Northern District of Ohio

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a 20-count indictment charging John Lee Watkins, age 31, of Stow; Valerie Marie Masongsong, age 29, of Henderson, Nevada and Terrell Tomlin, age 32, of Ogden, Utah with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, the defendants are accused of using Walmart2Walmart, a money transfer service, to defraud banks and enrich themselves. Walmart2Walmart allows a customer to initiate a money transfer at one Walmart store to be picked up by someone else at another Walmart store anywhere in the United States.

As part of their conspiracy, the defendants are alleged to have used either their real name of a false identity to initiate a Walmart2Walmart transfer using a bank card to another co-defendant, co-conspirator, or fictitious person. The person initiating the transfer would then contact his or her bank stating that the transfer was fraudulent and seek a refund for the transfer. The defendant or co-conspirators would then collect the transfer at the second Walmart location and withdraw the money from their bank account before the bank could complete an investigation into the fraudulent activity and reverse the charges, states the indictment.

The defendants executed their scheme using Walmart locations in Youngstown, Poland, Austintown, Stow, Streetsboro, Kent, Canton and elsewhere outside of the Northern District of Ohio. A total loss of more than $400,000 was incurred as a result of the alleged scheme.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn G. Andrachik.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a 10-count indictment charging Michael J. Zacharias, age 53, with sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of an adult and minor by force, fraud, or coercion. The defendant was arrested on August 18, 2020, and has remained in federal custody since that time.

“This defendant is accused of using his status and position as a religious and community leader to seek out troubled minors and exploit their personal challenges for his own satisfaction,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “This indictment is a step towards finding justice for the victims, families and community harmed by the defendant and his alleged acts.”

“Michael Zacharias used his respected position to prey on and take advantage of youth and adults for his own sexual gratification,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge. “We must hold accountable to the fullest extent of the law those who violate their sacred trust to molest and harm our children.  The FBI encourages anyone that may have been groomed or victimized by Michael Zacharias, and have not spoken to law enforcement yet, to contact the FBI at 1-877-FBI-OHIO (1-877-324-6446).”

According to court documents, from approximately 1999 to July of 2020, the defendant is accused of engaging in the activity of sex trafficking of a minor victim and using force, fraud, or coercion to sexually traffic other minors and adults. During this time, the defendant was enrolled as a seminarian and employed as a priest at various religious institutions in the Northern District of Ohio and elsewhere. The defendant is accused of allegedly using his position of trust to seek out underage, minor victims and guide them into performing sexual acts.  In addition, the defendant is accused of using the drug addiction of his victims to coerce them into performing commercial sex acts.

In one instance, the defendant allegedly used his position to meet a minor victim at a local school while the defendant was enrolled in the seminary. The defendant allegedly groomed the minor victim, a process in which the sexual abuser befriends and establishes an emotional connection with a child, and sometimes also family members, to lower the child’s inhibitions with the objective of sexual abuse by providing him with attention, affection, money, gifts and inappropriate sexual comments. After establishing a connection, the defendant is accused of performing sex acts with the victim and creating a process in which the defendant would give the victim money to be used in order to further their drug addiction in exchange for the sexual acts. This behavior allegedly continued throughout the victims’ life into adulthood.

In another instance, the defendant is accused of grooming the underage sibling of one of his victims into similar behavior – using a drug addiction and money to maintain their relationship.

The FBI is encouraging anyone that has had contact with Michael Zacharias where they may have been groomed for possible future sexual purposes, they were inappropriately touched, or they were sexually assaulted by Michael Zacharias to contact the FBI at (216) 622-6842. All information will be strictly confidential.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.     

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey Ballard Tangeman and Deyana Unis.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that the Department of Justice has made up to $500,000 available in grant funding to support the operations of a Real Time Crime Center in the city of Cleveland. The Real Time Crime Center provides police with rapid intelligence and instant information to help identify emerging crime patterns.

“Keeping its citizens safe is the primary responsibility of government,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Cities plagued by violent crime need the resources to tackle it, and these grant awards will help do that. On the enforcement side, Real Time Crime Centers will make policing more efficient and targeted; and on the prosecution side, Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys will help bring more federal firearms cases to justice.”

“Under Operation Legend in Cleveland, our collaborative law enforcement partnership has already removed over 100 violent criminals, drug traffickers and other career criminals off the streets of this great American city,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “The availability of funding for Cleveland’s Real Time Crime Center will undoubtedly strengthen this effort and enable all of our law enforcement partners to use the latest available technologies to help keep our neighborhoods safe.”

Mayor Frank G. Jackson, Director of Public Safety Karrie D. Howard and Police Chief Calvin D. Williams said:

“The City of Cleveland, Division of Police Real Time Crime Center has been an asset since its implementation. The Real Time Crime Center assisted us in responding to shootings, robberies, homicides and other violent crimes in real time. The additional funding will allow the Division to expand technological capabilities and add resources to this valuable team.  We are thankful for the continued support of the United States Attorney’s Office."

The funding made available to each Operation Legend city can assist police departments in purchasing critical equipment and paying overtime to help keep these centers staffed around the clock. This funding is provided by the Office of Justice Programs and must be applied for through the traditional process. 

In addition, Attorney General Barr announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs is making up to $5.3 million available in grants to support Operation Legend sites nationwide. More than $1.3 million will fund special prosecutors who have been cross-designated to try federal firearms cases originating in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Kansas City, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri.

“We are pleased to support the outstanding work being undertaken through Operation Legend to reduce violent crime by focusing on cases involving illegal firearms,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to make these resources available to support the brave crime-fighters who work so hard to deter violence and keep our communities safe.”

The Department of Justice launched Operation Legend in July, following the murder of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept in his Kansas City home. The initiative was subsequently expanded from Kansas City to Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Memphis, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Indianapolis.

Since the summer launch, officials in Operation Legend sites have made more than 5,500 arrests, including approximately 276 for homicide, and seized more than 2,000 firearms. Of the more than 5,500 individuals arrested, approximately 1,124 have been charged with federal offenses. More than 600 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses.

More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a two-count indictment charging Marlin Black, age 28, of Youngstown with illegal possession of a machine gun and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm.

According to court records, on July 31, 2020, Youngstown Police were called to a domestic violence dispute involving gunshots. The victim of the dispute claimed that the defendant had allegedly fired a gun towards her. Officers later arrested the defendant and recovered four firearms, ammunition and narcotics. The defendant then allegedly placed a phone call from jail and mentioned additional firearms located at his residence. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and officers located a Glock model 17, with a machine gun conversion device attached. The firearm was not registered to the defendant in the National Forearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law. 

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Youngstown Police Department and ATF. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.

During a visit with law enforcement in Memphis today, Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced updates on Operation Legend, which was expanded to Memphis on Aug. 6, 2020.

Since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, nearly 5,500 arrests – including approximately 276 for homicide, 66 of which occurred in Memphis – have been made; more than 2,000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 28 kilos of heroin, nearly 16 kilos of fentanyl, more than 200 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 30 kilos of cocaine, and more than $7.3 million in drug proceeds have been seized.

Of the more than 5,500 individuals arrested, approximately 1,124 have been charged with federal offenses. Approximately 602 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while approximately 441 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.

In Cleveland, 101 defendants have been charged with federal crimes, including 59 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses, 38 charged with firearms-related offenses and 4 with other violent crimes. U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman released the following statement:

“Thanks to the hard work of all those involved in our collaborative law enforcement partnership, we have now charged over 100 defendants in Cleveland under Operation Legend,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Among those charged are career criminals, heroin and fentanyl traffickers, felons with rifles and other high-powered weapons, carjackers, bank robbers and many more. We will continue to pursue these violent criminals and drug traffickers until everyone in Cleveland can live safely and peacefully."

The Attorney General launched Operation Legend on July 8, 2020, as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City.

Launched in Kansas City, MO. on July 8, 2020, the operation expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020. A breakdown of the federal charges in each district can be found here.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Toledo has returned a five-count indictment charging Jesus Alejandro Degollado, 29, of Fostoria with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and as a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, On August 13, 2020, Toledo police observed the defendant driving a vehicle with multiple felony arrest warrants issued in Lucas County. Police stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Degollado. The defendant was then arrested due to the outstanding warrants.  The indictment alleges that during a search of the vehicle, officers located approximately 96 grams of fentanyl, 128 grams of heroin, a loaded semi-automatic handgun with 14 rounds of ammunition and drug trafficking supplies.

Degollado is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of trafficking heroin on January 15, 2015, in the Seneca County Common Pleas Court. Due to the defendant’s prior felony drug trafficking conviction, an enhanced penalty has been charged in the indictment.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.     

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Deyana Unis and Alissa M. Sterling.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Clayton Hall, 40, and Gregory D. Franklin, II, 43, both of Cleveland, were sentenced by Judge Donald C. Nugent to 30 years imprisonment each. A jury previously found both defendants guilty of drug trafficking and found Franklin guilty of firearms crimes.

“This sentence reflects the lengthy criminal history and incarceration records of both defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. "These men have had little time as an adult in which they were free and not pending new charges or in prison. Thanks to the hard work of federal law enforcement and the men and women of the Cleveland Division of Police Vice Units, these two career criminals will be behind bars for a long time.”

According to court documents, Hall and Franklin conspired together between February and April of 2019 to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues and cocaine. On February 4, 2019, Hall was arrested in possession of 24.36 grams of cocaine and a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. On March 28, 2019, Cleveland Police searched the residence where Hall had been trafficking narcotics and found more than 50 grams of various mixtures containing heroin and fentanyl as well as 12.25 grams crack cocaine. 

While Hall was detained pending county charges for those incidents and incidents in October and November of 2018, he used the jail phone system to call Franklin and coordinate further trafficking. Cleveland Police detectives found Franklin on April 30, 2019, and he was arrested with approximately 319.32 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl analogues, as well as 527.59 grams of cocaine hidden under the center console of the vehicle he was driving.

Despite multiple prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition, Franklin possessed a 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, also concealed under the console. Those prior convictions include two first-degree drug trafficking with firearm specifications and a conviction for felonious assault of a peace officer. 

The sentence comes after courtroom proceedings emphasized both Hall and Franklin’s “career offender” criminal histories. Hall’s criminal history includes 22 adult criminal convictions. During previous jail sentences, Hall committed approximately 86 rule violations, including possessing and using drugs in prison and assaulting an officer. 

Franklin’s criminal history includes 15 adult criminal convictions. One of those convictions was for a 2012 incident with facts similar to the circumstances of his April 2019 arrest—heroin and a firearm found concealed under the center console of the vehicle he was driving.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of Police Second District Vice Unit and the Drug Enforcement Agency.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Morrison and Bryson N. Gillard.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Ava R. Dustin and Megan R. Miller have been appointed as District Election Officers (DEO) to lead the District’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election.

