CALDWELL, Ohio (AVC News) — A 31-year-old Brooklyn, New York, man has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from a fraudulent cigarette-buying operation that targeted businesses in Noble County and other parts of Ohio.
Noble County Sheriff Jason Mackie said Dens Marcellus entered guilty pleas Oct. 20 in Noble County Common Pleas Court to third-degree felony aggravated theft, fifth-degree felony misuse of credit cards and fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
The investigation began May 14 after a Caldwell business reported that a man wearing a face covering had purchased nearly $3,000 worth of cigarettes through multiple credit card transactions. Investigators later determined the transactions were fraudulent.
The investigation identified Marcellus and a co-defendant, 28-year-old Brandon King, also of Brooklyn. Authorities determined the two had traveled through multiple Ohio counties targeting convenience stores and other businesses, using stolen credit card information to purchase large quantities of cigarettes for resale.
On May 15, Noble County detectives located a vehicle at a Cambridge hotel where Marcellus was staying under a false identity. With assistance from the Cambridge Police Department, detectives executed a search warrant on the hotel room and vehicle.
Authorities recovered approximately 171 packs and 55 cartons of cigarettes with an estimated retail value of more than $12,000. Marcellus and King were taken into custody.
Further investigation linked Marcellus to similar organized retail crimes in other states, including a Massachusetts case involving approximately $30,000 worth of cigarettes.
King is scheduled to appear in Noble County Common Pleas Court on Nov. 23 for sentencing.
Mackie credited cooperation between local businesses and law enforcement for helping investigators disrupt the operation and hold those involved accountable.
Last Updated on October 22, 2026 by AVC News
