Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Zanesville Couple Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Weapons Charges
Codey Starkey, 39, and Chiquita Rush, 37, of 739 Homewood Avenue in Zanesville, were sentenced today for running a large drug operation. Starkey will spend 20 to 25.5 years in prison, while Rush was sentenced to 14 years. The case was led by the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force (CODE Task Force) and the Zanesville/Muskingum County Drug Unit.
Starkey was found guilty of trafficking cocaine with a major drug offender label, trafficking methamphetamine (a first-degree felony), having weapons while being banned from owning them, and trying to destroy evidence. Rush was convicted of trafficking fentanyl (a first-degree felony) and having weapons while being banned from owning them (a third-degree felony).
The investigation began in February 2024 with undercover drug buys. Police got a search warrant for their house and discovered large amounts of drugs and weapons. Officers found over 100 grams of fentanyl in the toilet and sink, over 300 grams of methamphetamine, more than 500 grams of marijuana, and over 30 grams of psychedelic mushrooms. They also seized several guns, including an AK-47, an MR920 9mm pistol, and an AR-15. Both Starkey and Rush had criminal records that banned them from having guns. During the search, Starkey tried to flush the drugs down the toilet to hide the evidence.
The State argued that Starkey’s long history of drug dealing made him a danger to the community. He had already served three prison terms for drug-related crimes. The judge agreed that a long sentence was needed to protect the public and punish Starkey for his continued criminal activity. 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.
Assistant Prosecutor John Litle said that drug dealers harm the community in two major ways. First, the drugs themselves hurt people and drive addicts away from normal productive society. Second, drug dealers deliberately create a culture of crime-tolerance, encouraging those who live with and around them to reject normal, decent society. That culture of failure ends up destroying as many lives as the drugs themselves.
Litle also noted that Starkey stands as one of the last in his generation of local drug dealers in Muskingum County, and that most of his drug-dealing peers have already stood in front of a judge to receive sentences of greater than a decade.
The State also seized a 2016 Nissan Maxima, a 2013 Ford F-150, and over $3,700 in cash from Starkey and Rush. These assets were determined to have been purchased with drug money and will be used to support future drug investigations and community programs.
“This case shows our commitment to stopping drug networks that hurt our community,” said Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch. “Starkey and Rush sold dangerous drugs, illegally owned weapons, and tried to avoid punishment. Criminals need to understand that committing crimes in Muskingum County has consequences.”
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