Barber busted for selling drugs at work

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - A Springfield barber was busted for selling more than just haircuts.  Officials said the man was selling drugs at work.

Robert Veney Jr. was arrested at his Marathon Avenue home in Dayton and charged with htree counts of trafficking drugs. 

Clark County authorities said Veney would carry thousands of dollars worth of cocaine to his barber shop, in a duffel bag.  Veney managed the His and Hers Barber Complex on South Yellows Srings Street in Springfield.

Undercover drug officers said all the deals took place in between haircuts in the back room of the barber shop.

Employee Nikki Lawson was stunned to hear about the arrest of a co-worker. "I don't believe it's true, he's not that type of person," said Lawson.

Undercover agents said Veney sold them $2,000 worth of the white powder over the last six months. They bought $700 worth of cocaine three times.

"Our agent went right in, asked to make a purchase, and was taken into the back. We made multiple purchases from this individual," said Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly.

Kelly said, children were present in the shop when the drugs were sold. Sheriff's officials want to thank a vigilant community and citizen tips for helping them catch this accused drug dealer.

"We want to send a strong message across Clark County we are going to investigate complaints," said Kelly. "But it takes a long time."

Veney's arrest brings the number of Operation Fall Harvest drug arrests in Clark County to 36.