Northern District of Ohio

A Canadian man indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit Office.

Joseph B. Haggerty, 49, of New Brunswick, is accused of coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. This took place between May 14 and July 15, 2017, according to the indictment.

Haggerty was arrested last month at a park in Rocky River. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Austin, Texas, received a tip that Haggerty had been soliciting nude images from children. Haggerty was scheduled to fly to Cleveland from Toronto on Thursday. HSI agents in Cleveland followed him upon his arrival in Ohio to Linden Park in Rocky River, where he met a minor female, according to a court documents.

The minor he met in Rocky River told agents she met Haggerty on Kik in December 2016 and they subsequently communicated via Skype. She said the calls would last hours and Haggerty would direct her to strip naked and engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to the affidavit.

The girl told her relatives she was going on a camping trip for the weekend but actually planned to go a hotel with Haggerty, according to the affidavit.

HSI agents contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit, which executed search warrants at Haggerty’s home. They found nude images of the Ohio minor, contact information for the child in Texas, as well as evidence of an estimated five other potential victims.

The investigation is ongoing.

“This defendant preyed upon children,” Herdman said. “This case is another stark reminder to parents that they need to know who their children are communicating with on social media and in real life.”

“Through our partnerships with state, local, federal and international law enforcement agencies, HSI will continue to vigorously investigate child exploitation cases like this one to ensure that special agents continue to serve as a powerful barrier between predators and children," said Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit Office, which includes Ohio.

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 violations. 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 HSI’s Cleveland and Austin offices, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rocky River Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.

An indictment is a charge 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 Cleveland Heights man was sentenced to 32 years in prison for six carjackings in the city’s Tremont neighborhood, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

Tervon’tae Taylor participated in six carjackings in July and August 2015, often brandishing a firearm during the crime.

Four defendants, all from Cleveland, have already been sentenced for their roles in the case.

Kenneth Jackson, Jr. was sentenced to more than 64 years in prison. Antowine Palmer was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. He is also serving 15 years in state prison for convictions for manslaughter and felonious assault.

D’wan Dillard, Jr. was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison. Calvin Rembert was sentenced to six years in prison.

Some of defendants were members of the Heartless Felons street gang and were feuding with a different set of Heartless Felons. The defendants planned to do drive-by shootings aimed at members of the rival group, so they went to Tremont to steal a car so they would be unrecognizable during the drive-by shootings.

“These defendants have collectively been sentenced to more than 130 years in prison,” Herdman said. “With our federal, state and local partners, we are committed to pursuing those who target our citizens with violence and fear, whether they’re online, overseas or on the streets of Cleveland.”

“These men terrorized victims and the city with their dangerous, gun-wielding car thefts,” Anthony said. “The Violent Crime Task Force and our local partners are committed to aggressively investigate predators who choose to engage in heinous acts of violence against our citizens.”

“The Cleveland Division of Police will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe for all who live, work and play in our city,” Williams said. “These sentences send a strong message to gang members that their violence will not be tolerated.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cleveland Division of Police.

Seventeen people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to purchase large amounts of powder cocaine, cook the drug into crack cocaine and then sell it in and around Medina County, law enforcement officials said.

Indicted in federal court are: Troy Bankhead, 47, of Cleveland; Dona Battle, 44, of Cleveland; William Battle, 45, of Cleveland; Aaron Watson, 31, of Medina; Anthony Patterson, 50, of Columbia Station; Carlos Tripp, 44, of Medina; Dale Lind, 58, of Medina; Douglas Cameron, 48, of Medina; Erica Latten, 29, of Cleveland; Fannie Tripp, 60, of Medina; Felicia Finowski, 49, Columbia Station; Jennifer Cayce, 38, of Medina; Jermaine Tripp, 36, of Medina; John Spickler, 38, of Brunswick; John Wise, 53, of Medina; Michael Powell, 52, of Medina, and Raymel King, 30, of Cleveland.

Twelve other people have been charged state court.

According to the six-count indictment unsealed today:

Bankhead sold large amounts of powder cocaine to Dona Battle between August 2016 and February 2017. Battle then cooked the cocaine into crack cocaine at 26799 Royalton Road, Columbia Station (the residence of Patterson and Finowski), 5651 Columbia Road, Medina (the residence of Cameron and Cayce) and 1406 West 75th Street, Apartment 3, Cleveland (the residence of Latten).

Dona Battle then sold the crack cocaine to several other dealers, including Watson, Lind, Carlos Tripp, William Battle, Raymel King and Jermaine Tripp, who then sold it to drug users.

Dona Battle used 417 Bronson Street, Apartment A, Medina (the residence of Fannie Tripp) and 997 Substation Road, Brunswick (the residence of Spickler) as drug houses from which he could sell crack and powder cocaine.

Spickler, Latten, Wise, Patterson and Finowski also provided transportation for Battle to obtain crack and powder cocaine for further distribution.

These cases are the result on an 18-month investigation, which was a cooperative effort between the DEA, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Medina County Drug Task Force. The investigation consisted of undercover purchases of drugs, the execution of search warrants, and other investigative techniques.

 

This investigation resulted in several significant seizures including more than 37 pounds of cocaine, $516,975 in cash, a tractor-trailer, five other vehicles and five firearms.

 

“This organization used homes and apartments to cook crack cocaine, which it sold in and around Medina,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “It was a spoke in a larger organization that trafficked a lot of cocaine. These defendants will now be held accountable for their actions.”
 

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon said: “Putting a stop to this criminal conspiracy is significant. The seizure of 37 pounds of cocaine and over half a million dollars of drug-dealing proceeds indicates that this group was connected with drug traffickers at the highest levels. Halting their activities makes everyone in the region safer. The efforts of the Medina County Drug Task Force and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been particularly integral to this investigation’s success.”

“I created a specialized unit at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to focus on large-scale drug trafficking operations, and we are pleased that we were able to work with local and federal authorities to help bring down this drug trafficking organization,” said Ohio Attorney General DeWine. “These drugs have no place on our streets, and our agents will continue to work diligently to investigate those who are pushing drugs in Ohio.”

“This investigation was initiated by agents from the Medina County Drug Task Force and Cleveland office of the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said Gary Hubbard, director of the Medina County Drug Task Force. “The intent was to address local drug trafficking issues in the city of Medina with a focus on repeat drug trafficking offenders. The hard work and commitment by all of the agents involved resulted in one of the largest drug trafficking investigations and narcotics seizures in Medina County history. This investigation lead to the seizure of the 17 kilos of cocaine, six ounces of heroin and over $500,000 in U.S. currency that was first reported in February 2017. The success of this case was made possible by the longstanding partnerships between the Medina County Drug Task Force, DEA, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the many other law enforcement agencies involved.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Medina County Drug Task Force, Medina County Sheriff’s Office, Medina Police Department, National Guard Intelligence, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cleveland Division of Police, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Lorain County Drug Task Force, Lake County Narcotics, Akron Police Department, Summit County Drug Unit, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals and Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network Drug Enforcement Unit, with assistance from the Medina County Prosecutor’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis.

 

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences 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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

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 North Lawrence man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for dumping wastewater into tributaries of the Tuscarawas River.

 

Adam D. Boylen, 46, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of violating the Clean Water Act by making unpermitted discharges. U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi sentenced him to 42 months in prison and ordered him to pay $85,338 in restitution.

 

“This defendant intentionally dumped waste into a tributary of the Tuscarawas River, killing fish and other aquatic life,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman. “We will always protect our waterways and environment.”

