United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CLEVELAND, Ohio. - Two Mexican nationals and a Cleveland man were charged in federal court after law enforcement agents seized more than 140 pounds of methamphetamine in Hudson, believed to be the largest seizure of meth in Ohio history.

Tyrone Rogers, 36, Hector Manuel Ramos-Nevarez, 26, and Gilbert Treviso-Garcia, 24, are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

They were arrested after DEA agents seized approximately 82 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from 7592 Olde Eight Road in Hudson. They also seized an additional 60 pounds of liquid meth from the same warehouse.

The seizure of crystal methamphetamine came the same week another Mexican national was arrested with approximately 44 (20 kilograms) of heroin on State Route 8 in Akron. Octavio Barragan-Manzo was indicted Tuesday on one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

“Although we in Northeast Ohio are far from the border, these cases demonstrate that the threat posed by Mexican criminal organizations to our region is very real,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “International drug trafficking organizations are active right here in our backyard and they seek to profit from the misery of our friends and neighbors struggling with addiction. The destruction caused by heroin and fentanyl is well documented, and now we are seeing an influx of crystal methamphetamine and cocaine. Law enforcement will work vigilantly to choke off the supply of these deadly drugs here in Ohio, and we need to come together as a community to reduce the demand.”

“These seizures are yet another example of the prevalence of drugs and the demand for drugs in the Cleveland area and surrounding communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon. “The DEA continues our efforts to target drug traffickers especially those contributing to the opioid epidemic in America.”
 
Akron Police Chief Kenneth Ball said: “This case represents a win for law enforcement and our citizens.  It reflects the dedication of our investigators and strength of partnering organizations that join with us to make our communities safer.  Unfortunately, it also represents that the threat of illegal drug activities remain formidable.  I look forward to a sentencing that will properly protect us from these drug trafficking predators.”

"Law enforcement in Ohio is working every day to stop those bringing these deadly drugs into our state," said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. "Task forces operating as part of my office's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission will continue to work in partnership with state, local, and federal authorities to intercept drugs before they can be abused." 

Rogers traveled from Cleveland to the La Quinta Inn in Macedonia last month, where he picked up two men later identified as Ramos-Nevarez and Treviso-Garcia. Together, they traveled to a residence at 226 Barrington Place East in Aurora. Rogers drove the two men between Barrington Place East and the location on Olde Eight Road several times, according to court documents.

Investigators executed a delayed-notice search warrant at 7592 Olde Eight Road on March 24, where they seized approximately 82 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. The location appeared to be a crystal methamphetamine processing facility used to make, package and distribute the drug, according to court documents.

Since it was a delayed-notice warrant, no notification was left at Olde Eight Road. Investigators listened to several conversations about who had “broken into” the location. Rogers and others believed it was an inside person who robbed them, according to court documents.

Investigators intercepted telephone calls in which Rogers got the “green light” (believed to be from his Mexican supplier) to kill the person Rogers believed stole his drugs. Rogers said people were going to “knock his head in,” according to court documents.

Investigators arrested Rogers, Ramos-Nevarez and Treviso-Garcia on March 24, believing they were going to kill the person they incorrectly believed took the 82 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from 7592 Olde Eight Road. Investigators found an additional 60 pounds of liquid meth during another search of that location. Another search of other locations associated with Rogers resulted in the seizure of four firearms, according to court documents.

In the heroin case, Barragan-Manzo was arrested on March 21 after he was found with 20 kilogram-sized packages containing heroin. Barragan-Manzo was stopped driving on State Route 8 in Akron, according to court documents.

An Ohio State Highway Patrol canine positively alerted to the presence of drugs. Law enforcement officers then located 20 brick-shaped objects which later tested positive for heroin. A subsequent search of a location in Akron resulted in the seizure of three pistols, a rifle and a shotgun, according to court documents.

The Barragan-Manzo case was investigated by the DEA, Akron Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis.

The methamphetamine case is being investigated by the Cleveland DEA Task Force, which includes representatives from the Lake County Narcotics Agency, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Euclid Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Boston Heights Police Department, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cleveland Division of Police, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio BCI and U.S. Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa T. Darden.

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 indictment is 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.