A Columbus man faces two first-degree felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized approximately 72 grams of suspected cocaine during a traffic stop in West Portsmouth, Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman and Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer announced in a news release dated October 22.

Source: Scioto County Sheriff's Office

The stop happened at approximately 4:27 p.m. on October 21 near mile marker 24 on State Route 73, after troopers stopped a vehicle for traffic violations as part of an ongoing Southern Ohio Drug Task Force investigation conducted in coordination with the Highway Patrol, the Scioto Valley Guardian reported, citing the sheriff's office.

Source: Scioto Valley Guardian

Jimmy Lee Jones, 38, of Columbus, was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in drugs and one count of possession of drugs, both first-degree felonies, according to the sheriff's office. The seized cocaine has an estimated street value of $7,200 — yaani about 72 grams of suspected cocaine valued at roughly $100 a gram on the street, by the sheriff's estimate.

Jones was booked into the Scioto County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, in Portsmouth Municipal Court. The case will be forwarded to the Scioto County Prosecutor's Office for presentation to a grand jury, which may consider additional charges, the sheriff's office said.

Sheriff Thoroughman and Chief Brewer asked anyone with information about drug activity to contact the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force tip line, saying information will be kept confidential and anonymous. Jones is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.