HAMILTON — The Butler County Sheriff’s Office showed off several classic cars Tuesday, June 30, that residents can buy, courtesy of area men convicted on drug charges.
This included four cars seized from Mark Henson, a convicted Hamilton-area drug dealer: a candy apple red 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS; a canary yellow 1969 Chevrolet Camaro; a 1970 Chevette SS, black with white racing stripes; and a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado truck.
“Drug dealers do real well until they get caught,” said Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones just before he hopped into the red Chevelle and let the engine roar.
Henson, 48, entered a guilty plea to two counts of trafficking in marijuana, possession of drugs and having weapons under disability in February and was sentenced to six years in prison. As part of the plea bargain, Henson agreed to forfeit the cars, weapons, land, home and cash he gained with proceeds from dealing drugs.
A routine traffic stop in November when Henson made an illegal turn at Tylersville Road and Grand Boulevard led to a search of his car and residence, netting more than 100 pounds of marijuana and the seizure of guns, cash and classic cars.
The deputy noticed an odor of what turned out to be a pound of marijuana. Also seized during the stop was $4,500.
Convicted former University of Cincinnati and NBA basketball star Corie Blount gave up a 2004 Cadillac Escalade when convicted on drug charges in May and sentenced to a year in prison.
These cars are all on auction through July 19 on the Web site www.govdeals.com . The proceeds will go toward the newly formed Butler County Undercover Regional Narcotics Task Force.
“We appreciate any help the drug dealers can give us,” Jones said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.
