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A federal grand jury here today indicted three central Ohioans charging them with conspiracy to grow marijuana. Officers participating in a federal, state and local law enforcement task force arrested them yesterday and seized more than 250 plants and indoor growing equipment.

Charged in the indictment are

Jared J. Blinsky, 34, Johnstown

Michael A. Marinelli, 35, Columbus

Jacob Redman, 26, New Albany

Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Anthony Marotta, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray whose office oversees the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Sheriff Jim Karnes, Delaware County Sheriff Walter L. Davis, III, and Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp announced the indictment returned today.

The indictment is the result of a 21-month investigation by a task force consisting of agents from DEA, BCI, and the Franklin, Delaware and Licking County sheriffs’ offices into indoor marijuana cultivation and distribution in central Ohio. Task force agents arrested the three men on June 29 after executing search warrants in connection with the investigation.

Agents searching Blinsky’s house seized numerous documents, approximately 152 marijuana “starter” plants, indoor grow equipment, four handguns and two rifles. Approximately 63 marijuana plants, indoor grow equipment, cash, and eight small jars containing cultivated marijuana for distribution were seized at Marinelli’s residence. Agents seized approximately 60 marijuana plants, indoor grow equipment, a handgun and a bundle of U.S. currency contained in a shoebox at Redman’s New Albany residence.


Detention hearings for the men are scheduled for July 2 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.

Conspiracy to grow more than 100 marijuana plants is punishable by at least five and up to 40 years imprisonment.

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants should be presumed innocent until and unless convicted in a court of law.

Lockhart commended the cooperative investigation by the DEA and BCI agents and Franklin, Delaware and Licking County deputies, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Prichard, who is prosecuting the case.