BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Two Greater Cincinnati brothers were indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on drug charges in connection with the operation of a drug trafficking ring out of a neighborhood cellular phone and beeper business.
The grand jury indictment charges Christopher Alsop, 30, of North Fairmount, with conspiracy and three counts of distribution of crack cocaine. Robert Alsop, 32, of Covington, is charged with conspiracy and one count of distribution of crack cocaine.
Sharon J. Zealey, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the indictments in conjunction with Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr.
"Christopher Alsop would use his beeper business, Street Life Pagers, to supply cellular telephones and pagers to members of the conspiracy," Ms. Zealey said. "The brothers would use a park in the Evanston neighborhood of Cincinnati as a meeting place to distribute crack cocaine."
The grand jury also charges that Christopher Alsop supplied cocaine and crack cocaine to buyers on credit so that payment could be made later with money obtained from the sales of the drugs.
"The investigation, which began in September, found evidence indicating that the conspiracy dates back as far as 1989," Ms. Zealey said.
Christopher Alsop is in custody, and a warrant has been issued for Robert Alsop's arrest. Each count against the Alsop brothers carries a possible penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment and a fine up to $4 million.
