CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Fourteen people are facing federal charges in connection with one of the largest heroin/fentanyl drug trafficking organizations in the greater Cincinnati area.. AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - Six people are behind bars after an extensive, ongoing investigation by Akron Police Department led to two major drug busts. Seized from the residence were a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, two ounces of crack, and several thousand dollars in cash. It happened at an apartment building in the 900 block . Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. "Officers arrested two individuals in Akron, Ohio, nine individuals in Huntington and Charleston. He even lied to our cameras about where he is from. Akron. All rights reserved (About Us). Learn more about our streaming options here. According to authorities, each person is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, valeryl fentanyl and cocaine. According to FBI Special Agent Todd Krajeck, Elias imported two to five pounds of crystal meth per month from California for $2,400 a pound. Backing the claims from investigators, three more alleged dealers were shuffled into the Cabell County Courthouse Wednesday. "We're taking a very aggressive approach towards the drug dealers and our citizens are fully bought in," Chief Dial said. Officials said Carlos Elias and his wife, Lisa, were arrested on federal drug charges. "Everyone is aware there's a group of individuals that are coming out of Akron dealing drugs," Chief Hank Dial says. Amanda Howard, 43, was charged with possession, police said. Law enforcement also searched locations in Akron, Medina County, Tuscarawas County and Canton. The feds say the seizure of 140 pounds of methamphetamine is likely the largest in Ohio's history. Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, Ohio Gov. Shirnina Bates, 35 and Zevon McCurdy, 39, are each charged with drug trafficking and drug possession, both first-degree felonies, Akron Municipal Court records show. Steffens brother, Anthony Roberson, who is known as the Chemist, would manufacture heroin and fentanyl mixtures for the group cutting the narcotics with fillers and looking for ways to make the drug mixtures more potent, Parker explained. In total, law enforcement officials seized approximately 16.6 kilograms of fentanyl, 9.9 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of valeryl fentanyl, 400 grams of cocaine, one semiautomatic rifle, and four semiautomatic pistols during the execution of the search warrants. On a per-share basis, the Akron, Ohio-based company said it had . Officers with the Huntington Violent Crime Federal Drug Task Force and Huntington Police Department Special Investigations Bureau were involved with the investigation. ORIGINAL STORY 9/19/2018 @ 12:36 p.m. Three people from Akron, Ohio, were arrested Wednesday in a Huntington drug bust, Huntington Police say. Eight guns were from various locations. Five children--ages 1 to 16--were removed from the home. Posted on February 27, 2023 by Constitutional Nobody. Officers detained Stafford, entered a bathroom and found multiple bags of various sizes both on the floor and inside the toilet. Indictments have been returned against more than a dozen people accused of trafficking heroin and cocaine in Lorain County. The fight is still on and we're not gonna stop.". Authorities found three types of drugs, over $87,000 and four guns when they searched two homes Tuesday in Akron. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. On Feb. 20, officers with the St. Clairsville Police Department stopped a vehicle in the Burger King parking lot off Plaza Drive. Tiffin, Ohio - The Seneca County Drug Task Force, along with the Seneca County Sheriff's Office, the Tiffin Police Department and Seneca County Probation Services executed a drug-related search . Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Jon Husted Akron officer faces 21 counts of pandering obscenity involving girls Man, 18, arrested in relation to fatal New Year's Eve Kenmore shooting 3 killed, 5 injured in Michigan State University shootings; suspect dead Man . Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Twenty-nine of the 45 indicted individuals . Three people from Akron, Ohio, were arrested Wednesday in a Huntington drug bust, Huntington Police say. 2023 The Associated Press. Myers expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.55 to $1.85 per share. The organization reportedly sent narcotics to Akron and Fairfield, Ohio, as well as Gary, Indiana. Federal prosecutors say that Steffen Worm Roberson, 40, of Cincinnati, was running one of the largest heroin/fentanyl drug trafficking organizations in the Cincinnati area. See a spelling or grammar error in our story? The two employees, Orlando Candelario Almanza, 49 . All rights reserved. Law enforcement seized around $150,000 in cash, 10 kilograms of fentanyl, multiple vehicles and 28 firearms as part of the investigation. AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - A federal grand jury returned an eighteen-count superseding indictment, charging 13 people as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that sought to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and other controlled substances in the Akron area. The three are accused of trafficking drugs in a home on Woodridge Drive. The Southeast Major Crimes Drug Task . This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. by Robert Romano. Nine members of the alleged