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4 plead guilty in Hudson-based drug-ring case

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2009

TAMPA - Four people pleaded guilty this morning to a conspiracy charge, admitting their role in a multi-state drug ring that obtained oxycodone through doctor shopping.

The four joined eight others who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess oxycodone with intent to distribute.

The 12 defendants were among 19 arrested in February, including Arde Harry Olsen, who was dubbed the "King of Hudson" and described by authorities as the leader of the Pasco County-based ring.

The group is accused of operating an oxycodone trafficking ring through an auto-repair business in Hudson that Olsen ran. Olsen is accused of paying "doctor shoppers" to visit physicians and obtain prescriptions of oxycodone -- an addictive pain reliever -- that was then distributed to dealers across Florida and beyond.

Olsen paid for the doctor visits and paid to fill the prescriptions at area pharmacies, according to court documents. In some cases, he is accused of providing false documents, like MRI reports, to use at the doctors' offices to obtain the prescriptions.

Olsen is also accused of paying defendants to take large quantities of the drug to Tennessee, Kentucky and elsewhere weekly or biweekly.

Pleading guilty today were Joshua McTavish Brown, Dannie James Mariedth, Earle Monroe Silcox and Sarah Lynn Maynard.

Previously pleading guilty were Jereme Lee Gould, William Joseph Califano, Amber Marie Morreale, Dennis Ashley Miller, Billy Ray Hardin, Anthony Keith Christian, Anthony Robert Upton and Donna Jean Bynum.

Another defendant, Soni Jo Cheesbrough, has signed a document agreeing to plead guilty, but has not yet formally entered a guilty plea.

The remaining defendants who have not pleaded guilty are Arde Olsen and his wife, Shannon Olsen, and son, Jason Michael Olsen, as well as Debra A. Collins, Jessie Krumm and Jerald John Gilio Jr.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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