AUSA Ava R. Dustin will serve as the District Election Officer for the Western Division of the Northern District of Ohio, and AUSA Megan R. Miller will serve as the District Election Officer for the Eastern Division. AUSAs Dustin and Miller are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington D.C.

“The right to vote without interference or discrimination is part of the foundation of our democracy, and The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect that right and the integrity of the election process,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Ensuring free and fair elections depends, in large part, on the cooperation of the American electorate.  It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the public may reach the District Election Officers at the following telephone numbers:

• Assistant United States Attorney Ava R. Dustin, 419-241-0767
• Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller, 216-622-3855

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 216-522-1400.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through Election Day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that the public can vote free from acts of intimidation or harassment.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded more than 3.3 million in grant funding for fund programs that address violence against children and support youth mentoring in the Northern District of Ohio.

The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of more than $300 million made available to bolster school security, support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident, conduct research on school safety, support mentoring services for youth and protect children from abuse, exploitation and threats, such as sex trafficking.

“As the school year gets under full swing, it is important that funding is made available for law enforcement agencies and organizations that play a critical role in ensuring the safety of students on and off campus,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “By removing barriers to education, such as violence, we can help our students achieve their full potential.”

“Only by removing the threat of violence from our schools can we expect our kids to reap the full benefits of their education, and only after making our places of learning safe can we ask our teachers to instruct and inspire as they are trained to do,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Department of Justice is committed to securing our schools from danger and giving our kids the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.”

STOP School Violence Program

1. Digitalc, Cleveland, Ohio - $750,000
2. Bowling Green State University - $749,993

These organizations received funding under the Bureau of Justice Assistance STOP School Violence Program. This initiative seeks to improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to and help prevent acts of violence. In addition to STOP School Violence Act funding, OJP’s National Institute of Justice is investing in research on school violence.

Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative

1. Northern Ohio Recovery Association, Cleveland, Ohio  -- $600,000

This initiative seeks to support the implementation and delivery of mentoring services to youth populations that are at risk for juvenile delinquency, victimization and juvenile justice system involvement.

Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC).

1. Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces -- $612,392

The ICAC Task Force Program consists of 61 task forces, each led by a single law enforcement agency. Every state has at least one task force, with the more populated states having multiple task forces. Each lead agency receives an annual award from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and then serves as the primary entity responsible for improving the effectiveness and sustainability of their state or regional task force. These task forces conduct forensic examinations and investigate and prosecute technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation throughout the country.  
 
Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking

1. Advocating Opportunity, Inc. Toledo, Ohio – $664,932

 The Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking program awarded funding to organizations to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for victims of labor trafficking whose victimization occurred when they were under the age of 18.

Additional information about Fiscal Year 2020 grant awards made by the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Awards Data webpage.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded more than $2.1 million in grant funding to support crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research, and help law enforcement identify missing persons.

Grant funding was also made available to support the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), which helps law enforcement agencies and crime labs process sexual assault evidence and increase the number of sexual assault kits submitted to crime labs.

“Funding crucial sciences and programs such as the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative will have a significant positive impact on the number of active criminal and cold cases that law enforcement agencies can process and solve,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Not only do these research sciences and kits go a long way to support law enforcement, but they also bring much-needed hope to victims and their families that they will one day see justice.”

“Far too many people endure the physical and emotional trauma of a sexual assault only to have evidence of the crime remain unanalyzed,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. “These grants will help investigators get these kits to labs, where they can be tested, used to solve crimes and ultimately bring justice to victims.”

Since 2004, the DOJ Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement and forensic science research that provides knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science. The following organizations have received funding under this program:

• Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office – $492,041
• Lake County – $256,361
• City of Mansfield – $250,000

In addition, the OJP BJA has made grant funding available to strengthen an individual jurisdictions’ capacity to act on evidence resulting from rape kits and to support the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence ‒ Inventory, Tracking and Reporting (SAFE-ITR) program. These awards will assist law enforcement and prosecutorial activities related to the testing and use of evidence obtained in a sexual assault investigation. The following organizations have received funding under this program:

• Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office – $1,000,000
• City of Akron – $150,000

More information about the programs and awards announced today is available here: OJP Awards Data webpage.

The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

At a roundtable event with law enforcement in Albuquerque today, Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced updates on Operation Legend.

Since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, more than 5,000 arrests – including approximately 263 for homicide – have been made; more than 2,000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 22 kilos of heroin, more than 15 kilos of fentanyl (enough to deliver more than 7.5 million fatal doses), more than 130 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 28 kilos of cocaine, and more than $7.3 million in drug proceeds have been seized.

Of the more than 5,000 individuals arrested, approximately 1,057 have been charged with federal offenses. Approximately 568 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while approximately 411 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.

In Cleveland, 94 defendants have been charged with federal crimes, including 54 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses, 36 charged with firearms-related offenses and 4 with other violent crimes. U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman released the following statement:

“Operation Legend continues to send a strong message that law enforcement in Cleveland and around the country will not stand around while our neighbors live in fear of senseless violence. As long as drugs, violence, and illegal firearms continue to harm our communities, we will use our collaborative law enforcement partnerships and any resources available under Operation Legend to fight back.”

The Attorney General launched Operation Legend on July 8, 2020, as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. 

Launched in Kansas City, MO. on July 8, 2020, the operation expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020. A breakdown of the federal charges in each district can be found here.

Today, the Department of Justice announced that it has charged more than 14,200 defendants with federal firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on the criminal justice process. Federal firearms cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy.

“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr.  “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens.  Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences.  The Justice Department is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms.  Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”

In the Northern District of Ohio, 328 defendants have been charged by federal prosecutors in FY 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman.

“Each and every illegal firearm we can remove from the hands of a criminal helps to reduce violent crime and makes our communities throughout Northern Ohio safer,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement and our federal partners, and initiatives such as Operation Legend, we are able to hold accountable those who illegally possess or purchase a firearm.”

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including, being a felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. 

It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase - firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense. 

“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo.  “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions.  ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”

The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence. Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority and the Department will use all appropriate, available means to keep law-abiding people safe from gun crime. 

Notable federal firearms prosecutions from the past fiscal year include:

Sydney Mullens, age 37, of Conneaut. Mullens pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm in July of 2020 and was sentenced before Judge James S. Gwin to 100 months imprisonment. During a search of the vehicle that Mullens was operating, police officers found in her possession a semiautomatic shotgun and three lever-action rifles. Mullens was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction of burglary in 2008. Mullens had also previously been convicted of burglary and assault of a Peace Officer.

Jaquar Keyshoure Latimer, age 43, of Akron. Latimer was found guilty during a jury trial of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms as a convicted felon on August 23, 2020 and was sentenced before Judge Sara Lioi to 199 months imprisonment. Latimer, while on supervised release from federal prison after serving a sentence for a conviction of felon in possession of a firearm, was found in possession of several firearms and drugs. Latimer was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of being a felon in possession of a firearm, sexual battery, aggravated assault, and drug possession.

Tyrone Hoskins, age 30, of Toledo. Hoskins pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm in November of 2019 and was sentenced before Judge James G. Carr to 63 months imprisonment. Hoskins, a leader of a street gang in Toledo, was found in possession of a .50 caliber rifle and silencer. Hoskins was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction of reckless homicide.

In Cleveland, in response to the rise in violent crime involving drug and firearms offenses, Operation Legend was announced on July 29, 2020.

Elsewhere, Operation Red-Zone was launched in various cities in the Northern District over the Labor Day holiday weekend to help prevent and prosecute violent crime involving firearms.  

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.     

The Department of Justice announced today that it has charged more than 500 domestic violence cases involving a firearm during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. A Department priority since 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr created the Department of Justice’s first ever-Domestic Violence Working Group, these charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made domestic violence firearms-related investigations a priority.

“Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminal offenders is one of the Department of Justice’s top priorities,” said Attorney General Barr. “This is especially important when it comes to individuals with prior domestic violence convictions. The statistics are clear that when domestic violence offenders have access to guns, their partners and their families are at much greater risk of falling victim to gun violence. In fact, in some communities across America, roughly half of the homicides are related to domestic violence. The Department of Justice is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them, and we will continue investigating and prosecuting all domestic violence firearms-related crimes.”

In the Northern District of Ohio, the number of domestic violence cases involving a firearm brought by federal prosecutors has increased substantially in the past few years, announced U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman.

“In the two years since we announced a new focus on domestic violence enforcement in October of 2018, the Northern District of Ohio has charged 34 individuals with violating 18 USC 922(g)(8) and (9).  That number represents a more than 300-percent increase in the number of cases brought against domestic violence offenders than in the previous three years. Domestic violence offenders are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms for good reason. We remain ready to prosecute when these offenders run afoul of the law.”

Under federal law, individuals with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions, as well as individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders, are prohibited from possessing firearms. The data shows that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a high risk of homicide. In fact, domestic violence abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners.

“According to the CDC, data suggests that about one in six homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner,” said ATF Acting Director Lombardo. “Nearly half of female homicide victims in the U.S. are killed by a current or former male intimate partner. ATF is committed to aggressively pursuing prohibited possession of firearms due to domestic violence convictions and certain protective orders. It is another way we prevent violent gun crime within our communities.”

The Domestic Violence Working Group, chaired by U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox, of the Northern District of Texas, disseminates legal guidance on keeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence abusers using three federal statutes:

• 18 USC § 922 (g)(1), felon in possession of a firearm
• 18 USC § 922 (g)(9), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (misdemeanor crime of domestic violence)  
• 18 USC § 922 (g)(8), possession of a firearm while subject to a domestic violence protective order

Based on the Working Group’s guidance, in FY 2020, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide brought 337 domestic violence felon-in-possession charges, 54 possession while subject to a protective order charges, and 142 possession by a prohibited person charges.

For more information on domestic violence or to get help, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Tamiko Parker, 47, of Cleveland was sentenced by Judge Dan Aaron Polster to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay $164,120.30 in restitution after Parker pleaded guilty to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

“This defendant was put in a position of public trust, charged with helping to lead a neighborhood to further prosperity,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Instead of using her position for the public good, this defendant chose to enrich herself with public dollars and spend lavishly on trips and home furnishings. Public officials, contractors, or anyone else who misuses or improperly handless public funds can expect to find themselves in a similar position, that is to say, facing federal prison time.”   

"Ms. Parker will now spend time behind bars for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars planned for economic development in the community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith.  "Ms. Parker has been held accountable for her criminal avarice and greed.  The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out public corruption at all levels."

“This sentencing represents our continuing resolve to root out fraud and corruption in all forms, particularly when the programs involved should have been used to help our neediest families,” said HUD OIG Special Agent in Charge Brad Geary. “It is our continuing core mission to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the integrity of our housing programs and to take strong action against those who seek to illegally benefit from them.”

“These stolen funds were designated to improve and assist the Collinwood community,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley.  “She’s a serial thief who deserves every day of her 33-month sentence.”