conspiracy were arrested Thursday morning after the indictment was unsealed in federal court. FBI agents and several other law enforcement agencies executed eight arrest warrants and seven search warrants in Massillon and throughout the Akron and Canton area in connection with a major. All rights reserved. Decharae Key, 28, and Dustin Austin, 31, both of Akron, are charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. They were arrested in September 2021. In addition, various members of the group are charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, maintaining a drug premises and using a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense. In an exclusive investigation early September, WSAZ told you about a new drug pipeline emerging from Akron, Ohio, to our region. I just got here.". He was serving probation on those charges at the time of the arrest. The Anti-Violence Bureau, assisted by SWAT,. Named in the indictment are 10 defendants from Akron: Damien Roger Marcel Stafford, 41; Chezerae D. Floyd, 44; Lucian D. Blackwell, 41; Craig L. Johnstone, 49; Rausheeda L. Hyshaw, 41; Antwain D. Stewart, 41; Ricky Lynn Vaughn, 60; Clifford E. Stafford, 44; Dorshaun R. Tucker, 41; and Marian Ripley, 21; Also named were Alexander Prieto, 41, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Travis Blankenship, 31, and Jessica McClanahan, 31, both of Charleston, West Virginia. It happened at an apartment building in the 900 block of 9th Avenue where officers seized about 13 grams of fentanyl, 110 grams of crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, a firearm and drug paraphernalia. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. On September 23, 2021, law enforcement officers with the FBI, ATF, Greater Akron Safe Streets Task Force and Akron Police Department executed search warrants at multiple residences connected to the drug trafficking conspiracy. Elias is said to be the local distributor of drugs. A family member went to the house early on Wednesday to pick up the kids. It's said to be the culmination of a nearly six month investigation by law enforcement into a Mexican drug trafficking organization. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Police also recovered a vehicle as evidence. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The Anti-Violence Bureau, assisted by SWAT, made the arrests Tuesday after conducting search warrants at two Akron homes. It's a supply and demand thing.". "We're gonna keep that up. All rights reserved. Huge Northeast Ohio drug bust includes THC-enhanced kid's cereal Obtaining a search warrant for a home on the 600 block of Hudson Avenue, detectives reportedly showed up at the residence. 4:30AM A major drug bust in Akron that's the first of its kind in Ohio\r\r\rWEWS NewsChannel5 is On Your Side with breaking news \u0026 weather updates -- NewsChannel 5 brings you the latest trusted news and information from Cleveland to Akron and throughout all of northeast Ohio.\r\rWEWS NewsChannel5 is the leading television station in Northeast Ohio. A drug raid in Cleveland led to the seizure of an AK-47, AR-15, eight other guns and eight arrests, police say. In total 23 people are being charged with the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin. "I think the most frustrating part is it's never gonna go away. The incident happened about 7:30 a.m. on West 17th Street west of Oberlin Avenue, according to a news release from Lorain police. Summit County, OH - Sheriff Drew Alexander announced today the arrest of three subjects after a SWAT team entry by the Summit County Sheriff's Office at Preston Avenue in Akron, Ohio. Yalinda Cunningham, 37, was charged with trafficking and possession, police said. Upon speaking with the driver of the vehicle, officers obtained reasonable suspicion to call for K9 Ruger. "We adapt and then they do," Lt. Dave Garro said of drug dealers. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). A pit bull dog with two pit bull puppies were encountered during the entry. Cash seized in search: Akron police arrest 30-year-old on drug trafficking charges, seize $103,000 cash They are all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl . For the year, the company reported profit of $60.3 million, or $1.64 per share. AKRON, Ohio (AP) AKRON, Ohio (AP) Myers Industries Inc. (MYE) on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter profit of $13.4 million. AKRON, Ohio The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced Thursday that 13 people have been indicted on charges relating to a drug trafficking conspiracy that sought . The bust happened about 2:30 a.m. Thursday, police say. Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. "I'm from Kentucky. Those suspects were scheduled to appear in federal court in Akron Wednesday afternoon. The investigation was a collaboration between Akron police, the FBI and ATF. Copyright 2021 WOIO. Animal Control officials assisted and the animals were transported to the animal shelter. Donte L. Gibson, age 41, and Audrey J. Gibson, age 36, of Akron were sentenced today for their roles in a conspiracy to bring large amounts of fentanyl and carfentanil into the United States from China and then sell the drugs in Akron and Lorain, as well as firearms and money laundering violations. They are being transported the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center. Jose Cuevas, 28, Javier Roque, 30, and Nicholas Stewart, 35, were previously arrested and charged locally in Stark and Summit counties on drug trafficking and weapons violations, officials