News

AKRON  – A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Kevin Lewis Hedrick, 37, of New Franklin, Ohio, with attempting to coerce or entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and receiving and viewing child pornographic images. 

CLEVELAND – A Parkland, Florida, man pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023,  to devising a scheme that defrauded several companies involved in the sale of polymers, including one business in Northeast Ohio, and multiple logistic companies, causing losses of more than $4.1 million.

CLEVELAND – A federal jury today found Robert J. Rohrbaugh, 49, of Canfield, Ohio, guilty of engaging in a conspiracy to help two men illegally obtain more than $1.3 million from the IRS following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson in Youngstown.

CLEVELAND  – DeWayne Taylor, 33, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 13 ½ years in prison today by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after he pleaded guilty to assaulting federal law enforcement officers, brandishing a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

CLEVELAND  – A Cleveland man was sentenced to 13 ½ years in prison on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams for his role in an armed carjacking that occurred at an Elyria-area gas station on Jan. 27, 2022.

CLEVELAND – The owner of two corporations in Solon and Highland Heights, Ohio, was sentenced on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $195,900.34 in restitution to the Small Business Administration (SBA) by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after he pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to unlawfully obtain Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans.

TOLEDO – A Mexican national was sentenced on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge James G. Carr after he pleaded guilty to his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy in the Toledo area, as well as illegal reentry into the United States.

CLEVELAND  –  A Nigerian national was sentenced today to more than three years – or 37 months – in prison by U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin after he was convicted by a jury of formulating a conspiracy to obtain stolen financial information, making fraudulent and unauthorized purchases of retail goods and gift cards, and stealing funds from victim bank accounts in Northern Ohio and elsewhere.

AKRON – A Ravenna man was sentenced today to more than 12 years – or 151 months – in prison and 15 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after he pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and interstate communication with intent to extort.

CLEVELAND – Kevin L. Walker Jr., 31, of Lorain, was sentenced on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko after he pleaded guilty to possession of drugs and distribution of fentanyl that led to an overdose death.  

CLEVELAND – In recognition of January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio is encouraging residents to continue the fight against human trafficking by raising awareness and reporting tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.

CLEVELAND  – Lance Tobias, 56, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, January 5, 2023, to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after he pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to ship fentanyl pills through the U.S. mail.