Former crime lab director’s son appears on corruption, drug and money laundering charges

UPDATE @ 10:40 a.m.:

Thomas Betz and Michael Dorley pleaded not guilty to charges in court this morning.

Both men had their bonds set at $100,000.

UPDATE @ 2:02 p.m. 

Thomas Betz is now in custody in Montgomery County Jail. Michael Dorley remains at large.

EARLIER REPORT

Two men have been indicted in Montgomery County on multiple charges including drug charges and money laundering.

Thomas Betz, son of Ken Betz, former director of the Miami Valley Crime Laboratory, was indicted Friday for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, illegal cultivation of marijuana, trafficking marijuana, possession of criminal tools, possession of marijuana and money laundering.

Michael Dorley was indicted for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, illegal cultivation of marijuana, trafficking marijuana and possession of marijuana.

Arrest warrants were issued Friday for both men. The special prosecutor said there was no agreement in place where Betz and Dorley would turn themselves into police.

Both men were the center of several raids in Montgomery and Warren counties earlier this year.

Warrants were served at four homes in the region in May 2017.

  • 300 block of Kling Drive in Dayton
  • 5700 block of Woodville Drive in Harrison Twp.
  • 1918 Valley Street in Dayton at TB Livery, Inc.
  • 0-100 block West Waterbury Drive in Springboro

Special prosecutor Jon Marshall said the indictment covers the locations served in search warrants in May, including at Betz’s home address in Springboro.

“The Tactical Crime Suppression Unit, which is a multi-jurisdictional joint task force of police agencies working on organized crime and drug interdiction, they've worked very hard,” Marshall said. “They've done a very diligent, thorough investigation. That investigation is not complete. It is ongoing. However, these indictments against these individuals reflect that investigation.”

Melanie Betz, Thomas’ wife, had her picture released by the task force in May in conjunction with the raids but she was not included in this indictment.

Thomas Betz incorporated Springboro-based TB Livery, LLC, 42 W. Waterbury Lane, Springboro, in 2005 and was listed as its director, according to Ohio Secretary of State records.

In 2008 and 2009 TB Livery had a contract with Community Tissue Services in Dayton to transport donor bodies to the Community Blood Center for the center to recover tissue, according to an earlier interview with the blood center spokeswoman, Amy Moeder.

At the time, Betz’s company was paid $130 per body, and Moeder said there had been no problems with the company.

In January TB Livery filed a trade name registration for Dry Maxx, listed as a water extraction business, according to records with the Ohio Secretary of State.

In 2014 Melanie Betz signed a trade name registration for the company to also use the name All-Terrain Flooring Solutions, a carpet-cleaning business, the records show.

Thomas Betz has also previously filed for bankruptcy.

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