reported. "They seem to be a more dangerous younger group than the dealers from Detroit.". All rights reserved. Akron Drug Bust, Arrests Announced Published: Mar. "The Akron Police Department remains committed to enhancing public safety, and doing its part in taking illegal drugs and guns off the streets, while helping to make communities safer," the. Federal grand jury charges 11 Ohio residents with Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. Authorities said the drugs were stored in various houses in Akron and distributed out of those homes. Police arrested a father and son following an investigation into the sale of heroin, cocaine and prescription opiates in Lorain County. Akron Police: 6 arrested after searches reveal drugs, weapons. FBI agents and several other law enforcement agencies executed eight arrest warrants and seven search warrants in Massillon and throughout the Akron and Canton area in connection with a major drug take down operation. All were charged with intent to distribute and distribution of crystal methamphetamine, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of crystalmethamphetamine. Owners of four car repair or car sales shops in Cleveland and Parma are accused of running two drug rings that sold heroin, fentanyl, ecstasy and cocaine in Northeast Ohio, federal prosecutors said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Over the last four years, the 14 people trafficked drugs in the greater Cincinnati area, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth L. Parker. During an investigation on Sept. 23, 2021, authorities executed search warrants and seized more than 16 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram valeryl fentanyl and 400 grams of cocaine. Published: Jan. 19, 2022 at 8:37 AM PST SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - More than a half of a million dollars in cash, along with 11 guns, an AR-15, and 10 pounds of marijuana were found at two. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). of marijuana with a street value of $150,000, 11 lbs. Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, Ohio Gov. Stuart said 11 people were arrested Wednesday morning around 6 AM on drug charges as a result of "Operation Flat Tire". He has prior arrests for drug abuse, obstruction, and contempt of court. DeWine returns to East Palestine, Madison Burger King fire causes total loss, House fire in Cleveland brings down power line, Closed Captioning/Audio Description Problems. I was moving to 17th Street. Andrea Hilhoan, 32, was charged with trafficking and weapons under disability, police said. At one residence, officers encountered Damien Stafford, who is considered to be the mastermind of the scheme, wearing latex gloves and a mask. FBI sources told newsnet5.coms Bob Jones the raid involved crystal meth trafficking and could have ties to heroin in California. Copyright 2022 by WTOP. Stafford enlisted Hyshaw, Floyd, Blankenship, McClanahan, Clifford Strafford, Tucker, Blackwell and Riley to transport the drugs to be stored at multiple residences in the Akron area. 19, 2007 at 12:18 PM PDT | Updated: Mar. In an update to a WSAZ investigation, we can tell you that three people from Akron are facing charges after a drug arrest in Huntington. You can also catch News 5 Cleveland on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, YouTube TV, DIRECTV NOW, Hulu Live and more. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Some of the individuals are charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, maintaining a drug premises and using a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense. As of 1:30 p.m., 10 had been arrested. The suspected drug ring, which operated in the Cincinnati area, reportedly sent fentanyl, heroin and other drugs to Akron and Fairfield, Ohio, as well as Gary, Indiana. Steffen and the 13 others are also accused of distributing narcotics in Akron and Fairfield, Ohio, and Gary, Indiana as well. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Late last week, a task force reportedly issued multiple warrants and arrested at least four people involved in illegal drug activity in Stark and Summit Counties. Acting US Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler made the announcement Thursday. Twenty people were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy that brought heroin and other drugs to Akron and an Akron was charged with providing heroin that resulted in an overdose death, law enforcement officials announced today. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Any tips or information on Parishs location should be sent to FBI Cincinnati at 513-421-4310. Greg Ruple pled guilty to possession of cocaine and obstructing official business on October 17, 2006. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, Iraqi president says country now peaceful, life is returning, Florida Dems pick Fried to lead party after tough midterms, Padres slugger Machado draws first pitch clock violation, Zombie drug challenging response to Maryland opioid crisis, No more digging for change: Dulles Toll Road goes cashless. All rights reserved. The arrests culminated a three-week investigation by the Summit County Drug Unit. of meth with a street value of $150,000, and $100,000 in cash. Parish has not been found and has an outstanding arrest warrant, Parker said. Two of the alleged dealers were tight-lipped, but Austin had a lot to say to our cameras. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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