ZANESVILLE – The case ended with a Dresden man receiving a maximum 29-year prison sentence and forfeiting a war chest of treasures, including more than $7,000 in cash, around 13 guns, gold and silver bars and antique quarters.
Rylan Burrie, 40, appeared in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas on Feb. 9, where he was sentenced on four, newly merged first- or third-degree felonies, including trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, psilocin mushrooms and hydrocodone pills.
He was initially found guilty Dec. 17 of eight felonies and 18 specifications for forfeitures, possessing firearms and egregious quantities of narcotics. They included:
In April 2025, Burrie and a female co-defendant were subjects of a search warrant executed by Licking County’s Central Ohio Drug Enforcement (CODE) task force, which led them to a house on West Dave Longaberger Drive, the Times Recorder previously reported.
Burrie ran as authorities searched his residence, but he was taken into custody shortly after. He was interviewed by a Licking County detective and confessed to selling the narcotics and explained detailed locations and prices.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle, who believed the 29-year maximum was appropriate, noted Burrie for his repeated, recidivistic behavior, which dated as far back as 2004 and included felony fleeing, assault, vehicular assault, obstructing justice, disorderly conduct, and numerous protection order or probation violations.
Burrie was represented by attorney Lisa Tome, who asked for 12 years, the mandatory minimum. She believed 12 years was enough to satisfy the court and said Burrie is expected to file an appeal.
Burrie briefly spoke in court, giving glory to God, asking for forgiveness and apologizing for anything that he had done.
Judge Gerald Anderson II spoke briefly too, saying Burrie had been “pumping poison into the community” as the supplier of the numerous drugs, which were previously found in dressers, a safe, and scattered among his residence.
The search uncovered 850 grams of methamphetamine, 60 grams of cocaine, 90 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and 158 hydrocodone pills. It was connected to another case and a couple other arrests in Frazeysburg reported in May 2025.
Burrie was given credit for the 292 days he was incarcerated. He had been held in the Muskingum County Jail on a $500,000 bond since his booking April 24.
Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Dresden man sentenced to 29 years in major drug trafficking case
Reporting by Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
