22 People Charged Federally On Heroin Trafficking And Related Charges
“Â drug epidemic in NE Ohio is as significant as anywhere in the United States”
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Twenty-two 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 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, except for 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.
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.
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.
“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.”
“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.
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.”