According to court documents, from 2014 to 2016, Parker served as executive director of Collinwood and Nottingham Villages Development Corporation (CNVDC), a nonprofit that acquires, develops and leases property on the northeast side of Cleveland. In her role as executive director, Parker had access to CNVDC’s bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards, statements, and checks.  Parker misused various accounts through a variety of schemes, including making unauthorized cash withdrawals, having checks issued to her and using debit and credit cards to pay her expenses.

Court documents show that Parker used CNVDC’s debit card to make purchases at Harley Davidson, the Horseshoe Casino, Victoria’s Secret and in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. In addition, Parker used CNVDC’s credit card to purchase appliances at Home Depot for her home. Parker used CNVDC’s checking account to purchase an automobile in Michigan for $19,080.  Parker also collected cash rental payments from tenants of the nonprofit and deposited the cash into her personal bank account.

As a result of Parker’s activity, CNVDC suffered a loss of $195,087.61.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- Office of Inspector General and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen E. Henderson.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Joshua T. Grant, age 28, of Elyria, Ohio was sentenced by Judge John R. Adams to a maximum term of 10 years in prison after Grant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person with a prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

“We have no tolerance for domestic violence offenders who possess and use firearms illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “This sentence, the maximum allowable under federal law, sends an appropriate message to those who stand convicted of domestic violence offenses, even misdemeanors: if you illegally possess or use a gun, you will be held accountable and your next stop is not weeks or months in county jail, but a decade in federal prison.”

 “This is another example of how a great working relationship between local and federal agencies can benefit all involved,” said Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitley. “The real winners in this are the citizens of Elyria.  I want thank the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their help with difficult situations.”

According to court documents, On September 7, 2019, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Elyria Police responded to 120 Portia Court in Elyria for reports of “shots fired.”  Upon arrival at the apartment, they found a large amount of blood on the kitchen floor and a victim with a gunshot wound to the chest.  The victim was then transported to a hospital and later life-flighted to University Hospital in Cleveland.

Grant, the victim’s boyfriend, was arrested approximately half-mile away, running down the street away from the residence.  Officers located a loaded silver and black semiautomatic .380 caliber pistol in his pocket.  The officers administered a gunshot residue test, which later revealed the presence of gun powder residue on Grant's hands.

Interviews with those present at the apartment stated that Grant had shot his girlfriend in the chest. 

Grant is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felonious assault on July 29, 2016 and domestic violence on March 11, 2013 both in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

This case was investigated by the Elyria Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Eric Witherspoon, 56, of Warrensville Heights, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher A. Boyko to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after Witherspoon pleaded guilty to bribery in federally funded programs.

“Public contracts should go to the most qualified, not the best connected,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Public officials, contractors, or anyone else who misuses or improperly handless public funds can expect to find themselves in a similar position, that is to say, facing federal prison time.”   

 “This sentencing represents our continuing resolve to root out fraud and corruption in all forms, particularly when the programs involved should have been used to help our neediest families,” said HUD OIG Special Agent in Charge Brad Geary. “It is our continuing core mission to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the integrity of our housing programs and to take strong action against those who seek to illegally benefit from them.”

According to court documents, Witherspoon owned and operated an asbestos removal and demolition businesses in Cleveland. Witherspoon submitted bids to the city of Cleveland in an attempt to obtain contracts for abatement and demolition work on behalf of the city.

Rufus Taylor, who has also pleaded guilty to receiving bribes, was Cleveland’s Chief of the Demolition Bureau. Taylor’s responsibilities included locating contractors for and assigning emergency demolition jobs. In addition, he advised other city officials on which contractors should be solicited for bids and conducting inspections, which had to be completed before a contractor could be paid.

Witherspoon pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery scheme in 2013 and 2014. This included the two of them meeting at restaurants, job sites and in parked cars. Witherspoon paid cash to Taylor, and, in return, Taylor provided confidential information and advice about potential board-up and demolition jobs in the city of Cleveland.

Taylor also provided assistance to Witherspoon in assuring the jobs he worked on would be inspected quickly.

In one instance, the two men met in November of 2013 to discuss a demolition job on Parkwood Drive. Witherspoon promised to pay Taylor in exchange for Taylor getting Witherspoon on the bid list. Witherspoon was awarded the contract and, in return, paid Taylor $3,000.00.

According to Court records, on the evening of February 9, 2017, the two men were recorded meeting in a parked vehicle to discuss their mutually beneficial relationship. They discussed their arrangement, whereby Taylor would receive a bribe payment from Witherspoon once Witherspoon received payment for a job that Taylor helped him obtain.

Later on in that conversation, the two discussed another instance in which Witherspoon had given Taylor $300.00, with Witherspoon acknowledging that Taylor “didn’t even ask [him] for that” bribe. After acknowledging that Witherspoon had paid Taylor $300.00 without Taylor even asking, Taylor noted that the payment was Witherspoon’s “appreciation” for Taylor, and Taylor had not complained about how much he received. Taylor noted that he had never complained about what “you put in my hand,” and Witherspoon acknowledged that was true.

Rufus Taylor pleaded guilty to extortion and bribery in a federally funded program on September 4, 2018. Taylor will be sentenced before Judge Christopher A. Boyko.

This case was investigated by agents with the Cleveland Division of FBI, Housing and Urban Development-OIG, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea S. Rice and Elliot Morrison.

CANTON, Ohio – U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Ronald E. Holt, age 54, of East Sparta, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams to 115 months imprisonment, three years supervised release and ordered to pay $8,180 in restitution after Holt pleaded guilty to bank robbery on September 1, 2020.

According to court documents, on January 7, 2020, Holt walked into a KeyBank branch in Canton and waited in line until being called to a teller window.  At the window, Holt announced that “This is a robbery,” and demanded cash from the teller.  Holt received $8,180 and left the bank.  Holt committed this robbery shortly after escaping from the Stark Regional Community Correction Center earlier on the same day.  Holt has a long criminal history, including multiple convictions for violent offenses and drug offenses in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.

This case was investigated by Special Agent Timothy Alvord, FBI and the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz.

Seventeen individuals were charged today in an unsealed, 26-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in Cleveland for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in the Mansfield area. Fifteen were arrested during an early morning takedown operation. 

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith, Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch and Richland County Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon made the announcement.

“During the past few years, federal and local law enforcement partners have been working tirelessly to identify, arrest and incarcerate drug traffickers in the Mansfield and Richland areas,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Anyone attempting to sell drugs in this community should be prepared for a strong law enforcement presence and response.”

“Another group of drug traffickers are being held accountable for their illicit distribution of illegal narcotics on our neighborhood streets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Over the past three years, collaborative law enforcement efforts have rid the streets of Mansfield of over 150 individuals for bringing poison to our community. Law enforcement will continue to identify, disarm and disrupt drug trafficking organizations in our territory.”

“Today’s operation was another fine example of collaboration between local law enforcement, our federal law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Northern District of Ohio, in targeting drug trafficking suspects and removing illegal drugs from Mansfield as well as the surrounding communities in Richland County,” said Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch.

“The drug trafficking problem in the city of Mansfield and Richland County is being addressed on a continuing basis,” said Richland County Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon. “We are greatly appreciative of our fellow local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their assistance.”

Named in the indictment are:

Antoine Bentley, 36, of Mansfield; Tiffany Boggs, 25, of Mansfield; Jerry Bowen, 28, of Mansfield; Ryan Day, 37, of Butler; Ashley Fields, 25, of Mansfield; Sheldon Holbrook, 27, of Mansfield; Eric Jackson, 43, of Bellville; Michelle Jarvis, 36, of Ashley; Jason Jarvis, 40, of Mansfield; Brandon Mann, 38, of Mansfield; Gregory McClintok, 27, of Mansfield; Michael Murphy, 37, of Mansfield; Mark Spear, 37, of Ashland; Roger Schlupp, 33, of Tiffin; Nicholas Vargas, 39, of Plymouth; Zachary Wallen, 39, of Mansfield and Roz Whitworth, 38, of Mansfield.

According to the indictment, from March 2018 to September 2020, these defendants are accused of conspiring together to distribute and possess methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl throughout the Mansfield area via drug suppliers in California. The indictment states that defendants Eric Jackson, Jason Jarvis, Mark Spear and Roz Whitworth obtained the illegal drugs and distributed them to the other named defendants, who then sold the drugs to various customers in the Northern District of Ohio.

The conspirators are accused of conducting their drug trafficking activity using cell phones, text messages and Facebook messenger. To reduce the risk of being detected by law enforcement, and to conceal the identity of the person using the device, co-conspirators often used cellular telephones that had been obtained in the names of other persons or in fictitious names, the indictment states.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Cleveland Division of the FBI, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), Metrich Unit, Ashland Police Department, Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office and Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a one-count indictment against Thomas G. Bares, age 53, of Concord Township, Ohio for interstate threatening communications.

According to court documents, between on or about August 18, 2020 and on or about August 21, 2020, the defendant is accused of knowingly and willfully transmitting communications containing threats to injure students, teachers, and staff at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio. The defendant allegedly posted online videos, images and sent a text message to a person whose identity is known to the grand jury, all threatening physical harm against the school.

A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and the Village of Gates Mills Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein.

A federal grand jury in Cleveland and Akron this week returned separate guilty verdicts for two men charged with felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. These are separate cases and are not related. They are the first federal jury trials held in the Northern District of Ohio since March of earlier this year.

“Federal jurors in Cleveland and Akron sent a strong message to those who illegally possess weapons or ammunition,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Both of these men have a long history of previous convictions for crimes of violence– including multiple domestic violence convictions. Statistics show that domestic violence offenders with a firearm are far more likely to potentially use it against their spouse or law enforcement. These verdicts are a victory for the victims of these offenders and for the cities of Akron and Cleveland. We have not let the COVID-19 pandemic reduce the timeliness and effectiveness of our law enforcement response, and we are pleased that the criminal justice system has been able to safely move forward with jury trials during this difficult time.” 

A federal jury in Cleveland convicted Jaron R. Kirkland, age 35, of Akron, on Monday, September 21, on one count of felon in possession of firearm or ammunition.

According to the indictment in this matter, on or about May 31, 2019, Kirkland knowingly possessed a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and three rounds of ammunition for said firearm. Kirkland is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of two separate felony domestic violence charges on June 18, 2015 and November 8, 2016, both in the Summit County Common Pleas Court.

Kirkland is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2021, before Judge James S. Gwin. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Akron Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Yasmine Makridis.

A separate federal jury in Akron convicted Ronald Mickel, age 41, of Lorain, on Tuesday, September 22, on one count of felon in possession of ammunition.

According to the indictment in this matter, on November 26, 2019, Mickel knowingly possessed 32 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition.  Mickel is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition after having been previously convicted of felony aggravated robbery on June 18, 1999, felony domestic violence on May 27, 2014, felony domestic violence and intimidation of a victim on July 27, 2015, felony burglary on September 30, 2015, and felony domestic violence in January of 2019, in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.