 

“Protecting our water is critical, both for the health and safety of our citizens and our wildlife,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “We will continue to assist in this case and others like it to protect Ohio.”

 

“The defendant's deliberate and illegal dumping of wastewater killed thousands of fish and wildlife and harmed the quality of local waterways,” said Scot Adair, Acting Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio. “Today's sentence reinforces EPA's commitment to work with its law enforcement partners to pursue egregious environmental crimes and the individuals who commit them.”

 

“Today’s sentencing concludes a successful investigation and prosecution of the multiple discharges into waters of the state, which violated the federal Clean Water Act,” said Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler. “We will continue to work with our partners at the local, state and federal agencies to make sure that public health and the environment is protected and responsible parties are held accountable.”

 

Boylen was a driver employed by an Ohio-based trucking company. Boylen’s job was to load wastewater generated from corporate facilities into a tanker truck and to drive the wastewater to a designated facility located in Pennsylvania for proper disposal. The wastewater contained surfactants capable of killing vegetation and fish, according to court documents.

 

Instead of delivering the wastewater to Pennsylvania, Boylen drove the tanker truck to remote locations in Tuscarawas County and central-eastern Ohio and emptied the wastewater containing surfactants into waters of the United States, according to court documents.

 

Boylen is charged with dumping the wastewater into two different tributaries of the Tuscarawas River, a wetland adjacent to the Tuscarawas River, and the Beach City Reservoir, on numerous occasions between April 18 and May 4, 2016.

 

White foam flowed down tributaries and streams as a result of Boylen’s actions. In one instance, the foam traveled four miles downstream from the location where the tanker truck was emptied. Vegetation was killed at all the locations. Approximately 709 fish were killed in one of the tributaries, and collectively, approximately 3,231 minnows, crayfish, frogs, and tadpoles were killed, according to court documents.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson. The case was investigated by the United States and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies, the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Stark County Sheriff’s Offices, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Offices, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The owner of a Mayfield Heights company was charged with failing to pay over more than $420,000 in taxes he withheld from his employees, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner.

Daniel Day, 59, was charged via criminal information with 17 counts of failure to pay over taxes.

Day was the sole owner and operated or Academy Answering Service, a telephone messaging service provider. Day retained a payroll company, which prepared and provided payroll checks for Day to give to his employees. The company withheld the proper amount of taxes from each employee and prepared documents for Day to make AAS’ quarterly employment tax payments to the IRS, according to the information.

In 2008, Day directed the payroll company to discontinue making quarterly employment tax problems to the IRS due to “cash flow problems.” Day then failed to make payments of AAS employee taxes between 2008 and 2013, according to the information.

Day collected but did not pay over approximately $420,286 in employee taxes, according to the informnation.

This case was investigated by the IRS – Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton.

 

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

 

An charge 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 Lorain man and an inmate at a federal prison in New Jersey were indicted for their conspiracy to commit murder for hire and to distribute cocaine, law enforcement officials said.

 

Indicted are Eduardo Rios Velasquez, 36, of Lorain, and Angel Cordero, 36, an inmate at Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution.

 

Velasquez and Cordero had previously been incarcerated together. Cordero was in contact with Velasquez in the summer of 2017 through a contraband cellular phone that had been smuggled into Fort Dix, according to court documents.

 

Cordero put Velasquez in contact with another inmate. Velasquez offered to pay the other inmate money if he could provide Velasquez with the address for a woman identified in court documents as T.G. Cordero told the inmate that Velasquez had been hired to kill T.G, according to court documents

 

Additionally, another person supplied Velasquez with large shipments of cocaine, with Cordero serving as the broker in the deals. Federal law enforcement authorities intercepted a kilogram of cocaine in July that was being shipped to Velasquez, according to court documents.

 

“This was a tremendous effort by law enforcement to avert a tragedy,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.

 

“These two individuals are alleged to be so bold as to hire a hitman and order the movement of cocaine, all while serving time for past crimes. Even behind bars, they continue to show a blatant disregard for authority,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI New York. “It is with the investigative know-how and collaboration with our law enforcement partners, like the FBI, that we can ensure these perpetual criminals face additional charges for their actions.”

 

“This individual is being held accountable for his ruthless willingness to kill someone for money,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The FBI Cleveland Division commends the collaboration between the law enforcement agencies involved in disrupting this conspiratorial murder for hire.”

 

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, each 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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian McDonough, Brad Beeson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hiral Mehta following an investigation by the New York Department of Homeland Security, the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

 

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

Two people were indicted for firearms offenses, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.

 

Charles L. Pete, 23, of Youngstown, was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges Pete possessed a Norinco, model MAK90, 7.62 mm rifle and ammunition on Aug. 7, 2017, after having been convicted of drug trafficking and other offenses in 2015.

 

Andre Ellison, 29, of Cleveland, was indicted on charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition. The indictment alleges Ellison possessed ammunition on June 20, 2017, after having been convicted of felonious assault and domestic violence in 2011.

 

The cases are not related.

 

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

 

The Pete case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz.

 

The Ellison case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant. U.S. Attorney Megan Miller.

 

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 Cleveland man was indicted on charges that he stole more than $77,000 in federal grants designed to help Native Americans, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

 

A three-count indictment charges Robert Roche, 70, with one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and two counts of theft from programs receiving federal funds.

 

“Mr. Roche took tens of thousands of dollars earmarked for Native American children and families and put the money in his own pockets,” Herdman said.

 

“Federal funds provided through the Circles of Care grant administered by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration are precious and invaluable to the communities and individuals they serve,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The embezzlement, stealing, or intentional misappropriation of these funds is inexcusable and will not be tolerated. The OIG will continue to identify, investigate and seek the prosecution of those individuals who improperly enrich themselves with vital taxpayer dollars.”

 

Roche served as executive director of the American Indian Education Center (AIEC), a Parma-based nonprofit established in 1995 to support Native American causes in Northeast Ohio, according to the information.

 

Craig McGuire operated McGuire & Associates LLC, a company that wrote grant applications and provided evaluation services. Roche entered into an agreement with McGuire & Associates in April 2011 to draft grant proposals on behalf of the AIEC. Later that year, McGuire submitted an application on behalf of the AIEC to receive a Circle of Care grant, offered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant was designed to provide Native American communities with the tools and resources to design programs to support mental health and wellness for children and families, according to the indictment.

 

The AIEC’s application contained numerous false statements including: misrepresenting the date the AIEC was established; falsely claiming the AIEC had a wellness department and a “Positive Paths” afterschool program serving 500 children when no such department or program existed; fraudulently listing people the AIEC allegedly employed and mischaracterizing the description of the AIEC’s building and alleged physical amenities, according to the indictment.

 

SAMHSA awarded the AIEC a Circle of Care grant on Sept. 1, 2012 of approximately $302,340 for FY 2012. On June 26, 2012, SAMHSA awarded the second year of a Circle of Care grant in the amount of $308,040 for FY 2013, according to the indictment.

 

The AIEC received approximately $482,766 from SAMHSA from 2011 through 2013. The AIEC did not receive full funding because SAMHSA placed it in “high risk” status, according to the indictment.

 

Roche paid himself through AIEC on several occasions as a project coordinator for the Circle of Care project. Roche was not identified as the project coordinator on the grant application and such payments were precluded by regulation, according to the indictment.

 

Roche and McGuire embezzled at least $183,703 from the SAMHSA grant. Roche converted approximately $77,097 of that money for his own personal use, according to the indictment.

 

McGuire pleaded guilty earlier this year to crimes related to his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

 

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

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.

 

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.

