Drug dealer known as ‘Panda’ sentenced to more than 11 years in prison

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Patricia Flesch, 36, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 135 months in prison for conspiring to traffic bulk amounts of narcotics.

According to court documents, Flesch, who is also known as "Panda," was a well-known mid-level drug dealer in central Ohio. Between September 2020 and June 2023, she distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to local users and other dealers in the Columbus area.

As part of her narcotics conspiracy, Flesch used houses and motels throughout the region to store drugs and facilitate drug transactions. She ran several drug premises and, at one time, was coordinating the delivery of 10 to 15 pounds of methamphetamine weekly from a source in Texas, according to her Facebook account.

Some of the drug premises included Flesch's apartment on Hilton Avenue and other residences on Franshire Drive, East 14^th Avenue and Helen Street. Law enforcement observed Flesch travel to different motels in Columbus and back to Helen Street nearly 440 times between March 16 and April 6, 2023.

Flesch was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit; announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, and the Columbus and Pickerington police departments also coordinated throughout the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

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