Four from Northeast Ohio indicted for trafficking heroin and fentanyl

Four people from Northeast Ohio were named in 23-count federal indictment, charged with conspiring the distribute more than a kilogram of heroin as well as fentanyl, law enforcement officials said.

Indicted are: Kevin Adkins, 41, of Maple Heights; Darrell Massingille, 36, of Cleveland; Tammy Parsons, 29, of North Ridgeville, and Jack Morgan, 50, of Cleveland.

The conspiracy took place between July 2015 and March 2016. Adkins supplied heroin to Massingille. He also relied on Massengille and Parsons to arrange meetings with other people to whom they could sell them heroin and fentanyl, according to the indictment.

Adkins also supplied heroin to Morgan, who in turn sold it to other people. Both Adkins and Morgan possessed firearms and ammunition in furtherance of the conspiracy, according to the indictment.

“We will continue to work to disrupt the supply of heroin and fentanyl coming into our community while also focusing on prevention, treatment and education in an effort to reduce demand for these deadly drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian M. Stickan and Duncan Brown following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service.

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.