An Akron man was indicted for trafficking heroin and cocaine, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

 

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Mark E. Jones, 44, with possession of approximately 230 grams of heroin and approximately 374 grams of cocaine.

 

Jones was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 3, 2017. Agents from the DEA and the Summit County Drug Unit served a search warrant at a residence in Akron where they located and seized both cocaine and heroin, according to court documents.

 

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

 

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Teresa L. Riley following an investigation by the DEA and Summit County Drug Unit.

 

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.

Terry J. Ellis, 77, of Lima, was charged via criminal information with making a false report to a bank, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

 

Ellis in 2010 willfully and falsely overstated assets in relation to a line of credit. Ellis told JPMorgan Chase Bank that assets were approximately $2.3 million when in truth, as Ellis knew, the assets were approximately $1.9 million, according to the information.

 

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing 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 investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Inspector General, Export-Import Bank. case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford.

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

A Brunswick couple was sentenced to prison for obstructing an investigation.

 

Eric Dentz was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after previously being found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses and failure to file taxes.

 

Rebecca Dentz was sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of destruction, alteration and falsification of records and false statements to federal agents

 

The Dentz’s repeatedly obstructed an investigation into themselves and their companies Dentz Painting Incorporated and Global Contracting Service,. Eric Dentz threatened agents with physical violence after they attempted to serve subpoenas and obtain documents relevant to the investigation,. Additionally, Rebecca Dentz repeatedly lied to agents about her and Eric Dentz’s involvement with Global and the location of records responsive to the subpoena, according to court documents.

 

During proceedings held before United States District Chief Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr., Eric and Rebecca Dentz continued to obstruct justice by lying about the status and condition of the records. Specifically, the Dentzs lied by stating that the records sought by the grand jury were destroyed in a flood and later supplied agents and the court with a fake cleaning invoice in an attempt to support their false claims. Further investigation revealed that the invoice had been fabricated at Eric and Rebecca Dentz’s request. The Dentzs also obstructed and delayed the investigation by falsely stating that third parties possessed the records sought by the grand jury when those individuals in fact had no such records, according to court documents.

 

Eric Dentz also repeatedly failed to file income tax returns with the IRS over several years, according to court documents.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Om Kakani, following an investigation by the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.

Twenty people from the Youngstown area were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to launder $16 million obtained through computer hacking and other fraud, law enforcement officials said.

 

Indicted are: Julius Smith Williams, 46; Jamal Perry, 37; Joseph Joe III, 40; William Howell, 47; Terry Marlowe, 53; Emmett Conner, 44; Sterling Green, 47; Keisha Johnson, 32; Kayla Neeley, 29; Isiah Patterson, 29; Donald Washington, Jr., 43; Terrance Phillips, 41; Steve Croom, Jr., 40; Crystal Jefferson, 39; Dulcinea Purdue, 32; Terrance Howard, 43; Cobie Phillips, Jr., 41; Ray Wynn, 43; Jermaine Donlow, 45, and Semira Stone, 29.

 

They are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

 

The defendants are accused of working as conspirators in an international fraud organization with conspirators operating from Canada, Africa and other parts of the United States.

 

These 20 defendants were recruited and managed by a mid-level operator identified in court documents as Z.H. He operated in and around Youngstown, Columbus and Atlanta. Working at Z.H.’s direction, the defendants established shell companies and business bank accounts used to receive and launder at least $16 million obtained through various fraud schemes, according to the indictment.

 

The larger conspiracy involved several different fraud schemes designed to dupe unsuspecting law firms, businesses and people to think they were engaging in legitimate business or financial transactions when, in fact, they were not. These schemes often involved computer hacking, spoofed emails and computer takeovers, according to the indictment.

 

Z.H. provided the conspirators in Canada and elsewhere with the numbers and other information about the accounts opened by the defendants. The victim funds were transferred into the bank accounts. Then the defendants, working at Z.H.’s direction, transferred the fraudulently obtained money out of the accounts, typically in multiple smaller transactions designed to conceal the source of the proceeds and hinder efforts to recover the money, according to the indictment.

 

The defendants shared in the proceeds of the fraud schemes, typically commensurate with their respective roles, according to the indictment.

 

Ten other people have already pleaded guilty to criminal informations for their roles in the conspiracy.

 

“These defendants were a vital cog in an international theft ring,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “They laundered millions of dollars of stolen money and now have to answer for their actions.”

 

“These individuals took great efforts devising various fraudulent schemes in an effort to conceal the illegal source of their money,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners through long term investigations, such as this one, to ensure fraudsters are brought to justice.”

 

This case was investigated by the FBI’s offices in Youngstown, Buffalo and Tampa, as well as by the Toronto Police Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ranya Elzein and Paul Flannery.

 

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences 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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

 

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.

Two Cleveland gang members were sentenced to more than 64 and 14 years in prison for their roles in carjackings in the city’s Tremont neighborhood, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

Kenneth Jackson, Jr., 20, and Antowine Palmer, 24, were convicted earlier this year of an armed carjacking in July 2015. Jackson was also convicted of carjacking a couple the following day. The jury found Jackson brandished a firearm in both attacks while Palmer used a firearm in the first carjacking.

Jackson was sentenced to more than 64 years in prison by U.S. Chief Judge Patricia A. Gaughan.

Palmer was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison. That sentence will be served after he completes a seven-year prison sentence in state court for felonious assault. He still has a murder trial pending in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

Tervon’tae Taylor, of Cleveland Heights, D’wan Dillard, Jr.,and Calvin Rembert, both of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in carjackings in and around Tremont in the summer of 2015.

According to evidence and testimony introduced in the week-long trial:

Palmer and Jackson were members of the Heartless Felons street gang. They were feuding with a different set of Heartless Felons. The defendants planned to do a drive-by shootings aimed at members of the rival group, so they went to Tremont to steal a car so they would be unrecognizable during the drive-by shooting.

Palmer, Jackson, Taylor and Rembert saw a man loading a GMC Denali in the early morning hours of July 25, 2015. They held a loaded gun to the victim’s head, pistol-whipped him and stole his vehicle, his wallet and his cellular phone. The defendants used his credit cards to make purchases at a Wal Mart.

Jackson was involved in additional carjacking the following day when he pointed a loaded firearm at a couple in Tremont.

Dillard was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison. Rembert was sentenced to nearly six years in prison. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 12 and faces a guideline range of up to 40 years in prison.

“These defendants preyed on innocent people who were simply working, trying to make a living, or otherwise enjoying our city,” Herdman said. “As the judge noted during the hearing, people who terrorize a neighborhood will be held accountable for their actions.”

“These men terrorized victims and the city with their dangerous, gun-wielding car thefts,” Anthony said. “The Violent Crime Task Force and our local partners are committed to aggressively investigate predators who choose to engage in heinous acts of violence against our citizens.”

“The Cleveland Division of Police will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe for all who live, work and play in our city,” Williams said. “These sentences send a strong message to gang members that their violence will not be tolerated.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Cleveland Division of Police.

A Toledo man was indicted for receipt and distribution of child pornography, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Russell Smith, 50, received numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, This took place between at least March 15 and August 10, 2017, according to the indictment.

 

Smith possessed more than 20 computer files and images of children, some as young as eight years old, being sexually abused and/or raped, according to court documents.

 

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing 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 United States Secret Service in Toledo and is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman

 

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

A Garfield Heights man was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for using a firearm to rob the Key Bank on Turney Road, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

Levert A. Bates, 54, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison He previously pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

 

Bates and Marc A. Montgomery robbed a Key Bank in Garfield Heights on November 30, 2016. robbers stole approximately $55,376 from the bank and pointed a gun at the head of a teller during the robbery, according to court documents and statements.

