This is an Ohio county.

By Christopher Magan

Staff Writer

Friday, February 06, 2009

XENIA — Two men police said were hired to guard and deal a large amount of drugs for a local couple who work at a popular bar pleaded guilty Friday, Feb. 6, to their role in the cocaine ring.

Ismael Gonzalez, of California, and Carlos A. Tartida-Villalba, of Mexico, were each sentenced by Judge Stephen A, Wolaver to eight years in prison for drug trafficking and possession of criminal tools.

The men were arrested last May after police raided an East Main Street home and uncovered 55 kilograms, or 121 pounds of cocaine. Police called it the largest drug bust in county history.

The home was owned by Sheldon Smith and his girlfriend Kelly Brown who work at and manage LA's Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Xenia.

Police say Smith, with Brown's assistance, imported and distributed cocaine from a Mexican drug cartel. They paid Gonzalez and Tartida-Villalba, who are allegedly cartel members, to guard their drugs at a stash house at 1594 E. Main St.

Smith faces 13 felonies and Brown four felonies including racketeering, drug trafficking, conspiracy, money laundering and drug possession. Both are in the Greene County Jail, Smith has a bond of $2.5 million and Brown $200,000.

Gonzalez and Tartida-Villalba had entered guilty pleas last year, which were withdrawn because of what First Assistant County Prosecutor Suzanne Schmidt called a "technical issue" with mandatory sentences. Schmidt would not say whether the men would testify against Smith and Brown when they go to trial later this year.


Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.


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