Mickel is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2021 before Judge Sara Lioi. This case was investigated by ATF and Ohio Adult Parole Authority and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John C. Hanley and Bryson Gillard.

In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the launch of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S), a program aimed at reducing the supply of synthetic opioids in 10 high impact areas, including Lorain County in the Northern District of Ohio, and identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

Two years ago, under Operation S.O.S, the United States Attorneys in 10 districts with some of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country each designated a county where they would focus on prosecuting every readily available case involving fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other synthetic opioids, regardless of the drug quantity.

Over these two years, Operation S.O.S has resulted in approximately 750 defendants charged in federal court, with 384 of those defendants charged thus far in F.Y. 20. Most importantly, the districts participating in the program have seen a decline in opioid overdoses. From 2017 to 2019, most S.O.S counties reported a decline of 14% to 24%.

“The Justice Department’s commitment to fighting the opioids epidemic is stronger than ever, and we are using every tool in our arsenal to disrupt the supply of these drugs on our streets,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Operation S.O.S has had a significant positive impact on the communities where it is being employed. The Department will continue to build on these successes and work to stop the drug traffickers who so callously wreck lives.”

Since the launch of the operation in Northern Ohio, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted 121 defendants from Lorain County for their involvement in the distribution of opioids. Approximately 22-percent of these defendants possessed a firearm when they committed their federal offense and about 23-percent of these defendants are classified as “career offenders”, in that they have two or more prior convictions for either drug trafficking or violent offense convictions. The average sentence for an S.O.S. defendant in the Northern District has been 70.4 months.

In Lorain County, opioid overdose deaths have decreased by 31% from 2017 to 2019.

“Drug dealers and other criminals have long targeted Lorain County as an area to exploit and sell their deadly product,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Since 2018, as part of Operation S.O.S, we have committed to assisting our state and local partners by federally prosecuting any fentanyl or opioid trafficking offense from Lorain County.  These numbers should send a strong message – if you deal dope in Lorain County, you will face federal prosecution.”

Notably, in the Northern District as part of Operation S.O.S.:

1. In July 2020, ten individuals were arrested and charged in a conspiracy to sell crack cocaine, cocaine and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of oxycodone throughout the Elyria area. Read more here.
2. A “career offender” in Elyria was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for drug trafficking. Read more here.
3. In June of 2019, fifteen people indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, heroin and crack cocaine in Lorain. Read more here.

Federal, county and local law enforcement officials today announced that 46 individuals were charged for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the distribution of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and fentanyl in the Marion area. 43 were arrested during an early morning takedown. The operation is ongoing.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget Brennan, FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith, Marion Police Chief William Collins and Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey made the announcement.

“Organizations like the one dismantled here today target communities like Marion because they mistakenly assume that they can operate either without detection or without people speaking up,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget Brennan. “Let these indictments serve as notice that law enforcement partners in this District and the residents of Marion are paying attention.  And we will act.”

“Possession and distribution of illegal narcotics and the illegal possession of firearms will not be tolerated in our communities or by the good citizens who live there,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith.  “Likewise, the FBI will continue it’s targeted, exhaustive, and collaborative efforts with our local, state and federal partners to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that bring poison and violence into our neighborhoods.”

“These arrests are the result of dedicated work of multiple agencies with one shared goal -- to keep this community safe and free from dangerous drugs,” said DEA Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin.

“Our unending commitment to this community is to work relentlessly in collaboration with our law enforcement partners at every level, bringing every combined resource to bear with the unified mission to deliver those persons to justice who contribute to this deadly scourge,” said Marion Police Chief William Collins. “I'm immensely proud of the collective achievements born from this 2-year investigation, while I also remain dedicated to ensuring that this important work continues well into the future.”

The following is a breakdown of the charges:

Charged in a 29-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense are:

Raheem Brown, age 28, of Marion; Eric Carter, age 57, of Marion; Tawana Cochran, age 37, in state custody; Harold Cowans, age 81, of Columbus; Brittany Crabtree, age 29, of Marion; Rex Cumston, age 58, of Marion; Jeff Ellinwood, age 38, of Marion; Andy Fernandez, age 39, of Ypsilanti, Michigan; Paula Foreman, age 58, of Marion; Juan Demetrius Hartwell, age 46, of Marion; Mitchem Hopper, age 30, in state custody; Marty Keifer, age 29, of Marion; Ricky Kensler, in federal custody; Jamal Mincey, age 32, of Marion; Andre Pearson, age 40, of Marion; Terry Phillips, age 61, of Marion; Lawrence Redrick, age 43, in federal custody; Clifton Ross, age 45, of Columbus; Toni Sparks, age 29, of Marion; Terell Steen, age 43, in state custody; William Swartz, Jr, age 61, of Marion; Billie Jean White, age 32, of Marion; Taylor Williams, age 27, of Marion.

Charged in a 22-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm and use of a communications facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense are:

Robert Baker, age 38, of Marion; Corey Cesar, age 28, of Marion; Tawana Cochran, age 37, in state custody; Kenneth Crumpton, age 31, of Farmington Hills, Michigan; Kenneth Drake, age 40, of Marion; Rodney Tyson Hall, age 37, of Larue, Ohio; Warren Harris, age 40, of Marion; Josten Jones, age 29, of Marion; Ronald Jordan, age 33, in state custody; Courtney Miles, age 35, in state custody; Lindsay Pacha, age 26, of Marion; Clifton Ross, age 45, of Columbus and Terry Worthington, age 41 in state custody.

Charged in a 16-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of controlled substance and use of a communications facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense are:

Kendall Bender, age 33; Michael Collins, age 41; Meghan Landon, age 34; Destiny Pyles, age 23; Timothy Reed, age 36 and Alisha Taylor, age 24, all of Marion.

Charged in six separate indictments with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance distribution of a controlled substance are:

Otis Oliver, age 32; Darrius Kevin Karl Young-Owens, age 26; Anthony Robinson, age 32; all of Marion; James Glass, age 36; Curtis Thomas, age 33 and Johnny Thomas, age 34, both in state custody.

According to the indictments, from October 2015 to January 2019, these 46 individuals are accused of operating a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and fentanyl throughout the Marion area via suppliers in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and elsewhere. The conspirators are accused of using multiple cellular devices and code words to conceal their activity. In some instances, the indictments states that members of the drug trafficking organization used firearms in the conduct of their drug trafficking activity.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the Cleveland Division of the FBI, DEA, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Taskforce (OCDETF), Marion Police and Marion County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Simko and Robert Melching.

During a press conference in Milwaukee today, Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced updates on Operation Legend.

Since Operation Legend’s launch in July 2020, more than 3,500 arrests – including approximately 200 for homicide – have been made; more than 1,000 firearms have been seized; and nearly 19 kilos of heroin, more than 11 kilos of fentanyl (enough to deliver more than five million fatal doses), more than 94 kilos of methamphetamine, nearly 14 kilos of cocaine, and more than $6.5 million in drug proceeds have been seized.

Of the more than 3,500 individuals arrested, approximately 815 have been charged with federal offenses. More than 440 of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while more than 300 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.

In Cleveland, 72 defendants have been charged with federal crimes, including 42 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses, 26 charged with firearms-related offenses and four with other violent crimes.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman released the following statement:

“Operation Legend continues to remove persons prohibited from possession of firearms or ammunition, such as convicted felons, persons with histories of domestic violence, and traffickers of illegal narcotics off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “As long as drugs, violence, and illegal firearms continue to harm our community, we will use our collaborative law enforcement partnerships and any resources available under Operation Legend to fight back.”

The Attorney General launched Operation Legend on July 8, 2020, as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. 

Launched in Kansas City, MO. on July 8, 2020, the operation expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020. A breakdown of the federal charges in each district can be found here.

Each weekday, the Department of Justice will highlight a case that has resulted from Operation Legend.  Today’s case is out of the Northern District of Ohio.  Operation Legend launched in Cleveland on July 29, 2020, in response to the city facing increased homicide and non-fatal shooting rates.

United States vs. Antwan Bohanon

An Ohio man was charged on Aug. 13, 2020, in federal court in the Northern District of Ohio with illegally dealing in firearms without a federal firearms license.

“This defendant is accused of dealing firearms in the city of Cleveland without a license,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman.  “He went to great lengths to acquire, advertise and sell firearms to many people in the city of Cleveland, including those who are prohibited under federal law from purchasing or possessing a gun.  In fact, some of the firearms that the defendant allegedly sold later appeared in separate criminal cases.  Even just one gun in the hands of someone who should not be in possession of a firearm can have dire consequences.”

According to court documents, Antwan Bohanon allegedly purchased multiple firearms outside of the city of Cleveland and later resold them inside of the city to various individuals, including some prohibited under federal law from purchasing or possessing a firearm.  Bohanon would often post images of his firearms for sale to his personal Instagram account at prices higher than market value.  According to the ATF affiant of the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, individuals who are unable to purchase firearms legitimately will frequently pay a much higher price to obtain one.

In addition, court documents show that some of the firearms Bohanon sold were later used in criminal activity.

The following is a list of firearms Bohanon is accused of importing, manufacturing, or dealing:

1. A Glock, Model 22 pistol
2. A Glock, Model 19 pistol
3. A Ruger, Model Lc9 pistol
4. A Glock, Model 23 pistol
5. A Ruger, Model SR9c pistol
6. A Glock model 26 pistol
7. A Taurus, model PT92AF pistol
8. A Smith and Wesson, Model SD40VE pistol
9. A Taurus, Model PT24/7 Pro C pistol
10. A Smth and Wesson, Model M&P 9 Shield pistol
11. A Glock, Model 40 pistol
12. A Taurus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
13. A Taurus, Model G2C pistol
14. A Taurus, Model G2C pistol
15. A Tuarus, Model G2C pistol
16. A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
17. A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
18. A Glock, Model 19 pistol
19. A Springfield/HS Product Model XD pistol
20. A Glock, Model 23 pistol
21. A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
22. A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
23. A Springfield/HS Product Model XD pistol
24. A Glock, Model 30S pistol
25. A Glock, Model 26 pistol
26. A Glock, Model 27 pistol
27. A Glock, Model 26 pistol
28. A Glock, Model 23 pistol
29. A Glock, Model 23 pistol
30. A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
31. A Tuarus, Model PT111 G2 pistol
32. A Ruger, Model LC9 pistol
33. A Glock, Model 27 pistol
34. A Glock, Model 26 pistol
35. A Glock, Model 23 pistol
36. A Glock, Model 26 pistol
37. A Glock, Model 27 pistol
38. A Springfield/HS Product Model XD pistol
39. A Ruger, Model Security 9 pistol

The details contained in the charging document are allegations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Background on Operation Legend

Since its inception, Operation Legend has yielded more than 2000 local, state, and federal arrests, with more than 592 defendants charged with federal crimes.
President Trump promised to assist America’s cities that have been plagued by violence.  In July, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative across all federal law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime in cities across America that were experiencing an uptick in violence.  Operation Legend is named after four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed on June 29th in Kansas City, Missouri, while asleep in his home.