 

“The defendant’s actions put people’s lives in danger and traumatized the victims,” Herdman said. “Sending this defendant back to prison helps make our commuity safer.”

 

"The actions of these two individuals brought great fear to the bank employees and customers that day,” Anthony said. “Law enforcement will continue to work tirelessly to identify individuals that choose to commit such violent actions and ensure they are held accountable.”

 

Montgomery was previously convicted for his role in the robbery and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan R. Miller is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Garfield Heights Police Department.

Justin E. Herdman has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Herdman was nominated by President Donald Trump on June 12 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 3. He took the oath of office from U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Gaughan.

 

“I am humbled and honored to be returning to an office that I love,” Herdman said. “I am excited to work with the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek justice every day for the people who live in Northern Ohio. We face serious challenges in our region, including the opioid epidemic and violent crime, but we will endeavor daily to make our community safer.”

 

As U.S. Attorney, Herdman supervises the prosecution of federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States. The office covers Ohio’s northern 40 counties, which includes Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown. Herdman oversees a staff of approximately 160 employees.

 

Herdman, of Chagrin Falls, was an Assistant United States Attorney from 2006 through 2013, serving as Deputy Chief of the National Security, Human Rights, and Organized Crime Unit. He was responsible for investigating and prosecuting national security crimes, including the successful trial and appeal of a homegrown terror cell that sought to support al Qaeda. He was also part of the prosecution team of five self-proclaimed anarchists convicted of attempting to use explosives to blow up a Cleveland-area bridge.

 

Immediately prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Herdman was a partner at Jones Day, where he represented businesses and individuals under investigation.

Before returning home to the Cleveland area, Mr. Herdman was an Assistant District Attorney in New York City, working for the legendary District Attorney for the borough of Manhattan, Robert M. Morgenthau, where Mr. Herdman prosecuted a wide range of violent crime and identity theft cases.

He serves as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserve and is a former intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve. He is a graduate of Kenston High School. He earned his B.A. from Ohio University, his M.Phil. from the University of Glasgow, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

 

 

A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Samantha Foster, 30, of Wooster, with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

 

Foster was arrested on two separate occasions, first by the Ohio State Patrol and then by Wayne County Sheriff’s Office for possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. Foster was also in possession of ammunition to a rifle on her second arrest.

 

The investigations were conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Medway Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ohio State Patrol and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

 

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

 

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Riley.

 

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 Cleveland man will likely be sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to selling heroin that caused three overdoses in Wooster, law enforcement officials said.

 

Demetrius L. Frizzell, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of attempted witness tampering.

 

He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 29. The plea agreement calls for a recommended sentence of 204 months in prison.

 

Wooster police learned about a heroin overdose victim who on Nov. 3 was brought to an emergency room unresponsive and appeared to be deceased. He was revived after emergency-room staff administered 12 doses of Narcan. Investigators traced the sale of heroin to Frizzell, according to court documents.

 

Frizzell also sold heroin on Oct. 29 and Nov. 2 that resulted in overdoses. All three people who overdosed were revived with Narcan, according to court documents.

 

Frizzell made a call from jail to an unknown male and instructed him to go to the home of one of the people who overdosed called and get him “in line,” according to court documents.

 

“Heroin has caused devastation throughout Ohio and no corner of the state is immune,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja. “Aggressive enforcement, combined with increased treatment, prevention and education, is our best chance to turn around this epidemic.”

 

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon stated: “Overdoses and overdose deaths related to heroin have become an epidemic across the country and Ohio has been hit particularly hard by this problem. Identifying and bringing to justice those individuals that distribute illegal drugs that result in an overdose, is one of DEA’s top priorities.”

 

MEDWAY Director Donald Hall said: “The MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency will continue to collaborate and work closely with our federal partners to hold people accountable for their actions who are involved in trafficking drugs in our communities.”

 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency, the Wooster Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Teresa Riley and Justin Seabury Gould.

Two foreign nationals arrested in Brecksville after a traffic stop were indicted in federal court for having more than 370 stolen credit card account numbers and related information, said David A. Sierleja, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

 

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Yasmany Luis Cabello-Morell, 29, a citizen of Cuba, and Honorio Mendoza-Herrara, 21, a citizen of Mexico, with possession of 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized credit cards, possession of credit card-making equipment and aggravated identity theft.

 

Brecksville police stopped the vehicle driven by Cabello-Morell for speeding on I-77 on July 3. A search of the vehicle revealed five MasterCard gift cards that had been re-encoded with stolen credit card account information, as well as a laptop computer, a card reader/writer/encoder and two credit-card skimmer devices, according to court documents.

 

A subsequent search of the laptop computer revealed approximately 370 stolen credit card account numbers and related information, including the account holders’ names, according to court documents.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert W. Kern and Megan R. Miller are prosecuting the case following an investigation by United States Secret Service and the Brecksville Police Department.

 

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ roles 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.

 

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.

Two Mexican nationals were charged with illegally reentering the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja said.

 

Jose Ramon Hernandez-Lopez, 33, who was last deported to Mexico on October 24, 2014, was found in Cuyahoga County this year, according to the indictment.

 

Juan Moreno-Amendariz, 38, was found in Ohio on July 18 after twice being deported from the U.S., according to a criminal information.

 

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 Lopez case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karrie D. Howard following an investigation by the Cleveland Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.

 

The Amendariz case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford following an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.

 

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.

Two men were indicted for allegedly robbing banks in Summit County this summer, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Jacob K. Onusic, 23, of Barberton, and Devonne Jacobs, 23, of Akron, with bank robbery.

 

Onusic, robbed the PNC Bank in Tallmadge, Ohio on June 23, according to the indictment.

 

Onusic robbed the Fifth Third Bank in Fairlawn on June 28, according to the indictment.

 

Onusic and Jacobs robbed the Fifth Third Bank in Stow on July 8, according to the indictment.

 

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences 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 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 Tallmadge Police Dept., the Fairlawn Police Dept., the Stow Police Dept., and the Akron Police Depart. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney David M. Toepfer.

 

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.

Two Cleveland men were indicted on federal firearms charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

Kwoquan Scott, 28, had a Charter Arms AR-7 .22-caliber rifle on June 23, despite prior convictions for involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, robbery with a firearms specification and multiple convictions for robbery between 2007 and 2014, according to the indictment.

 

Davonte Carter, 26, had a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and ammunition on June 28, despite prior convictions for robbery and having a weapon under disability, according to the indictment.

 

These cases are unrelated. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Galvin following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Division of Police.

 

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences 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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

 

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.

Aa grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Matthew Taylor Hadlock, 19, of Cleveland, with receiving and distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possessing child pornography, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations Cleveland.

 

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.

An Ashtabula man was indicted for distributing heroin and methamphetamine and having a firearm, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Michael H. Sheffey, 52, with distribution of narcotics, possession with the intent to distribute narcotics and with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

 

Sheffey distributed methamphetamine and heroin on several occasions in April 2017, according to the indictment.

 

Sheffey possessed an FEG, Model PA63, 9mm pistol, and ammunition on April 12, despite prior convictions in 1983 and 1984 for robbery and in 1992 for aggravated robbery in the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, according to the indictment.

 

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 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Trumbull-Ashtabula Group and the Ashtabula Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.

 

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.

An Akron man was indicted for having carfentanil and a firearm, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

Tedre L. Davis, 26, was indicted on one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of carfentanil with the intent to distribute.

