Four people indicted for a conspiracy involving hundreds of pounds of marijuana as well as marijuana vape cartridges

Four people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy involving hundreds of pounds of marijuana as well as marijuana vape cartridges.

Named in the five-count indictment are: Robert Berman, 33, of North Hollywood, California; Todd Brown, Jr., 31, of Canton; Dakota Walters, 27, of Lexington, Ohio, and Salim Womack, 25, of Toledo.

All four are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and  possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Womack is additionally charged with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

According to court documents:

Homeland Security Investigations agents on September 3 observed a man, later determined to be Berman, load boxes from a truck to a unit at Life Storage facility on West 130^th Street in Cleveland.

Two men, later determined to be Walters and Womack, then loaded several boxes they received from Berman into the bed of their pickup truck. A subsequent search of the truck revealed the 18 boxes containing suspected marijuana vape cartridges. Womack also possessed a Ruger 9 mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, according to court documents.

Berman then met with a man driving a minivan, later determined to be Brown. Brown and Berman made an exchange, and Brown drove away in the minivan and Berman drove off in a Budget rental box truck. Following a stop, investigators recovered approximately nine boxes of suspected marijuana plants from the minivan.

A search of the box truck resulted in the seizure of two bags of cash, totaling approximately $211,755. A search of the storage garage resulted in the seizure of approximately 19 boxes of suspected marijuana, according to court documents.

“Groups like this, who are allegedly trafficking vape cartridges containing the active ingredient in marijuana, clearly pose a threat to the health and safety of our community,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “This case also involves lots of cash and a firearm – which we see all too often with drug traffickers.”

"We stand ready to provide evidence that this alleged drug trafficking organization conspired to move hundreds of thousands in cash and drugs throughout northern Ohio," said Vance Callender, special agent in charge of HSI Detroit, which covers Michigan and Ohio. "Many are under the false perception that trafficking in narcotics and taking advantage others is a path to a quick profit, without repercussion. These charges demonstrate the serious consequences that await those who engage in these illegal acts.”

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s 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.

The Homeland Securities Investigations, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Deckert is  prosecuting the case.

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.