Operation Legend was launched in Kansas City, Mo., on July 8, 2020, and expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, to St. Louis and Memphis on Aug. 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis on Aug. 14, 2020.  As part of Operation Legend, Attorney General Barr has directed federal agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA and ATF to surge resources to these cities to help state and local officials fighting violent crime.  

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) has awarded more than $2.3 million to Northern Ohio organizations to help reduce violence against women and to strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

“Every dollar that the Department of Justice provides to address domestic violence in Northern Ohio has a positive impact on the lives of victims and survivors,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “These organizations have a strong program in place to address crucial needs or expand services.”

The award breakdown is as follows:

Cuyahoga County, Improving Criminal Justice Responses Program – $824,800 

The Improving Criminal Justice Response Program encourages state, local, and tribal governments and state, local, and tribal courts to treat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law requiring the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Children and Youth Program – $497,873

The Grants to Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Against Children and Youth Program supports projects that develop, expand, and strengthen prevention, intervention, and response strategies that target children and youth who are victims of and/or exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including support for the non-abusing parents, caretakers, and legal guardians.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program – $399,991

The Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program’s purpose is to increase and strengthen training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of abuse, neglect, exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; provide or enhance services for older victims; create

or support multidisciplinary collaborative community responses to older victims; and conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving older victims.

The University of Toledo, Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program - $299,999

Heidelberg University, Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program - $299,946

These programs provide a unique opportunity for institutions of higher education to establish multidisciplinary approaches to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campuses. These comprehensive efforts are designed to enhance victim services, implement prevention and education programs, and develop and strengthen security and investigation strategies in order to prevent, prosecute, and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

“For domestic violence victims, the added stressors of the pandemic can make a dangerous situation even worse,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Laura Rogers. “Our grants in Ohio are a timely contribution to approaches already underway to keep victims safe and hold offenders accountable for their crimes.”

For more information on the Office of Violence Against Women, visit https://www.justice.gov/ovw

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned an eleven-count indictment charging Derrick Lamont Jones, 56, and Kelly Marie Thomas, 50, both of Toledo, with conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles, possession of stolen vehicles, operating a chop shop, violation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to the indictment, from 2003 to 2019, the defendants are accused of stealing charter buses, altering and disguising them to avoid law enforcement detection and organizing and marketing for-profit trips, without incurring the cost of legitimately obtaining charter buses. The defendants allegedly purported to own several motorcoach companies that offered and provided charter transportation to passengers in Ohio, including Destiny Tours, Kelly Tours, Marie’s Tour’s and Travel, Elite Tours, and GT Tours. At no point were the defendant’s companies ever incorporated under the laws of any state, including Ohio and at no point in time did any of these companies receive FMCSA operating authority or complete the FMCSA registration process, states the indictment.

The defendants allegedly defaced, disguised, and removed the identity of the stolen motorcoach buses by painting over previous bus company logos and markings. After having stolen and defaced the buses, the defendants allegedly advertised charter passenger transportation services on the internet, social media, and in local newspapers. The defendants are accused of contracting with a Toledo-based church group to provide charter bus service from Toledo to New York. This trip never took place, and money collected by the defendants prior to the trip was never returned, according to the indictment.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region, with significant assistance by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Ohio Division; the Ohio State Highway Patrol; Toledo Police Department; and the Michigan State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley A. Futrell.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Andrew Kmon WILLIAMS, age 23, of Youngstown, was charged in federal court via criminal complaint as a felon in possession of firearms. WILLIAMS was charged as a firearms offender under Operation Red-Zone, a combined federal, state and local partnership to reduce gun violence over the Labor Day weekend.

“This defendant was in the Red-Zone, meaning that he was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law based on a prior felony conviction,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Over this past Labor Day weekend, this defendant was in the Red-Zone and is alleged to have illegally possessed two firearms.  Each and every illegal firearm we can take off the streets makes our communities a safer place to live.”

According to the complaint, police identified Williams while driving a vehicle that was suspected in a previous felonious assault incident. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement agents seized two 9mm pistols. WILLIAMS later admitted to knowing that the firearms were in the vehicle. WILLIAMS is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction for possession of heroin in the Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas. 

A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis. 

CLEVELAND – U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that seven individuals were charged for using stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico and falsified identification documents to fraudulently purchase and finance vehicles and watercrafts from dealerships in Northern Ohio. The charges were made public in a forty-count indictment unsealed today in a federal court in the Northern District of Ohio.

In a coordinated effort, the District of New Jersey, the State of New Jersey and the District of Massachusetts also charged defendants in this scheme.

“These defendants allegedly attempted to profit off of the stolen identities of U.S. citizens by purchasing various motor vehicles and watercrafts at Ohio dealerships and then, in some cases, proceeded to ship the vehicles out of the state and country,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Thanks to tireless work of law enforcement across the country, this identify theft ring has been disrupted, and these defendants can no longer use the funds of hard-working citizens to enrich themselves.”

“Concluding a nearly three-year investigation, Sandusky Bay Border Patrol Agents worked hand-in-hand with the AUSA, FBI, HSI, and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to bring an interstate crime ring to an end,” said Douglas Harrison, Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector. “In all, seven suspects were charged in Ohio after defrauding banks using stolen identities and selling bank owned assets across state lines in New Jersey. I am extremely proud of the work our agents do every day, especially when it culminates in a successful operation after years of effort.”

"These defendants victimized individuals and financial institutions with their selfish greed,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Victims had their identities stolen and used for lavish purchases.  The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure fraudsters, no matter where they reside, are held accountable."

Charged today on counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, misuse of a social security number and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles are:

• Guillermo Alexander Cruz-Guerrero, age 38, of Dominican Republic. Currently in federal custody in Ohio.
• Carmen Teresa Cabrera, age 29, of Haskel, New Jersey. Arrested in New Jersey.
• Reyfy Gonzalez, age 31, of Cliffside Park, New Jersey. Arrested in New Jersy.
• Andy Arleny Mazara-Garcia, age 29, currently in state custody in Massachusetts.
• Willie Antonio Samuel-Baldayaquz, age 38, currently in custody in Connecticut.

The following defendants remain at large:

• Rene Guzman-Aquino, age 36, of Puerto Rico.
• Julio Fernando Valdez-Pimentel, age 27, of Pennsylvania.

According to court documents, from January 2017 to July of 2019, the defendants are accused of orchestrating a scheme to obtain genuine Ohio Driver licenses from the Ohio BMV using stolen identification documents from real U.S. citizens and phony driver’s licenses from Puerto Rico.

The indictment states that the defendants then obtained fraudulent credit cards and bank accounts using the stolen identity documents. These defendants then allegedly visited Northern Ohio motor vehicle dealerships to purchase late-model vehicles and jet skis using 100% financed loans. In support of their loan applications, the defendants are accused of providing the biographical information of real United States citizens, as well as fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s licenses and social security cards as proof of identification. After the group purchased these vehicles, many were transported to New Jersey and some were exported out of the country.

In total, law enforcement identified over 70 vehicles and watercraft in all states from all defendants with an estimated total value of $3,750,268.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.     

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations’ Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, the Cleveland Division of the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Elyria Police Department and Akron Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad J. Beeson and Jason W. White.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that 18 individuals were charged for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy which involved the illegal distribution of cocaine, crack, heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and other drugs in the Youngstown-Warren area, including providing a substance that led to the fatal overdose of one person. Law enforcement operations arrested 14 individuals today, while four remain at large. The charges were made public in four indictments unsealed today in federal court.

“Because of today‘s operation, 14 drug traffickers in the Youngstown and Warren areas accused of dealing deadly narcotics and opioids are now off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “These drug traffickers charged and arrested today are accused of brazenly selling all types of lethal drugs, including one instance that led to a fatal overdose, according to the indictment. I want to thank all of our dedicated law enforcement partners involved in this successful operation who work tirelessly to keep harmful narcotics and opioids out of our comminutes.”

“This group of individuals brought danger, illegal drugs, and violence to our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “Law enforcement will continue to identify, disrupt and hold accountable drug trafficking organizations conducting their unlawful activities on our neighborhood streets.”

“Through this collaborative effort with our law enforcement partners, these drug traffickers have been taken off the streets,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “We remain committed to pursuing anyone pushing illegal narcotics and spreading violence in our communities.”

The following is a breakdown of the charges:

Charged in a 92-count indictment detailing a broad range of criminal activity including use of a communications facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and various charges of trafficking heroin, fentanyl carfentanil, crack cocaine and more are:

1. Vincent Richardson, 28, of Warren, Ohio.
2. Del’reno Armstrong, 22, of Warren, Ohio.
3. Marcus Williams, 27, of Warren, Ohio. Williams remains at large.
4. Randall Morgan, 34, of Warren, Ohio.
5. Sean King, 33, of Warren, Ohio.
6. William Crenshaw, 35, of Warren, Ohio. Crenshaw remains at large.
7. Kvonn Watson, 26, of Warren, Ohio. Watson remains at large.
8. Matthew Cavin, 30, of Warren, Ohio.
9. Stashon Williams, 35, of Niles, Ohio. Williams remains at large.
10. Jalissa Morgan, age 38, of Warren, Ohio.
11. Aubrey Adams, 38, of Warren, Ohio.

Charged in a 14-count indictment for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, use of a communications facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute cocaine are:

1. Vincente R. Turner, age 43, of Youngstown, Ohio.
2. Christopher J. Anderson, age 36, of Mineral Ridge, Ohio.
3. Nicholas A. Anderson, age 33, of Mineral Ridge, Ohio,
4. Kenneth P. Mazurkiewicz, age 53, of Youngstown, Ohio.

Charged in a nine-count indictment for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime are:

1. Williams L. Stubbs, age 41, of Youngstown, Ohio. 
2. EC Robinson, age 35, of Sharon, Pennsylvania.

Charged in a five-count indictment for distribution of fentanyl resulting in a death and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil are:

1. Tyron T. Scott, age 23, of Youngstown
2. Kenneth P. Mazurkiewicz, age 53, of Youngstown, Ohio.

According to court documents, from March 2019 to February 2020, defendant Vincent Richardson operated a drug trafficking organization in the Youngstown-Warren areas with other members listed in the indictment. The indictment states that Richardson supplied the narcotics and other members of the drug trafficking organization conspired together to facilitate their drug distribution in the areas. The drug trafficking organization allegedly distributed detectable amounts of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, crack cocaine, heroin and other drugs in the area during this time. On one occasion, the indictment alleges that defendant Vincent Richardson possessed a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.  

