ZANESVILLE, OH (WTRF) – Three people have pleaded guilty in connection with a major fentanyl trafficking investigation led by the FBI, CODE Task Force, and the Zanesville/Muskingum County Drug Unit.
Steven Smith, 26, of Zanesville, appeared in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas on October 8, 2025. He pleaded guilty in two separate cases.
In the first case, from March 2025, Smith admitted to:
- Possession of LSD with a firearm specification
- Aggravated possession of drugs
- Having weapons while under disability
In the second case, from June 2025, he pleaded guilty to:
- Trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound (first-degree felony)
- Possession of cocaine (fifth-degree felony)
Krisawn Taylor-Hayes, 23, of Columbus, also pleaded guilty on October 17, 2025, before Judge Cottrill. His charges stem from the June case and include:
- Trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound with a major drug offender specification (first-degree felony)
- Possession of cocaine (fifth-degree felony)
Taylor-Hayes was sentenced to 17 years in prison…