Brothers indicted for selling heroin and fentanyl; sales continued after overdose death

Two brothers were indicted for conspiring to bring large amounts of heroin and fentanyl to Northeast Ohio from Connecticut, said U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.

The six-count indictment charges Mizraim Vega, 27, of South Euclid, and Abimelec Vega, 25, of Cleveland, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, acetylfentanyl and fentanyl. It charges them with additional substantive counts of distribution of heroin, fentanyl and acetylfentanyl in August and September.

According to court documents, Abimelec Vega identified himself as a member of the Latin Kings gang and could obtain large shipments of heroin and fentanyl from another Latin King member.

According to court documents, the Vegas sold 80 grams of heroin for $8,000 on Aug. 26. Mizraim Vega said: “The one thing I’ll tell is to make sure to cut it (dilute the heroin). That stuff…you can’t send it to the street like that, it’s too strong. That stuff could kill someone, bro!”

On Sept. 3, Abimelec Vega informed a source that he was changing phones because someone had died from heroin or fentanyl he had sold, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Sweeney following an investigation by the FBI.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

An indictment is only 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.