ZANESVILLE, OHIO: In a shocking turn of events, a mother in Ohio was arrested this week after law enforcement authorities allegedly discovered an estimated $30,000 worth of unlawful pharmaceutical drugs hidden on her own children. She was taken into custody on Monday, July 31, and now faces a slew of serious charges, authorities announced.
Who is Victoria Barrientos?
Victoria N Barrientos was initially charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, trafficking in fentanyl, and money laundering. However, prosecutors have since filed several additional charges against her, including endangering children, corrupting a child with drugs, trafficking drugs within a school zone, and possession of drugs relating to her arrest.
According to a press release from the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office, Barrientos has a long history of criminal activity in the area, with previous convictions for drug-related charges and money laundering. She had previously served time in prison for laundering money for her boyfriend, Deangelo "D-Lo" Tellis, who is currently serving a 15-year sentence for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and narcotics trafficking.
Authorities had been investigating Barrientos for nearly a year before her arrest. Detectives with the Zanesville/Muskingum County Joint Drug Unit and the CODE Task Force closely followed her alleged drug operation and observed the gradual reintroduction of her boyfriend's associates from Columbus to the Muskingum County area.
A shocking arrest
The arrest occurred during a traffic stop on Barrientos' vehicle while she was on her way to Zanesville to regain custody of one of her children. “Children’s Services arrived at the stop because Barrientos had other children with her who needed to be placed in proper care. While sorting through the children’s care items, caseworkers found a large quantity of suspected suboxone strips which had been individually bagged for distribution,” the release stated. “Suboxone is a street drug of abuse marketed by pharmaceutical companies as an alternative to opiates. The drugs planted on the child have an estimated prison value of $30,000.”
A spokesperson for the prosecutors explained that Ohio's law for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity allows for "future criminality" to be aggregated with previous criminal conduct. As a result, Barrientos' past convictions for money laundering can be used in conjunction with her new crimes to further demonstrate the pattern of corrupt activities. If convicted on the latest charges, Barrientos could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, Law&Crime reported.
A family affair
The investigation also led to charges against Barrientos' mother, Misty Barrientos, who is alleged to have played a role in the drug operation while her daughter was in jail. Misty Barrientos is accused of being involved in drug deals in the presence of her daughter's children, among other crimes.
Prior to their incarceration, Victoria Barrientos and Deangelo Tellis were found by U.S. Marshals in Michigan after reportedly fleeing the state. They had been involved in a drug operation in Zanesville, where Barrientos purchased a house at 129 Corwin Ave. for just under $10,000. The investigation revealed that Barrientos and Tellis only made a combined total of $1,450, yet they managed to rent vehicles that were used for their drug operation. After a falling out with a Columbus gang, they moved their operation to Zanesville, where multiple properties were involved in the drug trade.
The culmination of the two-year-long investigation resulted in the seizure of nearly 32 pounds of drugs, 13 firearms, and $9,000 in Muskingum County. Zanesville Police Chief Tony Coury referred to the group as major suppliers, particularly to Zanesville and Muskingum County, and stated that their operation had a significant reach, covering much of southeastern Ohio and parts of West Virginia, per the Zanesville Times Recorder.