 

Davis was found on May 30 to have nearly two grams of carfentanil as well as a Kel-Tec .22-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon and drug conveyance onto government property, according to the indictment.

 

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

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark S. Bennett following an investigation by the Akron Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

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 Canadian man arrested at a park in Rocky River was charged in federal court with production of child pornography.

Joseph B. Haggerty, 49, was scheduled to be in court Monday afternoon.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Austin, Texas, received a tip that Haggerty had been soliciting nude images from children. Haggerty was scheduled to fly to Cleveland from Toronto on Thursday. HSI agents in Cleveland followed him upon his arrival in Ohio to Linden Park in Rocky River, where he met a minor female, according to a criminal affidavit.

Haggerty had a reservation at the Days Inn on Lake Avenue in Lakewood. He was carrying a bag with clothing, 12 condoms, a stuffed animal and a package of baby pacifiers, according to the affidavit.

The minor he met in Rocky River told agents she met Haggerty on Kik in December 2016 and they subsequently communicated via Skype. She said the calls would last hours and Haggerty would direct her to strip naked and engage in sexually explicit conduct, according to the affidavit.

The girl told her relatives she was going on a camping trip for the weekend but actually planned to go the Lakewood hotel with Haggerty, according to the affidavit.

HSI agents contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit, which executed search warrants at Haggerty’s home. They found nude images of the Ohio minor, contact information for the child in Texas, as well as evidence of an estimated five other potential victims.

“This defendant victimized at least one child and possibly many more,” Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja said. “This case is another stark reminder to parents that they need to know who their children are communicating with on social media and in real life.”

“Through our partnerships with state, local, federal and international law enforcement agencies, HSI will continue to vigorously investigate child exploitation cases like this one to ensure that special agents continue to serve as a powerful barrier between predators and children," said Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit Office, which includes Ohio.

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 violations. 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 HSI’s Cleveland and Austin offices, with assistance from the Rocky River Police Department and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough.

A charge 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 Washington man was sentenced to eight years in prison for transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

Tyrell L. Moss, 33, knowingly transported a child identified as T.C. for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. Moss transported T.C. from Washington state to Beachwood by way of California, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Illinois, with the intent that T.C. would engage in commercial sex acts, according to court documents.

This took place between September and October 14, 2016, according to court documents.

The case was investigated as part of Operation Cross Country by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Adult Parole Authority and Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.

A Cleveland Heights woman was sentenced to more than two years in prison for trafficking cocaine.

 

Rayvonna Taylor, 28, worked as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Cleveland. Between August 2015 and May 2016, she facilitated the delivery of approximately 20 parcels containing cocaine.

 

Taylor was assigned to various routes on days when the narcotics parcels were delivered. She provided addresses on her route that parcels could be addressed to, then diverting those parcels to a drug dealer in exchange for money, according to court documents.

 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vasile Katsaros following an investigation.

Twenty-one people were indicted in federal court for their roles trafficking heroin and other drugs in the Youngstown and Ravenna areas, law enforcement officials said.

 

Arrests were executed this morning for people named in three separate indictments.

 

A 79-count indictment charges 12 people with drug trafficking and related crimes for a conspiracy beginning at least as early as August 2015 and continuing through June 8, 2016.

 

Indicted are: Aaron L. Rogers, 47; Cametrius K. Adams, 40; Darry K. Woods, 40; Mack F. Hill, 25; James L. Jackson, 41; Deondea K. Hill, 23; Qeevys D. Clinkscale; Trina Hill, 43; Brian K. Hunter, 44; John J. Montero, 39; Terrell L. Leonard, 38, and Cornell L. Kennedy, 33. All the defendants are from Youngstown but Clinkscale, who is from Cleveland.

 

Those defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, used cellular telephones to facilitate their drug trafficking activities, maintained a drug premises and some were felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.

 

Woods supplied heroin to Jackson for distribution in the Youngstown area while Rogers supplied Jackson with heroin and cocaine. Jackson, in turn, supplied drugs to Montero and the Hills. Jackson also supplied heroin to Clinkscale, Hunter, Leonard, Adams and the Hills, according to the indictment.

 

Trina Hill maintained a premises on Ravenwood Avenue in Youngstown, for the purposes of distributing and storing drugs. Rogers, Jackson, Montero and Trina Hill possessed firearms and U.S. currency as part of the conspiracy, according to the indictment.

 

Jackson, Montero, Rogers and Hunter are charged with being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.

 

In a related case, seven people were charged in a 35-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. The conspiracy took place in 2015 and was focused on heroin distribution in Youngstown.

 

Indicted are: Richard L. Jones, 50, of Ravenna; Willie J. Beacham, 69, of Youngstown; Terrell L. Leonard, 38, of Youngstown; Ronald C. Gilbert, 40, of Youngstown; Shajehan Haywood, 45, of Youngstown; Ricky C. Jordan, 33, of North Lima, and Shane S. Blair, 38, of Sebring.

 

Jones supplied heroin to Haywood and Leonard, who then sold the drugs to Blair, Beacham, Gilbert, and Jordan for distribution in the Youngstown area, according to the indictment.

 

In another related case, a 20-count indictment was filed charging three people with distributing heroin in the Ravenna area.

 

Indicted are: Antonio D. Liddell, 37, of Ravenna; Daryl Keith Jones, 50, of Ravenna, and Brook Brooks, 36, of Twinsburg.

 

Jones and Brooks travelled to Michigan to obtain heroin and then, along with Liddell, sell it around Ravenna. This took place from as early as November 2015 through January 2016, according to the indictment.

 

“Today more than 20 people who bring heroin to our neighborhoods were taken off the street,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja. “Ohio has been devastated by heroin and opioids over the past few years. This is an example of law enforcement working together to lock up dangerous people supplying the drugs.”

 

“These individuals brought heroin, cocaine and violence to our community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “This multi-agency, multi-state roundup is another example of the collaborative efforts engaged in by local and federal law enforcement agencies in an effort to rid our streets of drugs and the dangerous individuals that supply them.

 

“These charges and the arrest of 22 people in Youngstown and Ravenna demonstrate that the drug epidemic is as significant in Northeast Ohio as anywhere in the United States,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon. “Investigating and bringing to justice the individuals that are contributing to Ohio’s opioid epidemic, and its related violence and societal costs, is DEA’s and our partner’s top priority.”

 

Captain Larry Limbert of the Portage County Sheriff's Office/Portage County Drug Task Force said: “Without a cooperative effort between local and federal agencies we would not have been as successful in shutting down this large-scale narcotics organization.”

 

“ATF remains committed to removing violent offenders from our community,” said Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge for ATF 'a Columbus Field Division. “We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at all levels to make our citizens safer.”

 

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences 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 violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

 

The joint investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, the Portage County Drug Task Force and the Youngstown Police Department, with the assistance of the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.

 

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 Lima woman was indicted for having a large amount of carfentanil, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

 

Nancy Garza, 32, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

 

Garza had more than 52 grams of carfentanil on July 20, according to the indictment.

 

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing 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 investigating agencies in this case are the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lima Police Department in conjunction with the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force in Lima. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Weldon

 

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

A former Summit County councilwoman was sentenced to five years in prison for taking bribes in exchange for trying to influence court proceedings and investigations, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

Tamela Lee, 58, of Akron, was convicted by a jury earlier this year on all six counts: conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud, honest services mail fraud, Hobbs Act conspiracy, violating the Hobbs Act, obstruction of justice and making false statements to law enforcement.

