Cleveland man likely faces 17 years in prison for selling heroin that caused three overdoses in Wooster

A Cleveland man will likely be sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to selling heroin that caused three overdoses in Wooster, law enforcement officials said.

Demetrius L. Frizzell, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of attempted witness tampering.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 29. The plea agreement calls for a recommended sentence of 204 months in prison.

Wooster police learned about a heroin overdose victim who on Nov. 3 was brought to an emergency room unresponsive and appeared to be deceased. He was revived after emergency-room staff administered 12 doses of Narcan. Investigators traced the sale of heroin to Frizzell, according to court documents.

Frizzell also sold heroin on Oct. 29 and Nov. 2 that resulted in overdoses. All three people who overdosed were revived with Narcan, according to court documents.

Frizzell made a call from jail to an unknown male and instructed him to go to the home of one of the people who overdosed called and get him “in line,” according to court documents.

“Heroin has caused devastation throughout Ohio and no corner of the state is immune,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja. “Aggressive enforcement, combined with increased treatment, prevention and education, is our best chance to turn around this epidemic.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon stated: “Overdoses and overdose deaths related to heroin have become an epidemic across the country and Ohio has been hit particularly hard by this problem. Identifying and bringing to justice those individuals that distribute illegal drugs that result in an overdose, is one of DEA’s top priorities.”

MEDWAY Director Donald Hall said: “The MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency will continue to collaborate and work closely with our federal partners to hold people accountable for their actions who are involved in trafficking drugs in our communities.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency, the Wooster Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Teresa Riley and Justin Seabury Gould.