Federal, county and local law enforcement officials announced June 22 that 31 individuals, including a Lorain man, were charged in two separate indictments for their roles in drug trafficking conspiracies that involved the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in the Northern District of Ohio, including in Lorain, Marion and Wyandot counties, according to a news release.
Twenty-one were arrested during an early morning operation and transported to federal court in Cleveland.
“These arrests reflect law enforcement targeting organizations that sell deadly drugs in our communities to hold those organizations accountable for the lives they regularly destroy,” United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko said in the release.
Freddie Sanchez, 36, of Lorain, and more than 30 individuals were charged in two separate multi-count indictments with the following charges: conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense, according to the release.
According to the indictments, between as early as on or about Sept. 1, 2020, and continuing through on or about June 14, 2023, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), oxycodone and methamphetamine, the release said.
The co-conspirators obtained fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine-base (“crack”), oxycodone and methamphetamine from suppliers in Lorain, Columbus and Marion, according to the release.
The co-conspirators concentrated their redistribution of these drugs in and around Marion.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized three kilograms of fentanyl, two kilograms of cocaine, over a kilogram of methamphetamine, 15 firearms and $25,546 in cash.