“This is a public official who used her office to collect cash, cigarettes, home repairs and other things that average citizens have to pay for,” Sierleja said. “She violated the public’s trust and is now being held accountable for her actions.”

"Tamela Lee, a community councilwoman elected by the citizens she was supposed to lawfully represent, was motivated by her own self- interests and greed,” Anthony said. “The FBI is pleased Ms. Lee is being held accountable for these criminal actions. The FBI will continue to root out public corruption, whether it is elected officials that violate their oath and the law or citizens that bribe them to do so.”

Lee solicited and accepted things from Omar Abdelqader, including money, loans, campaign contributions, home improvements, home maintenance and consumer goods. These were provided directly by Omar Abdelqader, or through Bi-Rite and totaled more than $6,500, according to court documents and testimony.

In return, Lee performed and promised to perform official acts for Omar Abdelqader and other businesses in Akron for which he served as a conduit to Lee. These actions included helping Omar Abdelqader and his designees navigate government bureaucracy, achieve favorable outcomes in judicial and administrative proceedings and obtain streamlined access to information, according to court documents and testimony.

Omar Abdelqader was affiliated with several convenience stores and other businesses in the Akron area, including the Bi-Rite on Diagnonal Road. Abdelrahman Abdelqader is his brother and Samir Abdelqader is his nephew, according to court documents.

On June 8, 2014, Omar and Samir Abdelqader discussed Samir obtaining a bond regarding criminal charges he was facing. About 40 minutes later, Omar and Lee discussed the councilwoman emailing or calling the judge. On June 12, Lee called Judge 2’s chambers several times. The next day Lee asked Omar for money, and he directed her to the Bi-Rite to collect the money, according to court documents and testimony.

On June 14, 2014, Lee sent a text message to Omar informing him that the judge and bailiff returned her call. She then sent a text message to Omar stating: “I am going to bed, I am angry and frustrated and broke…bye,” according to according to court documents and testimony.

Later that day, Omar instructed Lee to send her daughter to the Bi-Rite to pick up cash. Three days later, Lee spoke to Judge 2 and told the judge she was related to Samir Abdelqader, according to court documents and testimony.

In July 2014, Lee and Omar spoke repeatedly about fundraising for her campaign. Omar told Person 9 that he had collected $800 in donations for Lee. Omar explained the Lee provided service. “In other words, I am keeping her because we need her, man,” Omar told Person 9, who responded: “She is better than an attorney to us!” according to court documents and testimony.

Omar Abdelqader, of North Canton, Abdelrahman Abdelqader, of Canton, and Samir Abdelqader, of Fairlawn, have pleaded guilty to crimes related to this case.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Linda Barr and Elliot Morrison following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Akron Police Department.

Terrence J. McNeil, 24, of Akron, Ohio, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for soliciting the murder of members of the U.S. military. McNeil pleaded guilty earlier this year to five counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence and five counts of making threatening interstate communications.

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI’s Cleveland Division made the announcement.

“With this sentence, McNeil is being held accountable for disseminating ISIS’s violent rhetoric, circulating U.S. military personnel information and explicitly calling for the killing of American service members in their homes and communities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente. “The National Security Division will continue to investigate and prosecute those who use social media to threaten acts of violence against our military members and their families, on behalf of terrorist organizations.”

 

“This defendant was dedicated to attacking members of the military here in the United States,” Acting U.S. Attorney Sierleja said. “This kind of fanaticism is dangerous and will be aggressively prosecuted.”

“It is reassuring knowing that Terrence McNeil will spend a significant amount of time behind bars for the crimes he committed. The FBI will continue to aggressively defend First Amendment rights, however in this case, McNeil went far beyond free speech by reposting names and addresses of 100 U.S. service members, all with the intent to have them killed,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony. “The FBI will remain vigilant in our efforts to stop those who wish to support these despicable acts.”

According to documents filed in the case:

McNeil professed his support on social media on numerous occasions for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, a designated foreign terrorist organization. On or about Sept. 24, 2015, using a Tumblr account, McNeil reblogged a file with the banner “Islamic State Hacking Division,” followed by “Target: United States Military” and “Leak: Addresses of 100 U.S. Military Personnel.”

The file type is a .gif file, which allows multiple still images to be looped in one file, with a timed delay between each image. The text of the first file reads “O Brothers in America, know that the jihad against the crusaders is not limited to the lands of the Khilafah, it is a world-wide jihad and their war is not just a war against the Islamic State, it is a war against Islam…Know that it is wajib (translated to “necessary”) for you to kill these kuffar! and now we have made it easy for you by giving you addresses, all you need to do is take the final step, so what are you waiting for? Kill them in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their streets thinking that they are safe…”

The file then loops several dozen photographs, purportedly of U.S. military personnel, along with their respective name, address and military branch. The final image looped is a picture of a handgun and a knife with text that reads “…and kill them wherever you find them…”

The defendant posted multiple other kill lists in late 2015, all of which repeated the same refrain, calling on others to seek out and murder U.S. servicemen and women.

McNeil also researched the price online of firearms for sale and possessed detailed bomb-making instructions, according to court documents.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Cleveland investigated this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christos Georgalis and Michelle Baeppler of the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

An Akron man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for soliciting the murder of members of the U.S. military.

Terrence J. McNeil, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this year to five counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence and five counts of making threatening interstate communications.

The sentencing was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI’s Cleveland Division.

"With this sentence, McNeil is being held accountable for disseminating ISIS's violent rhetoric, circulating U.S. military personnel information and explicitly calling for the killing of American service members in their homes and communities," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente. "The National Security Division will continue to investigate and prosecute those who use social media to threaten acts of violence against our military members and their families, on behalf of terrorist organizations."

“This defendant was dedicated to attacking members of the military here in the United States,” Acting U.S. Attorney Sierleja said. “This kind of fanaticism is dangerous and will be aggressively prosecuted.”

“It is reassuring knowing that Terrence McNeil will spend a significant amount of time behind bars for the crimes he committed. The FBI will continue to aggressively defend First Amendment rights, however in this case, McNeil went far beyond free speech by reposting names and addresses of 100 U.S. service members, all with the intent to have them killed,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony. “The FBI will remain vigilant in our efforts to stop those who wish to support these despicable acts.”

According to documents filed in the case:

McNeil professed his support on social media on numerous occasions for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

On or about Sept. 24, 2015, using a Tumblr account, McNeil reblogged a file with the banner “Islamic State Hacking Division,” followed by “Target: United States Military” and “Leak: Addresses of 100 U.S. Military Personnel.”

The file type is a .gif file, which allows multiple still images to be looped in one file, with a timed delay between each image. The text of the first file reads “O Brothers in America, know that the jihad against the crusaders is not limited to the lands of the Khilafah, it is a world-wide jihad and their war is not just a war against the Islamic State, it is a war against Islam…Know that it is wajib (translated to “necessary”) for you to kill these kuffar! and now we have made it easy for you by giving you addresses, all you need to do is take the final step, so what are you waiting for? Kill them in their own lands, behead them in their own homes, stab them to death as they walk their streets thinking that they are safe…”

The file then loops several dozen photographs, purportedly of U.S. military personnel, along with their respective name, address and military branch.

The final image looped is a picture of a handgun and a knife with text that reads “…and kill them wherever you find them…”

The defendant posted multiple other kill lists in late 2015, all of which repeated the same refrain, calling on others to seek out and murder U.S. servicemen and women.

McNeil also researched the price online of firearms for sale and possessed detailed bomb-making instructions, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris N. Georgalis and Michelle M. Baeppler, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, following an investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Cleveland.