In addition, court documents state that on October 15, 2019, defendants Tyron T. Scott and Kenneth P. Mazurkiewicz, members of the drug trafficking organization, allegedly distributed a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.     

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the DEA, FBI, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, Trumbull Action Group, Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, Warren Police Department and Youngstown Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District would like to acknowledge and thank the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General for their assistance with this matter.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and Toledo Police Chief George Kral announced the results of Operation Red-Zone over the holiday weekend in the city of Toledo:

• 7 individuals were investigated for firearms violations
• 3 were referred for federal prosecution and
• 6 firearms were seized

In addition to these firearm investigations, the number of persons shot in the city of Toledo decreased by 83% compared to the same time as last year and no homicides were reported.

“Any firearm carried illegally is a firearm that could potentially cause serious harm or end a life,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Each illegal firearm and offender we get off the streets makes the community a safer place to live. I want to thank Chief Kral and the Toledo Police for their partnership in this endeavor and look forward to further cooperation and success. We need the help of everyone in law enforcement and the greater community to help end violent crime. ”

“As cities across the nation work towards stopping the escalation in gun violence, I am proud of the teamwork displayed this weekend amongst Toledo Police and Federal Agents,” said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. “The cases referred for federal prosecution will set an example to those who illegally carry firearms and disrupt the peace in our city that it will not be tolerated in Toledo.  As TPD and Federal Agents continue to work together to arrest these dangerous criminals, it is my hope that as a community we work towards a feasible solution to eliminate gun violence.”

Operation Red-Zone was a combined federal, state and local partnership aimed at reducing gun violence over the Labor Day weekend. In addition, Operation Red-Zone seeks to pursue federal charges, where applicable, against individuals who are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms, or who otherwise use firearms in a violent crime or drug trafficking offense.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Matthew Paul Slatzer, 36, of Canton has entered a plea of guilty to one charge of possession of a firearm by a person with a domestic violence conviction.

“This guilty plea will serve as an important reminder of the serious consequences of domestic violence,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to do everything possible to prohibit firearms possession by those, like this defendant, who are prohibited under federal law due to a prior domestic violence conviction.”

According to the indictment filed in this matter, On February 2, 2020, the Canton Police Department responded to a call at a bar for an intoxicated male with a gun inside the establishment. The indictment alleges that Slatzer knowingly possessed a .38 caliber revolver. Slatzer is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction on October 29, 2010.

Slatzer is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2020 before Judge Donald C. Nugent.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel.

At a press conference in Chicago today, Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced updates on Operation Legend.

Since the operation’s launch, there have been more than 2,000 arrests in Legend cities, including defendants who have been charged in state and local courts. Of those arrests, approximately 592 defendants have been charged with federal crimes. In addition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has seized 587 firearms, more than 1.2 kilos of heroin, and more than five kilos of methamphetamine; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized almost 70 kilos of methamphetamine, more than 16 kilos of heroin, more than 7 kilos of fentanyl, more than 12 kilos of cocaine, 268 firearms, and approximately $5.19 million in drug proceeds; the FBI has recovered 241 weapons; and the United States Marshals Service has recovered 169 firearms and made 1810 arrests, including 163 for homicide and 120 for sexual assault.

In Cleveland, 66 defendants have been charged with federal crimes, including 41 defendants charged with narcotics-related offenses, 22 charged with firearms-related offenses and 3 with other violent crimes. U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman released the following statement:

“We have made significant progress in Cleveland since the launch of Operation Legend. This progress includes arresting and charging drug traffickers, removing illegal firearms off our streets and putting repeat violent crime offenders behind bars. Additionally, thanks to a strong law enforcement partnership, police were able to arrest an individual suspected in the homicide of Eric Hakizamana. This investigation was the focus of law enforcement in Cleveland when Operation Legend was announced on July 29th.

The success we have had in this initiative is thanks, in large part, to law enforcement officers like Detective James Skernivitz, who was killed in the line of duty. Detective Skernivitz was a sworn Operation Legend task force officer assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force. The work he and his unit have done to help reduce violent crime in our community is invaluable and will have long-lasting effects. Operation Legend will not be the same without Detective Skernivitz, but the good work he has done will live on."

The Attorney General launched Operation Legend on July 8, 2020, as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. 

Launched in Kansas City, MO. on July 8, 2020, the operation expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020. A breakdown of the federal charges in each district can be found here.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and Canton Police Chief Jack Angelo announced today the launch of Operation Red-Zone in the city of Canton over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Joining the U.S. Attorney and the Canton Police Chief in the announcement were representatives from the ATF, DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals, Stark County Prosecutor and Stark County Sherriff’s office.

“We are here today ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend to announce the launch of Operation Red-Zone in the city of Canton,” said U.S. Attorney Herdman. “What this means is that if you are prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law, either because you have a prior felony conviction, a prior misdemeanor conviction, or some other disqualifying condition, then you are in the Red-Zone. If you possess a firearm this weekend while in the Red-Zone, we are going to stop you and prosecute you in federal court.”

“The Canton Police Department would like to thank the US Attorney's office for its commitment to Canton,” said Canton Police Chief Jack Angelo. “Like most other cities, we have been dealing with increased gun violence and illegal possession of firearms all summer. I am sure with the assistance of our federal law enforcement partners, during Operation Red Zone, we will be able to see significant efforts in enforcement.

“ATF is here with our law enforcement partners to encourage everyone to take a step back from the violence and enjoy a peaceful Labor Day weekend,” stated Roland Herndon, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division. “But be aware, if you choose to use firearms to commit crimes, ATF and our law enforcement partners will be there, working to hold you accountable for those acts.”

U.S. Attorney Herdman announced that the Northern District will pursue federal charges, where applicable, against individuals who are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms, or who otherwise use firearms in a violent crime or drug trafficking offense. In addition, the U.S. Attorney announced that law enforcement agents with ATF, DEA, FBI and U.S. Marshals will be out in full force over the holiday weekend.

“The people of the city of Canton deserve peace and days and nights free from anxiety and fears caused by violent criminals, said U.S. Attorney Herdman. "We will stop at nothing to ensure that people who are causing this violence are put in federal prison.”

On July 8, 2020, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Operation Legend, a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. 

Launched first in Kansas City, MO., on July 8, 2020, the operation was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020.

Since the operation’s launch through Monday, August 31, 2020, more than 2000 arrests – included 147 for homicide – have been made; more than 544 firearms have been seized; and more than seven kilos of fentanyl, 14 kilos of heroin, 12 kilos of cocaine, and 50 kilos of methamphetamine have been seized.

Of those individuals arrested, 476 have been charged with federal offenses. Two hundred and forty-nine (249) of those defendants have been charged with firearms offenses, while 185 have been charged with drug-related crimes. The remaining defendants have been charged with various offenses.

“Operation Legend has had a strong start in the city of Cleveland and we hope to build upon this early success,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “This initiative has already seen more than 50 defendants charged with federal crimes and has removed numerous firearms and drugs off our streets. This success is due to the strong partnership that we have here in Cleveland between city, state and federal law enforcement.”

The breakdown of federal charges in Cleveland is below.

Cleveland, Ohio

54 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below.

• 39 defendants have been charged with narcotics-related offenses;
• 13 defendants have been charged with firearms-related offenses; and
• 2 defendants have been charged with other violent crimes.

To view Operation Legend results in other cities, click here.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman, Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and Police Chief Robin Lees announced today the launch of Operation Red-Zone in the city of Youngstown over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Joining the U.S. Attorney, Youngstown Mayor and Police Chief today were representatives from the ATF, DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals, Mahoning County Prosecutor, Mahoning County Sherriff and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

“We are here today ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend to announce the launch of Operation Red-Zone in the city of Youngstown,” said U.S. Attorney Herdman. “What this means is that if you are prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law, either because you have a prior felony conviction, a prior misdemeanor conviction, or some other disqualifying condition, then you are in the Red-Zone. If you possess a firearm this weekend while in the Red-Zone, we are going to stop you and prosecute you in federal court.”

“These type of partnerships are beneficial to the city of Youngstown and its residents,” said Police Chief Robin Lees. “The city’s 19 homicides this year are just one shy from last year’s total. This is just one of many reasons why we need to target repeat gun offenders, put them behind bars, and make sure they stay there.”

“ATF is here with our law enforcement partners to encourage everyone to take a step back from the violence and enjoy a peaceful Labor Day weekend,” stated Roland Herndon, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division. “But be aware, if you choose to use firearms to commit crimes, ATF and our law enforcement partners will be there, working to hold you accountable for those acts.”

During the press conference, U.S. Attorney Herdman announced that the Northern District will pursue federal charges, where applicable, against individuals who are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms, or who otherwise use firearms in a violent crime or drug trafficking offense. In addition, the U.S. Attorney announced that law enforcement agents with ATF, DEA, FBI and U.S. Marshals will be out in full force over the holiday weekend.

“The people of the city of Youngstown deserve peace and days and nights free from anxiety and fears caused by violent criminals, said U.S. Attorney Herdman. "We will stop at nothing to ensure that people who are causing this violence are put in federal prison.”

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and Toledo Police Chief George Kral announced today the launch of Operation Red-Zone in the city of Toledo over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Joining the U.S. Attorney and Toledo Police Chief in the announcement were representatives from the ATF, DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals, Lucas County Prosecutor, Lucas County Sherriff and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

“It is no secret that violent crime in the city of Toledo and elsewhere around the country has been increasing,” said U.S. Attorney Herdman. “With the Labor Day holiday weekend approaching, I’m announcing the launch of Operation Red-zone in the city of Toledo. What this means is that if you are prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law, either because you have a prior felony conviction, a prior misdemeanor conviction, or some other disqualifying condition, then you are in the Red-Zone. If you possess a firearm this weekend while in the Red-Zone, we are going to stop you and prosecute you in federal court.”

“In a year where gun violence has spiked not only in Toledo but across our nation, this closer collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s office over the upcoming Labor Day weekend could not come at a better time,” said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. “It is my department’s job to keep Toledoans safe by taking illegal guns out of the hands of violent offenders; the extra assistance from Attorney Herdman’s office will be crucial in taking those criminals off the street and keeping them behind bars for a long time. With the hope of peace in the forefront of our minds, we also remain grounded that the threat of violence exists and we are prepared to prevent it.”

“ATF is here with our law enforcement partners to encourage everyone to take a step back from the violence and enjoy a peaceful Labor Day weekend,” stated Roland Herndon, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division. “But be aware, if you choose to use firearms to commit crimes, ATF and our law enforcement partners will be there, working to hold you accountable for those acts.”

During the press conference, U.S. Attorney Herdman announced that the Northern District will pursue federal charges, where applicable, against individuals who are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms, or who otherwise use firearms in a violent crime or drug trafficking offense. In addition, the U.S. Attorney announced that law enforcement agents with ATF, DEA, FBI and U.S. Marshals will be out in full force over the holiday weekend.

