Codey Starkey and Chiquita Rush sentenced one year after drug trafficking arrests

Yahoo

14-03-2025

ZANESVILLE ‒ The Zanesville Times Recorder's top news story of 2024 recently reached a conclusion when a man and woman were sent to prison for a combined 34 years after being found with more than 900 grams of illicit drugs.
Codey Edward Starkey, 40, and Chiquita Irene Rush, 38, both of Zanesville, were sentenced a year after their drug dealing operation was uncovered.
Starkey, given 20 to 25.5 years in prison, pleaded no contest to four felonies: trafficking cocaine, first degree, trafficking methamphetamine, first degree, having weapons after being previously banned from owning them, third degree, and attempting to destroy evidence, third degree.
Rush was sentenced to 14 years and pleaded no contest to two felonies: trafficking fentanyl, first degree, and possessing weapons while previously banned, third-degree.
No contest pleas meant Rush and Starkey acknowledged the evidence against them but not admitting guilt. They accepted the consequences as if guilty, according to the Ohio Revised Code. They did so to preserve their ability to appeal, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle told the Times Recorder.
"Rush admitted to helping Starkey sell cocaine and was present during drug deals. "Her sentence was shorter because she played a smaller role in the operation," stated an announcement from the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office.
In February 2024, the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Zanesville and Muskingum County Drug Unit launched an investigation after an undercover drug-purchasing operation.
"Police got a search warrant for their house and discovered large amounts of drugs and weapons," noted the prosecutor's announcement.
Investigators found and confiscated more than 500 grams of marijuana, 300 grams of methamphetamine, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, and more than 30 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, the prosecutor's office explained.
The narcotics' value totaled between $700,000 and $1 million, noted Times Recorder reports.
During the search, Starkey tried to flush the drugs down the toilet to hide the evidence. Officers found fentanyl in the toilet and sink.
At least three guns were seized, including an AK-47, AR-15, and 9mm handgun, along with ammunition. Other forfeitures included two vehicles, a Ford F-150 and Nissan Maxima, and around $3,700 in cash. The indictment also listed a third vehicle forfeiture, a Buick Verano.
"These assets were determined to have been purchased with drug money and will be used to support future drug investigations and community programs," the prosecutor's office added.
Starkey and Rush had been held in the Muskingum County Jail on $1 million bonds. Both had prior criminal records that banned them from owning a gun.
Starkey's drug-related history and connected prison sentences were cause for concern. Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill "agreed that a long sentence was needed to protect the public and punish Starkey for his continued criminal activity," the announcement said.
Starkey and Rush were indicted February 2024 on 16 felony counts and 14, respectively. They were listed as co-defendants for 11 of them. Initially, they had each been looking at 40-plus years if they had been convicted on all counts.
Other joint felony charges originally included illegal manufacturing, aggravated possession of drugs, and possession of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana.
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Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at [e-mail] or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Zanesville pair linked with drug dealing operation sentenced