 

Two people who operated an Akron restaurant were sentenced to prison for harboring and hiring undocumented workers, law enforcement officials said.

Zhou Qiang Zou, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by deportation. Xin Hsu was sentenced to nine months incarceration followed by nine months of house arrest. They are married and live in Akron. Both are 35 years old.

They were among the operators of the Royal Buffet and Grill restaurant in the Chapel Hill area of Akron. Hsu, Zou and others conspired to harbor and harbored at least 10 undocumented workers for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain. The conspiracy included employing the undocumented workers at the Royal Buffet and Grill, where they worked for below minimum wage or only for tips, according to court documents.

Hsu, Zou and others also failed to report and pay taxes on cash receipts for nearly a decade, resulting in a tax loss of at least $1.5 million.

The defendants also housed the undocumented workers at one of their residences on Annapolis Avenue in Akron and transported them to and from the Royal Buffet and Grill as part of the conspiracy. Hsu, Zou and others housed as many as 14 undocumented workers at one time inside a single-family house, according to court documents.

“These defendants violated immigration and tax laws, taking advantage of their workers and the taxpayers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

“Employers have a legal responsibility to hire and maintain an authorized workforce. Those who circumvent our immigration system will be held accountable,” said Steve Francis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit office.

“Individuals who corruptly violate the law to further their business interests and intentionally evade paying their fair share of taxes undermine public confidence in our tax system and unfairly disadvantage businesses that play by the rules,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “As these defendants have discovered, operating outside the law and failing to pay taxes have severe consequences."

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Teresa Riley and Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

Three Akron men were indicted for trying to pass counterfeit currency at the Summit Mall, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

Narlon Portis, Jr., 22, Rubin Smith, 21, and Christopher Cutlip, 21, were charged in the four-count indictment with making, possessing, uttering and dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities.

 

Portis, Smith and Cutlip passed and attempted to pass counterfeit U.S. currency at Summit Mall in Fairlawn on June 14, 2017. Mall security contacted the Fairlawn Police Department after one of the businesses reported the trio passed counterfeit $10 bills. Fairlawn Police located the suspects outside of the mall, found a large number of counterfeit bills and were arrested, according to court documents.

 

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 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 was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Fairlawn Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa L. Riley.

 

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.

Elmer S. McMasters, 28, of Uhrichsville, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

 

McMasters knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between October 2016 through March 2017. On April 18, 2017, McMasters possessed a cellular phone which contained child pornography, according to the indictment.

 

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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.

 

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 Parma man was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison for sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.

 

A jury last year convicted Richard Purnell, 56, of sex trafficking of children.

 

“This is a child rapist who deserves every day of this prison sentence,” Sierleja said. “This case is further proof that human trafficking happens all around us. We will go after customers as well as people who profit from human trafficking.”

 

“Purnell chose to repeatedly victimize a 14-year-old girl for his own sexual gratification without any regard for what is legally or morally acceptable," said Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI Cleveland Division. "His actions are reprehensible and unacceptable. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who engage in human trafficking.”

 

Purnell repeatedly engaged in commercial sex acts with the 14-year-old, whose images were posted on the website backpage.com by Ronnie Pratt. He continued to engage in commercial sex acts with the girl even after she told him she was only 14 years old, according to trial testimony.

 

Pratt is serving 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking charges.

 

The Purnell case is the first time a customer has been prosecuted federal in a human trafficking case in the Northern District of Ohio.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Linda Barr following an investigation by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force. The Child Exploitation Task Force is comprised of the FBI, Adult Parole Authority, Cleveland Metro Housing Authority, Cleveland Police Department and Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office. The Parma Police Department provided substantial assistance to the investigation.

A Highland Heights man pleaded guilty to selling furanyl fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Cleveland teen, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

 

Alec J. Steinberger, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct 31. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he faces a likely sentence of 12 years in prison.

 

Steinberger pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance the resulted in death, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug offense.

 

“We continue to go after drug dealers who sell opioids that kill our children, friends and neighbors,” Sierleja said. “Aggressive prosecution, combined with increased treatment, prevention and changes in prescribing practices are key to turning the tide on the heroin and opioid epidemic.”

 

“Investigators of the Heroin Death Investigation Team are trained to investigate heroin overdose cases and link the victims back to the dealers,” said Cleveland Division of Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “It is through the combined efforts of law enforcement, at the local, state and federal levels, and prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney’s Office that these indictments are secured and convictions are won. It is the hope that these examples will deter others from continuing this deadly cycle.”

 

Beginning on Jan. 30, 2016, Steinberger received Alprazolam (also known as Xanax) and furanyl fentanyl for distribution. Furanyl fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid. These drugs came to Steinberger through the mail, according to the indictment.

 

On Feb. 23, 2016, Steinberger texted an associated: “I just got a pack bro.” He then informed several people that he had drugs for sale, including a man identified in the indictment only as L.H.

 

Steinberger texted L.H. repeatedly the next day. Messages included: “bro I did it last night any my pupils got so small they disappeared and then I was nodding for 18 hrs,” “Bro this is uncut from the road” and “this is uncut from china,” according to the indictment.

 

Steinberger then repeatedly texted L.H. if he knew anyone that could cut or dilute the drugs and repackage it for sale. Steinberger texted: “We gonna chill tmr” “and go to the hood and give samples” and “try and find out how to cut and re rock,” according to the indictment.

 

Shortly after midnight on Feb. 25, Steinberger texted L.H.: “Find me customers and tell them you’re the plug and I’ll get it to you and then sell it and cut u in a tiny bit and throw u a free (Klonopin) and dope,” according to the indictment.

 

On Feb. 25, L.H. fatally overdosed on furanyl fentanyl he bought from Steinberger, according to the indictment.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Cronin following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Cleveland Division of Police.

An Akron man was indicted on federal firearms charges.

 

Quincey T. Smith, 26, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

 

The indictment alleges that on or about June 28, 2017, Smith did knowingly possess in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, a 9mm pistol, along with ammunition.

 

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 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Akron Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Linda H. Barr.

 

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 federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Keith Wilson, 36, of Youngstown, with failing to register as a sex offender, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott.

 

The indictment alleges that on or about July 11, 2017, Wilson, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, traveled in interstate commerce and did knowingly fail to register, or update a registration.

 

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 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 United States Marshal Service. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

 

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.

Two Ohio men were indicted on federal firearms charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

Indicted are Ronald A. Stevens, 44, of Youngstown, and Christopher Ray Damron, 33, of Sherrodsville.

 

Both are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Their case are unrelated.

 

Damron on March 22, 2017, possessed a Colt, model Mustang Pocketlite, .380 pistol, and ammunition, despite prior convictions in Summit County for rape and attempted intimidation of a witness, according to the indictment.

 

Stevens possessed Rohm, model RG38, .38 revolver, and ammunition on April 8, 2017, despite a prior felony conviction for attempted felonious assault, according to the indictment.

 

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

 

Both cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer following investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Youngstown Police Department also investigated the Stevens cases while the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office also investigated the Damron case.

 

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 federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Cameron Cleveland, 39, of Ravenna, with armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during the robbery, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

Cameron Cleveland used force, intimidation and a firearm to rob the Huntington Bank in Ravenna on July 10, 2017. On that same day, Cleveland knowingly used and brandished a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to the indictment.

 

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 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 and the Ravenna Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.

 

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 Marion man was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for robbing two banks in Marion last summer.

A jury convicted Ronald R. Myles, Jr., 35, earlier this year of robbing two Commercial Savings Bank branches in June 2016. U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary sentenced Myles to 222 months in prison.

