New Riegel man pleads guilty to involvement in ‘extensive’ drug trafficking ring

TIFFIN, OH (TiffinOhio.net News) — A New Riegel man pleaded guilty to involvement in what police called an “extensive” drug trafficking ring in Seneca County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.

The Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit, along with additional Officers/Agents from the Sandusky County Drug Task Force, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, and Tiffin Police Department executed a drug related search warrant on a vehicle and residence located at 55 E. New Haven Street, Bloomville, back in January.

That was the residence of Adam L. Barto, 32, who on Thursday pleaded guilty to felony charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, aggravated trafficking in drugs, and two counts of aggravated possession of drugs and one count of possessing criminal tools.

According to court documents, $466 in cash, a tablet, a laptop, an iPhone, brass knuckles, and a cellphone are subject to forfeiture.

Police say the drug trafficking ring involved methamphetamine, Oxycodone and Buprenorphine.

​“This was an extensive methamphetamine ring stemming from Akron, Ohio into the Cities of Bellevue, Clyde, Fremont, Bloomville, Fostoria, Tiffin & throughout Seneca County. Multiple agencies & resources were utilized to apprehend Barto & some of his associates to disrupt this distribution ring and that was instrumental to its success. I’m looking forward to seeing additional arrests being made at the end of this investigation!,” Sheriff William Eckelberry, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office said.

Additionally, Barto pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated possession of drugs in a separate case.

Barto now awaits sentencing.