COLUMBUS, OH — A Columbus resident and his supplier from Arizona have admitted to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute significant quantities of fentanyl within Columbus. Both individuals entered guilty pleas to charges related to the illegal distribution of more than 400 grams of the potent drug.
Ontario M. Yarbrough, 26, from Columbus, managed operations from a drug house located in the city’s Hilltop area. According to court documents, between April and October 2023, Yarbrough handled multiple shipments of fentanyl, receiving five direct packages and tracking an additional 13 sent from Arizona. His supplier, Jose Ruben Leyva, 46, from Buckeye, Arizona, along with other co-conspirators, mailed these packages, with at least two confirmed to contain fentanyl.
The investigation intensified with a search warrant at Yarbrough’s residence, where authorities discovered almost 500 grams of fentanyl, alongside other illicit materials including firearms, ammunition, and cash. A subsequent raid on Leyva’s home in Arizona yielded additional fentanyl, along with various drug paraphernalia and financial evidence.
Leyva entered his guilty plea today, while Yarbrough had previously pleaded guilty on June 13. Both face a minimum of ten years to a maximum life sentence. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled by the court.
The case was announced by Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and involved coordination with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Ohio HIDTA. Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz is leading the prosecution.