Myles wore a ski mask, pointed a firearm at bank employees and threatened them during the robberies, according to trial testimony and court documents.

Myles served eight years in state prison for two previous robberies, according to court documents.

Marion County Sheriff Tim Bailey said: "I am grateful for the efforts of my office, the Marion City Police Department, the FBI, the citizens who provided information to assist with the investigation, and also the U.S. Attorney's Office. Ultimatley the cooperation of all of these agencies and individuals assisted with the arrest and conviction of Mr. Myles who is no longer a threat to our community or others on behalf of everyones efforts."

“Any time we can take a dangerous criminal out of our community is a positive step in making Marion a better place to live,” Marion Police Chief William Collins said. “Law enforcement from the city, county and on a federal level work well together on major crimes as is evidenced in this case.”

 

“This prison sentence removes a dangerous person from the streets of Marion,” Acting U.S. Attorney David Sierleja said. “The FBI and Marion Police Department demonstrated once again that they work together to make our communities safer.”

“Ronald R. Myles, Jr. put the life of a bank teller and customer in jeopardy when he used a deadly weapon during the commission of the bank robberies,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “It is defendants like Mr. Myles that the FBI and our local partners will not tolerate and who will be held accountable for such violent acts.”

 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Marion Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracey Ballard Tangeman and Thomas P. Weldon.

A Chinese national living in Massachusetts was arrested and charged with distributing opioids and other drugs that were shipped from China to the United States and ultimately to Ohio, law enforcement officials said.

Bin Wang, 42, operated Cambridge Chemicals, Wonda Science, and other companies from a warehouse in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Law enforcement began investigating shipments of carfentanil, fentanyl and other opioids in August 2016, after a series of fatal overdoses in Northeast Ohio, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.

That investigation led them to several Chinese web sites, which they learned were selling kilogram amounts of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, which were shipped via private carriers such as FedEx. One of the web sites was used to purchase acetylfentanyl that caused the overdose deaths of two Summit County residents in 2015, according to the affidavit.

Beginning in November 2016, undercover agents began ordering opioids and other drugs from a man in China identified at “Gordon Jin.” The agents wired money to China using Western Union or MoneyGram. Investigators learned Jin sent the drugs Wang in Massachusetts, who in turn mailed the drugs domestically, including to locations in Northeast Ohio, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit details numerous sales and shipments of drugs from China to Massachusetts to Ohio from November 2016 through this month.

“Increasingly, the opioids that are killing our friends and neighbors are being sent here from China,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David Sierleja. “Shutting down this pipeline will help in our efforts to turn the tide on the opioid epidemic. We will focus on prevention, education, and aggressive law enforcement, both here and around the world.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon said: “The importation of opioids and other synthetic drugs from China has played a significant role in America’s current drug use epidemic. Over 60,000 people a year die from drug overdoses in this country, and halting all methods of drug trafficking, including by way of the Internet is a top priority of the DEA. This investigation makes clear that geographic and technological hurdles will not stop DEA and our partners from bringing to justice those responsible for the illegal distribution of drugs in the U.S.”

“As opioids and other dangerous drugs continue to plague our communities in Ohio, a unified law enforcement community is the only way to stem the tide of this dangerous and deadly epidemic,” said Steve Francis, special agent in charge HSI Detroit, which covers Michigan and Ohio. “In order to have a significant impact, these organizations must be attacked from the street-level dealer to the wholesale distributor.”

“This investigation is a great example of a collaborative effort of federal agencies and a local drug task force working together to identify and track down people and organizations that are responsible for the ever-increasing shipments of very powerful synthetic opiates into Ohio,” said Don Hall, director of the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency.

 

The investigation is ongoing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Cronin following an investigation by the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency, a drug task force serving Wayne County.

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

A charge 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 Canton man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for child pornography crimes, said Acting U.S. Attorney David Sierleja and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.

Matthew Ungashick, 40, was sentenced to 121 months in prison. He knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in July 2016. He also possessed a two external computer hard drives and numerous computer disks, each of which contained child pornography, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.

Three men were indicted for illegally reentering the United States, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

Jacinto Guzaro-Brito, 31, was last deported to Guatemala on December 4, 2013. He was recently found in Tuscarawas County, according to the indictment.

 

Fredy Said Maradiaga-Zambrano, 28, was last deported to Honduras on May 30, 2014. He was recently found in Ashland County, according to the indictment.

 

Juan Carlos Alvarez-Jocobo, aka Juan Carlos Alvarez, aka Juan C. Alvarez, 30, was last deported to Mexico on October 19, 2012. He was recently found in Mahoning County.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karrie D. Howard is prosecuting the Brito and Zambrano cases following an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security and the New Philadelphia Police Department (Brito) and the Ashland Police Department (Zambrano).

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson is prosecuting the Jocobo case following an investigation by the Campbell Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.

 

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.

 

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.

Seven men from Cuyahoga County were indicted on federal firearms charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney David Sierleja and Trevor Velinor, ATF Special Agent in Charge for the Columbus Field Division.

Indicted are: Deonte Tate, 33; Michael Simpson, 38; Rondell Harris, 28; Isaac Hobbs, 34; Michael D. Gaines, 38; Russell G. Jackson, 32, and Andre Hatcher, 24. All the men live in Cleveland but Gaines, who lives in Maple Heights.

“This group of defendants included armed robbers, drug traffickers and a rapist, all of whom continued to carry guns and ammo the way other people carry a lunch box or briefcase,” Sierleja said. “We will keep working to take violent predators off the streets.”

“ATF is committed to combating gun violence throughout our country,” Velinor said. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local level to make our communities safer.”

Tate had a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition on April 25, despite having prior felony convictions, including aggravated robbery with a firearm specification and felonious assault, drug trafficking and having weapons under disability, according to the indictment.

Simpson had a .38-caliber revolver on June 15, despite prior felony convictions for robbery, abduction, felonious assault and having weapons under disability, according to the indictment.

Harris had a 9 mm pistol on June 2 despite prior felony convictions for gross sexual imposition, having weapons under disability and possession of a deadly weapon while under detention, according to the indictment.

Hobbs had a .22-caliber long rifle on June 5 despite prior felony convictions including aggravated robbery with a firearms specification, attempted felonious assault and assault on a peace officer, according to the indictment.

Gaines had a 9 mm pistol and ammunition on June 14 despite prior felony convictions for rape, drug trafficking and assault on a peace officer, according to the indictment.

Jackson had a sawed-off shotgun, a .40-caliber pistol and ammunition on June 9 despite prior felony convictions for drug trafficking, according to the indictment.

Hatcher had a 9 mm pistol and ammunition on June 5 despite prior felony convictions for robbery with a firearms specification and felonious assault, according to the indictment.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the police departments of Cleveland, Solon and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing 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.

 

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

 

A grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Kenneth Ray Evans, 51, of Mentor, with receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said David A. Sierleja, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

 

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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough following an investigation by the Mentor Police Department and the FBI.

 

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 Cleveland man was indicted on child pornography charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

Richard Nunez, 34, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

 

Nunez knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between Dec. 17, 2016, through May 26, 2017. On June 22, 2017, Nunez also possessed a laptop computer and an external hard drive, each of which contained child pornography, according to the indictment.

 

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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Cleveland office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.

 

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 Cleveland man was charged with carjacking, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja.

 

Shairon L. Motley-Lipscomb, 21, used violence on May 14 to take a 2008 Buick Enclave, according to the indictment.

 

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 is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karrie D. Howard following an investigation by the Cleveland Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

 

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.