“The people of the city of Toledo deserve peace and days and nights free from anxiety and fears caused by violent criminals, said U.S. Attorney Herdman. "We will stop at nothing to ensure that people who are causing this violence are put in federal prison.”

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a six-count indictment charging Anthony Sharp, age 30, of South Euclid, Ohio, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, money laundering and theft of mail.

“This defendant allegedly stole what he believed to be were drugs shipped through the mail and then sold them for a great profit,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “I am grateful for the work of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their hard work on this investigation and to help keep illegal drugs out of our community.”

U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely stated: “Postal employees are paid to deliver mail and parcels, not steal and distribute drugs in the community. When a postal employee decides to violate the public’s trust, special agents with the USPS OIG will work with our law enforcement partners to see that they lose their job, their pension, and their freedom. To report postal employees engaged in criminal activity, contact our special agents at www.uspsoig.gov or 888-USPS-OIG.”

“This arrest is a shining example of the coordinated efforts of federal and local law enforcement to protect the mail system from being used for criminal purposes, such as drug transportation and trafficking”, said Acting Inspector In Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Tosha Dennis. “This partnership between the US Postal Inspection Service, USPS OIG and local law enforcement (Euclid, South Euclid and Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office) should serve as a warning to anyone dealing in dangerous and illegal substances.  The Postal Inspection Service has always made it their mission to protect the public and the United States Postal Service from these illegal and dangerous drugs.”

According to court documents, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) began an investigation into the defendant based on suspicions that the defendant, a Postal Service Manager in Cleveland, was profiling U.S. Mail suspected to contain controlled substances, illegally opening the parcels and stealing the contents.

On July 22, 2020, USPS OIG special agents and postal inspectors observed Sharp arrive at a Postal Service processing facility to help sort Express Mail by hand, states the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint. Sharp is then allegedly observed removing two packages, which contained methamphetamine and cocaine, and placing them into his own mail hamper and removed them from the postal facility, placing them in his personal vehicle. 

Sharp was later detained during a traffic stop, and a search of his vehicle produced the two packages that contained methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as a third package that contained two kilograms of a mixture of fentanyl.  The complaint alleges that the packages were opened. Additionally, agents discovered several other open Express and Priority Mail parcels inside the trunk of the vehicle, absent the contents.

As a result of the offenses, the defendant is ordered to forfeit approximately $100,000 seized, a 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle and a 2019 White Polaris Slingshot.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Sweeney and Kathryn Andrachik.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced that an information charge was filed against Edgar Ramirez, age 22, of Youngstown, Ohio. Ramirez is charged with three counts of interference with commerce by means of robbery and three counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Melvin Lee Jackson was previously charged in this matter.

According to court documents, from December 17 to December 21, 2019, Ramirez and Jackson are accused of robbing a Speedway in Boardman, a Subway in Youngstown and a Kwik Fill in Struthers. During each robbery, Ramirez and Jackson allegedly held store employees at gunpoint and demanded money.

An information charge is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank investigators with the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center and the Youngstown, Boardman, and Struthers police departments for their cooperation with this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a four-count indictment charging Yaser Najjar, age 58, of Westlake with attempt to evade and defeat income tax.

According to the indictment, from 2009 to 2017, the defendant allegedly owned and operated a gas station on East 152nd Street in Cleveland. During this time, the defendant allegedly maintained a handwritten ledger documenting the gas station’s daily gross receipts, gasoline and convenience store sales and used an accountant to prepare his taxes for the calendar years 2009 through 2016. The indictment states that in connection with the preparation of these taxes, and as part of a scheme to evade income taxes due and owing, the defendant materially misrepresented and concealed a substantial portion of the gas station’s gross receipts to his accountant.

The defendant is accused of providing the accountant with the markup (profit) per gallon of gasoline and convenience store sales, which figures substantially underreported actual gross receipts as reflected in the handwritten ledger. It is alleged that the defendant did not provide the accountant with certain information related to actual gasoline and convenience store sales and concealed other sources of income, including ATM fees, vacuum machine receipts, air machine receipts, and car wash receipts.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan R. Miller.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury in Cleveland has returned a four-count indictment charging Walter Ray Poindexter, age 32, of Cleveland with false information and hoaxes.

According to court documents, on March 14, 2020, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) Police Officers responded to calls of an intoxicated individual aboard a downtown trolley, later identified as Poindexter. The defendant was subsequently arrested and transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail due to an outstanding warrant in Franklin County. During the processing of the defendant for public intoxication and a parole violation warrant, the defendant allegedly claimed that he had difficulty breathing and that he had the coronavirus. As the GCRTA officers attempted to carry the defendant into the jail, the defendant is accused of purposefully coughing into the police officers’ faces. The defendant is also accused of intentionally coughing in the direction of the Cuyahoga County Jail nurse after repeatedly claiming that he had coronavirus.

The defendant was then transferred to MetroHealth hospital for medical evaluation. Upon arrival in the emergency room, the defendant is alleged to have repeatedly claimed to have coronavirus and once again began coughing and spitting in the direction of the paramedics, police officers and hospital staff. It is alleged that while the paramedics attempted to move the defendant from the gurney to the hospital bed, the defendant sat up and spat directly in the face of a paramedic.

The defendant and paramedic were later administered a pathogen test that came back as negative for the virus.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Jerome J. Teresinski.                

During a press conference in Kansas City, MO., today, Attorney General William P. Barr, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and other U.S. Attorneys announced an update on the progress of Operation Legend in several cities across the country, including Cleveland. 

Since the launch of Operation Legend, there have been more than 1,000 arrests, including defendants who have been charged in state and local courts. Of those arrests, approximately 217 defendants have been charged with federal crimes. These numbers exclude Indianapolis, whose operation was just announced last Friday. In addition, nearly 400 firearms have been seized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“In just a few short weeks, federal investigators working side-by-side with state and local law enforcement have begun to make significant progress towards reducing violence related to illegal firearms, drug trafficking and other crime in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “In Cleveland, Operation Legend’s law enforcement operations have already resulted in 32 defendants charged federally with various drug trafficking and firearms violations. These early results show the potential that Operation Legend has to make our cities and communities a safer place for everyone to live.”

The Attorney General launched the operation on July 8, 2020, as a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime. The initiative is named in honor of four-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was shot and killed while he slept early in the morning of June 29 in Kansas City. 

Launched first in Kansas City, MO., on July 8, 2020, the operation was expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque on July 22, 2020, to Cleveland, Detroit, and Milwaukee on July 29, 2020, to St. Louis and Memphis on August 6, 2020, and to Indianapolis on August 14, 2020. A breakdown of the federal charges in Cleveland are listed below:

Cleveland, Ohio

32 defendants have been charged with federal crimes outlined below, with some defendants charged with multiple offenses. Two defendants remain fugitives.

• 22 defendants have been charged with federal drug trafficking charges;
• Nine defendants have been charged with federal firearms violations; and
• One defendant has been charged with carjacking.

To view Operation Legend results in other cities, click here.

A federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has indicted four individuals in the Northern Ohio area on charges of illegal reentry. These are separate cases and are not related.

Ervin David Carias Raudales, aka Carlos Jose Heraso, age 38, a citizen of Honduras, was indicted on one charge of illegal reentry into the United States after having been previously removed.  Carias Raudales, who has been removed four times prior (the last time was on or about July 27, 2019), was found in Ashtabula, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrea Isabella.

Samuel Hernandez-Hernandez, age 22, a citizen of Guatemala, was indicted on one charge of illegal reentry into the United States after having been previously removed. Hernandez-Hernandez, last removed on or about February 12, 2019, was found in Columbiana County, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa V. Healy. 

Fabian Chavez-Canales, age 32, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted on one charge of illegal reentry into the United States after having been previously removed. Chavez-Canales, last removed on May 17, 2016, was found in North Royalton, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bryson Gillard.

Rene Cabrera-Ramos, age 42, a citizen of El Salvador, was indicted on one charge of illegal reentry into the United States after having been previously removed. Cabrera-Ramos, last removed on March 11, 2011, was found in Cleveland, Ohio. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bryson Gillard.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a 10-count indictment charging Terron Jones, 21, of Youngstown with five counts of interference with commerce by means of robbery, four counts of using or carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of using or carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to the indictment, from May 2020 through June 2020, the defendant is accused of using a firearm, threatening force and obtaining monies in the custody, possession and presence of serval Youngstown area businesses. In addition, the indictment alleges that on or about May 23, 2020, Jones used, carried, and discharged a firearm during one of these robberies.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Youngstown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.

Three women were charged in a 13-count indictment filed on Aug. 14 in the Northern District of Ohio for their alleged roles in schemes to corruptly and fraudulently procure adoptions of Ugandan and Polish children through bribing Ugandan officials and defrauding U.S. adoptive parents, U.S. authorities, and a Polish regulatory authority.

Margaret Cole, 73, of Strongsville, Ohio, Debra Parris, 68, of Lake Dallas, Texas, and Dorah Mirembe, 41, of Kampala, Uganda, were charged in the indictment.  In relation to the Uganda scheme, Parris and Mirembe were each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and commit visa fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, three substantive FCPA counts and three substantive counts of money laundering.  Parris was also charged with one count of mail fraud.  In relation to the Poland scheme, Parris and Cole were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.  Cole was further charged with one count of making a false statement to a U.S. accrediting entity and one count of making a false statement to a Polish authority.

“These defendants are accused of orchestrating an alleged scheme that bribed Ugandan officials, defrauded the United States and manipulated parents inside and outside of the country,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio.  “As a result of this alleged conduct, prospective parents were deceived, hundreds of thousands of dollars were misused and innocent children were displaced from their homes.”

“The defendants allegedly resorted to bribery and fraud to engage in an international criminal adoption scheme that took children from their home countries in Uganda and Poland without properly determining whether they were actually orphaned.  The defendants sought to profit from their alleged criminal activity at the expense of families and vulnerable children,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “These charges clearly show that the Department of Justice is committed to protecting children worldwide, including those involved in the international adoption process.”

“These three defendants preyed on the emotions of parents, those wanting the best for their child, and those wishing to give what they thought was an orphaned child a family to love,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office.  “These defendants allegedly lied to both sides of the adoption process, and bribed Ugandan officials who were responsible for the welfare of children.  Parents, prospective parents and children were emotionally vested and were heartbroken when they learned of the selfishness and greed in which these three engaged.  The FBI will never cease in its efforts to protect the innocent and unwitting from those who prey on that trust and confidence and we will vigorously pursue and hold those responsible accountable.”

With respect to the Uganda scheme, the indictment alleges that Parris and Mirembe, together with others, engaged in a scheme to pay bribes to Ugandan officials to corruptly procure the adoption of Ugandan children by families in the United States, including the adoption of children who were not properly determined to be orphaned and who had to be ultimately returned to their birth parents.

