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Press Release

Five people charged in federal court after they were arrested with nearly 20 pounds of cocaine, fentanyl and approximately $1 million

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio

Five people were charged in federal court after they were arrested with nearly 20 pounds of cocaine, fentanyl and approximately $1 million.

Kenneth Blackshaw, 53, of Cleveland; Jorge Alberto Barrera, 43, of Mexico; Jorge Alberto Barrera Gutierrez Jr., 24, of Fresno, California; Miguel Angel Marquez, 44, of Fresno, California, and Donald Earl Knighten 43, of Bedford, were each charged in federal court with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics.

Blackshaw, Barrera, Gutierrez, Marquez and Knighten were arrested on June 15 at 1538 Addison Road in Cleveland. DEA agents searched the house and found nine individually wrapped bundles of cocaine, as well as 32 bundles of cash, according to court documents.

A second search warrant was served at Blackshaw’s home on East 85th Street with nearly 200 grams of suspected fentanyl and approximately 595 grams of marijuana recovered.

“Intercepting 20 pounds of cocaine, as well as fentanyl, before it hits the streets of Cleveland will undoubtedly save lives,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “The DEA and their partners are to be thanked for working around the clock this weekend to make the arrests and seize the drugs, as well as approximately $1 million in drug proceeds.”

DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Keith W. Martin said: “The DEA’s mission is to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs, and this case is a great example of that work. This seizure and arrests will help make Cleveland safer.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould following an investigation by the DEA.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. 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 only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Contact

Mike Tobin
216.622.3651
michael.tobin@usdoj.gov

Updated June 17, 2019

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Opioids