disrupts criminal finances and recovers illegal proceeds. | Local | Law enforcement, Defendant | ||
| 1955 | Multi-Agency Cooperation | Collaboration between DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation, Columbus Police, and ATF. | Demonstrates coordinated law enforcement efforts to dismantle criminal networks. | National | DEA, IRS, Columbus Police, ATF |
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