Specifically, Parris, Mirembe, and their co-conspirators allegedly (1) paid bribes to social welfare officers in exchange for them issuing welfare reports recommending that certain children be placed into orphanages without first ensuring that the children were actually orphaned or that putting them up for adoption was in the children’s best interest; (2) paid bribes to Ugandan magistrate judges to obtain court orders placing those children in an orphanage that was willing to accept the children without inquiring into whether they were actually orphans; (3) paid bribes to court registrars to cause the court registrars to assign the cases of these children to two corrupt “adoption-friendly” judges; and (4) paid bribes to the corrupt Ugandan judges to obtain orders to permit their clients to bring the children to the United States for adoption.

Parris, Mirembe, and others also allegedly lied to, and concealed material information from, adoptive parents, including lying about the bribe payments and whether the children were properly determined to be eligible for adoption, and concealing other material information about the children’s history.  The indictment also alleges that Parris, Mirembe, and others agreed to cause false documents to be submitted to the U.S. Department of State to hide the corrupt and fraudulent scheme and to mislead it in its adjudication of visa applications for the Ugandan children being considered for adoption.  The co-conspirators and the entities they worked for received more than $900,000 in connection with these adoptions.

With respect to the Poland scheme, the indictment alleges that after clients of their adoption agency determined they could not care for one of the two Polish children they were set to adopt, Cole and Parris took steps to transfer the child to Parris’s relatives, who were not eligible for intercountry adoption and one of whom had a criminal arrest record.  After the child was physically abused, Cole and Parris took steps to conceal their improper conduct from the entity responsible for accrediting U.S. intercountry adoption agencies—and from the Polish authority responsible for intercountry adoptions—in an attempt to continue profiting from these adoptions.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If you believe you are a victim of this offense, please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/victim-witness-program or call (888) 549-3945.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office and is being prosecuted by and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Rice of the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorneys Jason Manning and Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters.  Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Three women were charged in a 13-count indictment filed on Aug. 14 in the Northern District of Ohio for their alleged roles in schemes to corruptly and fraudulently procure adoptions of Ugandan and Polish children through bribing Ugandan officials and defrauding U.S. adoptive parents, U.S. authorities, and a Polish regulatory authority.

Margaret Cole, 73, of Strongsville, Ohio, Debra Parris, 68, of Lake Dallas, Texas, and Dorah Mirembe, 41, of Kampala, Uganda, were charged in the indictment.  In relation to the Uganda scheme, Parris and Mirembe were each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and commit visa fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, three substantive FCPA counts and three substantive counts of money laundering.  Parris was also charged with one count of mail fraud.  In relation to the Poland scheme, Parris and Cole were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.  Cole was further charged with one count of making a false statement to a U.S. accrediting entity and one count of making a false statement to a Polish authority.

“The defendants allegedly resorted to bribery and fraud to engage in an international criminal adoption scheme that took children from their home countries in Uganda and Poland without properly determining whether they were actually orphaned.  The defendants sought to profit from their alleged criminal activity at the expense of families and  vulnerable children,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “These charges clearly show that the Department of Justice is committed to protecting children worldwide, including those involved in the international adoption process.”

“These defendants are accused of orchestrating an alleged scheme that bribed Ugandan officials, defrauded the United States and manipulated parents inside and outside of the country,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio.  “As a result of this alleged conduct, prospective parents were deceived, hundreds of thousands of dollars were misused and innocent children were displaced from their homes.”

“These three defendants preyed on the emotions of parents, those wanting the best for their child, and those wishing to give what they thought was an orphaned child a family to love,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Office.  “These defendants allegedly lied to both sides of the adoption process, and bribed Ugandan officials who were responsible for the welfare of children.  Parents, prospective parents and children were emotionally vested and were heartbroken when they learned of the selfishness and greed in which these three engaged.  The FBI will never cease in its efforts to protect the innocent and unwitting from those who prey on that trust and confidence and we will vigorously pursue and hold those responsible accountable.”

With respect to the Uganda scheme, the indictment alleges that Parris and Mirembe, together with others, engaged in a scheme to pay bribes to Ugandan officials to corruptly procure the adoption of Ugandan children by families in the United States, including the adoption of children who were not properly determined to be orphaned and who had to be ultimately returned to their birth parents.

Specifically, Parris, Mirembe, and their co-conspirators allegedly (1) paid bribes to social welfare officers in exchange for them issuing welfare reports recommending that certain children be placed into orphanages without first ensuring that the children were actually orphaned or that putting them up for adoption was in the children’s best interest; (2) paid bribes to Ugandan magistrate judges to obtain court orders placing those children in an orphanage that was willing to accept the children without inquiring into whether they were actually orphans; (3) paid bribes to court registrars to cause the court registrars to assign the cases of these children to two corrupt “adoption-friendly” judges; and (4) paid bribes to the corrupt Ugandan judges to obtain orders to permit their clients to bring the children to the United States for adoption.

Parris, Mirembe, and others also allegedly lied to, and concealed material information from, adoptive parents, including lying about the bribe payments and whether the children were properly determined to be eligible for adoption, and concealing other material information about the children’s history.  The indictment also alleges that Parris, Mirembe, and others agreed to cause false documents to be submitted to the U.S. Department of State to hide the corrupt and fraudulent scheme and to mislead it in its adjudication of visa applications for the Ugandan children being considered for adoption.  The co-conspirators and the entities they worked for received more than $900,000 in connection with these adoptions.

With respect to the Poland scheme, the indictment alleges that after clients of their adoption agency determined they could not care for one of the two Polish children they were set to adopt, Cole and Parris took steps to transfer the child to Parris’s relatives, who were not eligible for intercountry adoption and one of whom had a criminal arrest record.  After the child was physically abused, Cole and Parris took steps to conceal their improper conduct from the entity responsible for accrediting U.S. intercountry adoption agencies—and from the Polish authority responsible for intercountry adoptions—in an attempt to continue profiting from these adoptions. 

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

If you believe you are a victim of this offense, please visit https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/victim-witness-program or call (888) 549-3945.

The FBI’s Cleveland Field Office is investigating the case.  Trial Attorneys Jason Manning and Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Rice of the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted in the investigation.

The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters.  Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

United States Attorney Justin Herdman announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a three-count indictment charging Skyler Herring, age 27, of Youngstown with bribery and providing cell phones and tobacco to inmates at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NEOCC) while employed as a Correctional Officer.

According to the indictment, from November 2018 to August 2019, the defendant is accused of accepting electronic payments via a mobile payment application in exchange for smuggling cell phones and tobacco into the NEOCC.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and the Cleveland Division of FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.

A federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has indicted four individuals in the Cleveland area on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. These are separate cases and are not related.

Diante Colthirst, age 30, of Cleveland, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Colthirst is charged with the alleged illegal possession of a 9mm pistol on March 2, 2020. Colthirst is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felony offenses of attempted felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons while under disability and felonious assault and aggravated robbery in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the ATF with the help of Orange Police Department, and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.

Alaric Holloway, age 30, of Lorain, was indicted on two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Holloway is charged with the alleged illegal possession of a 9mm pistol on February 26, 2020, and spent shell casing ammunition on May 25, 2020. Holloway is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felony offenses of intimidation, drug trafficking, felonious assault and domestic violence in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI with the help of Lorain Police Department, and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.

Samuel James McCrimon Jr., age 29, of Cleveland, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. McCrimon is charged with the alleged illegal possession of 9mm semi-automatic pistol on June 10, 2020. McCrimon is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felony offenses of burglary in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and felonious assault in the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the ATF with the support of the United States Marshal Service (USMS) Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Kane.

Cedric Roberson, age 52, of North Olmsted, was indicted on two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person with a prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction. Roberson is charged with the alleged illegal possession of a .32 caliber revolver on May 8, 2020. Roberson had previously been convicted of Domestic Violence in 2008, 2013 and 2019 in Cuyahoga and Lorain County Common Pleas Courts. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI with the help of the Elyria Police Department, and the matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland has returned a two-count indictment charging Larese Kenneth Allen, Sr., 25 of Youngstown with making a bomb threat and as a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on or about June 1, 2020, the Municipal Court of Youngstown, Ohio received a phone call from an unknown caller to the clerk’s office. The caller is alleged to have spoken with a court clerk and claimed to be “coming from Cleveland to blow-up your courthouse.” Following the threat, all employees of the Municipal Court of Youngstown were immediately evacuated and the Youngtown Police Department’s Bomb Squad was dispatched and conducted a sweep of the Municipal Court. No bomb was found.

An investigation subsequently determined that the defendant was the one who had placed the phone call. During an interview with law enforcement, the defendant allegedly admitted to placing the June 1st phone call to the Municipal Court of Youngstown to delay upcoming criminal proceedings.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.     

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Mohammad H. Mohammad, age 56, of Parma, was sentenced to 5 years of probation and ordered to pay $489,189.00 in restitution and a $100,000.00 fine.

According to the indictment, Mohammad understated his income and failed to report gross receipts or sales generated by the business operations of Muhammad Brothers Partners for calendar years 2012 and 2013. In total, Mohammad under-reported his income by $498,189.00, court records show. Mohammad, along with his brother, established Muhammad Brothers Partners, which, in turn, owned and operated Holyland Supermarket, a grocer in the city of Cleveland. 

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan R. Miller.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Jaquar Keyshore Latimer, age 43, of Akron, was sentenced by Judge Sara Lioi to 199 months imprisonment after being found guilty during a trial by jury of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms as a convicted felon on August 23, 2019.

“This defendant has spent the majority of his adult life dealing drugs and illegally possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Violent crime and felonious assaults with a firearm are on the rise in cities like Akron and throughout Northern Ohio. We must send a strong message to the community and career-criminals that illegally possessing a stolen firearm or having a firearm with felony convictions will result in many years and months in federal prison.”

“As stated by U.S. Attorney Herdman, Latimer has spent most of his adult life spreading violence and addiction,” stated Roland Herndon, ATF’s Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division. “This lengthy sentence will ensure that he does not have the opportunity to continue to terrify and intimidate the Akron community.”

According to court documents, in December of 2017, Latimer was on supervised release from federal prison after serving a sentence for a conviction of felon in possession of a firearm.  On February 9, 2018, officers with the Ohio Parole Authority conducted a home visit at the residence where Latimer resided. When APA officers entered the home, they found Latimer walking within a few feet of a firearm on a couch.

Court documents state that Akron Police Department officers arrived on the scene and assisted with searching the home. During the search, law enforcement officers discovered 11 grams of cocaine, more than $1,000 in cash, and three firearms: a 9mm automatic handgun, which had been reported stolen; a loaded .380 caliber, semi-automatic handgun; and a loaded .357 caliber revolver. Latimer was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of being a felon in possession of a firearm, sexual battery, aggravated assault, and drug possession.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Akron Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan D. O’Shea and Mark S. Bennett.