Former Local Football Players, One from Montco, Busted In Alleged Oxycodone Ring: Cops

WEST CHESTER, PA — Two former West Chester University football players, one of them a graduate of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, have been arrested as part of an oxycodone ring bust, according to criminal complaints.

Russhon R. Phillips, 22, of Conshohocken, and Dominic B. Toney, 20, of West Chester, were arrested in late July as authorities cracked down on their operation, criminal complaints show. West Chester University confirmed that the pair previously played on the football team, but are not on the roster for the 2016-2017 season.

A joint investigation began in May between the West Chester police narcotics unit and the Chester County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit.

Confidential informants told police that they would text or call a certain phone number, place an order for oxycodone, and then meet with either Toney, Phillips, or a third man, identified only as "Sean" or "Shizz," according to the complaints.

In addition, on at least one occasion, police said that Toney had given oxycodone to an individual in exchange for a firearm. The gun traded was a silver Sig Sauer .45 caliber.

Police coordinated several controlled buys with both Toney and Phillips, on June 14, June 20, June 29, July 7, July 19, and July 22, all in West Chester, according to the complaints.

On July 22, authorities said they executed a search warrant at Phillips' residence on the 400 block of South Walnut Street in West Chester. The Sig Sauer, a loaded sawed-off shotgun, and bags of marijuana and cocaine were found on the premises, police said. Phillips was arrested during the search.

Toney, meanwhile, was not home during the raid, but was arrested on July 25 at an apartment on the 200 block of E. Union Street in West Chester. Toney also had a handgun and shotgun in his residence, police said.

Toney attended West Catholic High School and Phillips went to Plymouth Whitemarsh, rosters for previous years showed.